Page 68 of Five Ways to Bed a Duke

“Oh, Mother, I will miss you terribly.”

“No, you won’t.” The Viscountess laughed. “Maybe not for the next few weeks. You’ll be too busy being a married woman and enjoying marital bliss.”

She shot her a knowing look, which Catherine pretended not to see even though a blush crept up her neck and cheeks.

The night before, they’d had thetalk, and she couldn’t bring herself to tell her mother that Richard had given her all the education she could possibly need and had said he would continue to do so.

“What is marital bliss, Mother?” Lily asked innocently.

“You will know in due time.” The Viscountess laughed. “Now I believe we’ve kept the entire house waiting. Come, let’s go downstairs.”

The Viscount’s eyes filled with tears when Catherine descended the stairs, and Hugh smiled and said she was the prettiest bride he had ever seen. She smiled and kissed his cheek, which he wiped furiously.

“I hear Miss Pembroke is coming today,” she teased when their parents were out of earshot.

His latest crush was a pretty brunette with such good manners that Catherine hoped his infatuation with her would last. Her brother was the picky sort, even worse than her, and looked for perfection everywhere. She knew he would be a pain in the future.

“Are we all ready?” their father asked.

“Indeed,” their mother answered.

The closer they got to the church, the harder Catherine’s heart pounded in her chest, both in anticipation and fear.

Her mother and siblings went inside, and soon it was just her and her father.

“Are you well, Cathy?” he asked, holding her hand.

Her father wasn’t one to ask questions like that often because he usually kept to his work. Her mother was the only person who could bring him out of his shell. It was a marvel how Catherine was able to do it.

“I am, Father,” she answered, smiling at him. “Thank you.”

He smiled back at her. “I know I haven’t really spent time with you to ask you anything about your relationship with Richard, but do you think he’ll make you happy?”

Happy?

Catherine thought back to all of her and Richard’s interactions and smiled. Hewouldmake her happy.

“Yes, Father,” she answered.

“Good.” The Viscount nodded. “If you don’t want to go through with this marriage, you know you’ll have mine and your mother’s support.”

“I want to do this.”

He nodded, and the church doors opened. She took a steadying breath and focused on putting one leg in front of the other.

She saw the faces of friends and family surrounding her but still felt fear until her eyes landed on Richard. He looked so handsome that her heart swelled with love for him.

He was hers now. Well and truly hers.

“What if she changes her mind?” Richard asked, sighing deeply. He had been pacing the chapel’s entrance since they had arrived, and he couldn’t seem to stop.

Emmeline and Simon watched him with concerned looks, seeming to communicate with their eyes.

He paused for a moment, observing the two of them, and shook his head, coughing when their silent discussion lasted longer than his patience could take.

“Sorry, Brother,” Emmy mumbled, blushing. “Did you ask a question?”

“Is there something you two want to tell me?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest.

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