Page 45 of Denying a Rakish Duke
The clock on the mantle struck the hour. They were out of time. There was nothing more to do. Petunia stood elegantly and donned her finest pair of gloves. Her spine straightened, and her shoulders rolled back as she assumed an air of confidence. She looked younger and older all at the same time. She was both the young debutant and the wise matron as her skirts fell around her feet, and she delicately clasped her hands in front of her person.
Vanessa refused to cry, no matter how unstable her emotions were as of late. She would not allow it. She wrapped her arms around her mother firmly, and Petunia slowly returned the embrace. “I shall always be near to you, Mama, should you ever need me.”
Petunia smiled against Vanessa’s cheek. “I know, Dear,” she said softly. Petunia placed her hands on Vanessa’s hips and pushed her away gently. “I must go now before I lose my nerve. We cannot make the Earl wait on his own chosen wedding time— can you imagine if he were to think that I left him there at the altar?” Petunia smirked wickedly, winked at Vanessa, and left the room trailed by her servants toward the chapel entrance.
Vanessa lingered for but a moment; she took in her surroundings, remembering the last time that she had been in this very room wishing for her mother. She wished for her sisters. She had not wished to be strong at that moment. She had wanted to be reassured.
Unexpectedly, Joseph knocked on the door to the small dressing room and leaned against the frame. He gazed silently at his wife before turning and offering her his elbow. “There is a happy surprise waiting for you in the chapel. I must remind you that the doctor has requested you refrain from any … tumultuous emotions.”
“What sort of surprise could garner such a reaction, I wonder?” she mused and placed her hand softly on the proffered elbow.
“You have to contain yourself— no loud noises and certainly, no running in excitement,” Joseph cautioned again. Anticipation started to bubble inside of her as Joseph guided them toward the hall that would lead them into the chapel.
“Enough mystery, Husband. Tell me what—” her question was lost as they rounded the corner to see a familiar head of brunette hair. Nearly a year had passed since she had lain eyes on the face that was so similar to her own other than their difference in coloration. Bridgette was the same height as her despite being the eldest sister— but she looked positively diminutive as she stood beside her large, scarred husband. At Vanessa’s side, Joseph balked for a moment at the sight of Isaac as most people did. Vanessa made a happy little sound as she let go of Joseph and crossed to her eldest sister with her arms extended fully to embrace her.
They held one another for a moment. Bridgette did not let go of her normally brave sister until she could feel her stop trembling under the effort of containing her emotions.
“We came as quickly as we could. I am afraid that we did not bring the children with us, but they are well. Before you ask— I was so shocked to hear that you were married, and Amanda had run away! Can you ever forgive your sister for leaving you to handle so much on your own?!” Bridgette had always been the most openly affectionate of the sisters.
“There is nothing to forgive! You are here now, and that is what matters. Mama needs all of the support that she can have at her side.”
“I cannot believe that Uncle Tobias has really convinced her that they must be married! Well, I mean to say that Icanbelieve it, I just cannot believe that Mama actually agreed to it … I thought that she was much of the same opinion that we all were as far as he was concerned.”
Isaac huffed beside his wife, his hands clasped behind his back as he watched all of the people moving around them with a carefully observant gaze. “He is a ridiculous man.”
Vanessa tried not to smile. She liked that Isaac always said what they were all thinking when it came to those things. He was one of the only people she knew who had managed to make Tobias actually apologize to him. Normally, the self-important man would simply spin reality until he came up with a version of events that suited his own purposes best.
Music started from inside, just a short jaunt to indicate that things were about to start.
“Introductions will have to wait, I suppose,” Bridgette said with a glance to Joseph, and he nodded. “I am certain that we shall have plenty of time after this is all over. You do know if Seraphina plans to join us?”
Vanessa shook her head, and they all walked into the chapel. Petunia and Tobias already stood in front of the priest. Tobias’ suit, while richly crafted, did not seem to fit him in a flattering way. It pulled too tightly in some areas and gapped awkwardly at the pockets. He had a golden watch chain draped across his middle that pressed into his belly, and he had his thumbs hooked into the arm holes of his waistcoat which resulted in his elbows jutting awkwardly to either side. At least the benefit of his unorthodox stance was it placed additional distance between himself and Petunia.
Petunia did not turn to see all who came to witness the sudden union. She did not know if her courage would hold if she did. She knew that, while prone to frivolity and nonsense, Tobias was not a cruel man. He would not harm her. At least that much she was certain of. She knew that she would be cared for, her family provided for, and Amanda’s dowry would remain intact.
Those gathered all took their seats as the priest began to speak. Vanessa knew the speech now, but somehow it had not felt like the words took so long for the priest to speak when it had been her standing up there.
They did not take notice of the Dowager Duchess Dorothea, standing quietly in the back room. They had not noticed that she had arrived there well before the rest of them. She had kept all of her many comments to herself—even as the doors opened loudly once more, peals of bell-like laughter ringing through the hall as two late guests made their presence known and vibrantly so.
The couple held firmly onto one another’s arms and leaned into one another as if they had been in the middle of discussing the most interesting and hilarious story to have ever existed. When they realized that there were not any other sounds coming from the people around them, Amanda and Thomas stood upright quickly. A fierce pink blush consumed both sides of Amanda’s face as her grip on Thomas’ arm tightened to the point of looking painful. If it hurt, the man made no indication whatsoever.
“Apologies,” Amanda whispered, but the slight sound carried easily through the otherwise frozen space.
Petunia was the next to break the silence as she gathered up her skirts and rushed to her youngest daughter who appeared very confused as to what she had just walked in on. Amanda did not physically appear any worse for the wear, or as if she had suffered at all during her time away. She was well colored, even slightly sun darkened compared to her normally pale pallor. She did not seem hungry or mistreated … and neither did the man standing beside her.
As Amanda’s arms lifted to embrace her mother, light from the chapel’s candles glinted off of a golden ring encircling Amanda’s fourth finger. Something wicked twisted in Vanessa’s stomach. At her side, Bridgette nudged her to indicate that she, too, had seen the simple golden band. Vanessa’s blue eyes glanced to the hand of the man standing beside Amanda— only to note that he, too, had a simple band around the same finger of his opposite hand.
“I am so happy that you are all right!” Petunia breathed, threatening to crush her daughter with her firm embrace. For the moment, the hasty wedding was forgotten; the indignant man standing at the altar cleared his throat no less than five times to have attention directed back toward himself, but not a single person paid him any mind.
“What are you doing here? What is happening?” Amanda asked, bewildered. She looked to the off-white gown that her mother donned and then to Tobias standing at the altar, and her quick mind started to put pieces together. “Are you not here to celebrate my elopement?”
“Elopement?!” Petunia gasped. The back of her hand came to cover her mouth as she took a quick step back and away from her daughter. Tears started to swell along her waterline, but they did not fall. She noticed the same simple bands that Vanessa and Bridgette had and shook her head. “No … Amanda … tell me that you did not run away andmarrythis man!”
Amanda took a step back and linked her arm through her apparent husband. “It is true, we are married. I feared that you would react this way … I thought that you … well, never mind what I thought! Why are you all here then if not to greet us?” Amanda’s sweet face twisted into confusion. “Why is Uncle Tobias standing there? You were not … are you getting married? Mama?”
Vanessa felt so many emotions all at once that she thought she might burst.
“Will somebody please explain what is happening?” Amanda asked again. Vanessa moved to stand, to make some rather harsh comments, but Joseph grabbed her wrist to keep her in place.
