Page 85

“I must agree with you,” Gabriel continued. “I have never wished to marry anyone else until now.”

Please stop torturing me. You don’t need to say such nice things when I know they are not true.

“And we are more than happy to welcome you to the family, Your Grace,” Margaret said. “I am sure that Nathaniel will be thrilled on his return.”

“I would have liked to have spoken to him before now, but his work has made him unreachable at the present,” Gabriel said tensely.

Eleanor felt a flutter in her chest. What was she supposed to say to her brother about the situation? What would Gabriel say?

“I don’t worry about him, but he has been gone for a long time,” Margaret pointed out.

“Nate can take care of himself,” Eleanor replied, more to appease herself than to soothe her mother.

“I have no doubt that we will all see him soon.” Gabriel lifted his glass. “You must enjoy more food and drink, Lady Ashworth.”

Margaret threw her head back a little. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I am having a great time. The food and drink are wonderful, and I have just been introduced to the most handsome lord, who also happens to be very age-appropriate for me. He has very broad shoulders, Eleanor.”

“I know how you like men with broad shoulders,” Eleanor commented.

“Your father never had broad shoulders,” Margaret lamented. “Not everyone does. His Grace does. Have you noticed how broad His Grace’s shoulders are, Eleanor?”

“I have noticed, yes,” Eleanor agreed. How could she not notice?

“There we are,” Margaret said as if she had just settled a debate. “I should—” She looked down at her hand as if she had meant to make a toast, but didn’t have a drink to do it with. She tapped her nose. “I shall get back to having fun.”

Eleanor had to smile at how giddy her mother was, both with the merriment of the occasion and the fact that her daughter was now married.

“I’m glad Mother is so happy,” Eleanor commented.

“Are you happy?” Gabriel asked.

Another shiver ran through Eleanor’s body.

“Yes, very much so,” she replied. When she thought about it, Eleanor couldn’t be sure whether she was happy or not. There were many things that brought her happiness, and many other things that took it away. She was content, but was she happy?

Eleanor had never felt more alone.

As she sat at the head table with her new husband and looked down at everyone celebrating her wedding, she didn’t feel much like celebrating herself. She could not fault the duke. She could not dislike him. She could only respect him for what he had done, and she knew she wanted for nothing except for one thing.

She wanted his love.

It was only one more thing, but it was bigger than anything else she dared ask for. If she made any request of him, he would fulfill her needs, but not that.

There was nothing that could be done now.

Sebastian left the hall shortly after congratulating the couple, and sometime later, more people filtered out after bidding them goodbye. Eleanor felt some happiness in others’ joy.

And then they were alone.

The estate staff was still there, most of them cleaning up the great hall, but all the guests, including Margaret and Charlotte, had departed. Eleanor had been alone with Gabriel before, but this was the first time since getting married that morning.

It was hard not to think about the wedding night. She knew what was expected of her as his wife, and she knew how he could make her feel. Now that they were alone, she became nervous at the thought of needing to pleasure him. She only hoped that she could make him feel as he had made her feel.

What if I can’t do that?

“It is getting late,” Gabriel told her. “And it has been a long day.”

“Yes, it has,” Eleanor agreed.