AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His smile widened. “Take as long as you want.”
She smiled hesitantly, moving away from the main table. Eleanor had stood up, too, looking as if she needed to move. Patricia approached her, holding out her hands.
“I am so very happy that you could come, dearest,” she said, smiling widely.
“Oh, Patricia,” said her friend, beaming. “What a beautiful bride you are! One of the most beautiful that I have ever seen.” She cast an eye over Patricia’s gown. “That gown is a dream. Is it from Mrs. Hedley?”
Patricia nodded. “It is. I fear she worked around the clock to get it done in time.”
Her friend sighed. “Every bride deserves a beautiful gown to be wed in.” She paused, gazing at Patricia closely. “I must say, I was quite surprised to receive the invitation, my dear. It was all rather sudden. You were not acquainted with the Duke prior to the event at St. Anne’s, were you?”
Patricia blushed. “No, I was not, but we got along so well that we simply did not wish to wait.”
Eleanor nodded, willing to accept her reply. Patricia could see the questions in her friend’s eyes, even if she wasn’t about to ask them. Eleanor was one of the most tactful people she had ever met. She wasn’t a gossip monger, and she would not press her friend for information on her hasty marriage.
Suddenly, Patricia was overwhelmed with a fierce desire to confide in her. Her friend knew nothing, of course, about anything that had happened recently. A deep sense of shame had stopped her telling her friend about her family’s change in fortune and the fact she had to marry for wealth, not love. It wasn’t just that she was so ambivalent about what she had to do. It was pride as well.
How she wished she could tell her friend everything and ask her advice about how to tackle the subject of funds for her family with her new husband. Eleanor was so kind and thoughtful, and she was sure that her friend would not judge her for it. Patricia knew that Eleanor had suffered her own drastic change in fortune, through no fault of her own, prior to her marriage. Of anyone in this world it would be Eleanor who would understand.
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask if she could speak to her privately. Perhaps they could go for a quick walk through the gardens or find some other equally secluded spot?
But then she stopped herself. It was neither the time nor the place for such a heartfelt conversation. Everyone would wonder why they had left the assembly, and she didn’t want to draw attention to herself.
“You have done well, my dear,” said Eleanor, her eyes misty. “The Duke is a good man, and you shall want for nothing. I am sure you shall be as happy as my dear Nathan and I are.” She paused. “And now you are a duchess! It could not have happened to a more deserving lady.”
Patricia smiled tremulously, feeling the guilt gnawing at her once again. If only her dear friend knew the truth. She wasn’t deserving of anything. She had been pushed into being a fortune hunter and entrapped an honorable man. She was one of the lowest types of ladies there was.
Suddenly, her mother was at her elbow. “Patricia, you must come back to the table,” she said, smiling. “It is time to cut the wedding cake and distribute it amongst the guests.”
“Of course, Mama,” she said.
They walked away together. Lady Hunter took her arm, pressing into her.
“It is done,” she whispered triumphantly. “You are safe from scandal now with your whole life ahead of you as the Duchess of Merriweather.” Her eyes glowed. “To think, my own daughter, in such an exalted position! A dream come true!”
“Indeed, Mama,” she said, just wanting to get away from her. “It all turned out well in the end.”
“More than well,” said Lady Hunter, smiling broadly. “You have exceeded my expectations, Patricia. Why, a duchess is as close to a princess as there can be.” She paused, her eyes narrowing. “But your mission does not stop here, dearest. Always remember that you must still think of your poor family and not become swept away with your new life, forgetting us entirely. You still have a duty towards us, particularly Margaret.”
Patricia felt a sudden upsurge of fierce anger. “Of course I shall not forget, Mama. How can I when it is all you can speak of, even on my wedding day? Have you no shame?”
Her mother looked shocked. Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes filled with hurt tears.
“How can you be so cruel?” Lady Hunter whispered. “You know I do everything for you and your sister. You know that I never asked for any of this!”
Patricia’s bottom lip trembled. “None of us asked for this, and yet here we are, Mama. I do not need to be reminded of my duty towards my family.” She took a deep, ragged breath. “And now, let us not speak of this matter again. For pity’s sake, let me enjoy my wedding day without bringing this cloud down upon me. I already live under its constant shadow.”
She broke away, walking swiftly towards the table, her eyes stinging with useless tears. She had been harsher with her mother than she had intended. She knew that none of this was her fault and that Lady Hunter never wished this upon her. But why must she continually speak of it? Could she not leave her alone, even for a moment? The pressure was truly relentless.
Patricia sat down, feeling shrouded in misery. But then her husband reached over and took her hand. Slowly, he raised it to his lips. His green eyes were burning like live embers.
“I missed you,” he said softly. “And I cannot wait until we are finally alone.”
Patricia sighed as a wave of desire swept through her. Her wedding night was fast approaching. She had barely had time to think about it. Her guilt had been weighing so heavily on her soul that it had pushed aside everything else.
But it was all she could think about right now…
