Page 9 of The Matchmaker Meets her Duke
Pandora grimaced. “As will you.”
Emmett grinned down at her. “Naturally.”
Edward shook his head as he eyed his sister. “Pandora, you can’t seriously be considering his offer.”
Pandora hesitated before answering. “It’s the sensible thing to do. Not just for myself, but for our family name.”
Edward laid a hand on his sister’s shoulder and gave Emmett a considering look. “I will support your decision, whatever you choose.”
“So the duel is off, then?” said Emmett with a smile.
A muscle in Edward’s cheek jumped. “Pray don’t make me reconsider. This is my only sister we are talking about.”
Pandora squeezed her eyes shut. “All right.”
Emmett’s eyes flicked back to her. “All right?”
She opened her eyes and bit her lower lip for a moment before responding. “I’ll do it. I’ll marry you.”
Emmett exhaled, his insides roiling with a confusing mix of emotions. Relief that his honor would be assuaged. Horror that he was marrying this minx. Discomfort at being in this situation in the first place. He was a mess.
“Pandora, are you absolutely certain?” asked Edward. “You have a home here if you say no, there is no pressure.”
“I have no choice. I won’t be the scandalous spinster sister, dragging down the family name. I can’t stay here in Ravenswood Manor for the rest of my life.”
Edward squeezed her shoulder once more before taking a step toward Emmett. “I will be watching you closely. Make my sister unhappy, even for a moment, and I will come for you.”
Emmett did his best to appear solemn as he nodded. “I will do my best.” He bent over and kissed Pandora’s chilled hands. “We will speak again shortly. There are announcements to be made, a wedding to plan. I will return once I have more news.”
Emmett closed his own eyes once she was out of sight and leaned his head against the wall of the coach. He was making the right decision. So why did he still feel so dreadful?
ChapterSix
The next week passed in a blur for Pandora. Willcrow… Emmett… he had well-placed friends and was able to acquire a special marriage license from the Archbishop of Canterbury. She was equal parts relieved and horrified. No doubt people would assume she was pregnant, or that there was some mystery in the marriage.
She had remained at home, afraid to call on any of her acquaintances. And the fact that only Lady Lockhart had come to visit, seeking the latest gossip, well, it certainly made it stark to her that she had no true friends.
Perhaps that would change once she was a Duchess.
God above, a Duchess.The thought rolled over in her head as she lay in her bed the night before her marriage. A marriage to a Duke, no less. When she was younger, she had dreamed of marrying a Duke, someone with a name and reputation that would open all the doors of London. But then she got engaged to–No. I mustn’t think of him. Not now.
Pandora rolled over and tried to relax. Memories of Emmett’s hands on her legs rose in her mind, and she felt her cheeks turn hot. Not that they would be touched by him again. This was a marriage of convenience, not a love match. He said as much himself. She had no doubt he would turn his eye to women more willing to be bedded than her. It was too late for thoughts of seduction and happy marriage. That path was closed off to her now.
The next morning arrived swiftly, and an exhausted Pandora allowed herself to be poked and prodded by Diana and one of the housemaids, a tiny girl named Alanna. They chatted over Pandora’s head as they dressed her in her mother’s wedding dress, which had been tailored to fit her.
“Have you ever been past the Willcrow Estate? I hear it’s twice as large as Ravenswood,” said Diana as she slipped a fresh chemise over Pandora’s head.
Alanna shook her head as she helped straighten the chemise over Pandora’s curves. “I’ve never been far from Ravenswood. Willcrow is all the way past the Lockhart Estate! It would take me hours to walk there, and for what? To gawk at some Lord’s fancy house? Ah, no offense, My Lady.”
Pandora stretched a smile across her bared teeth. “None taken. I’ve heard the same thing. And that it’s also a cold Manor, they never throw any parties or have many callers. I won’t know what to do with myself!” She tried to make the last sound like a joke, but Diana saw through her facade, and patted her hand.
“All the more reason for the Duke to marry someone like you, My Lady. You’ll warm that cold Manor into a home, I’m sure of it.”
Pandora smiled weakly and held still as they laced up her stays. It was an odd sensation, being in a wedding dress again. The first time she had been so young, and full of excitement. Full of hope. But now? All she could hope for was to make peace with Emmett and pick up the pieces of her life.
This wedding dress was a delight of lace and pearls, a tad outdated, but that was hardly a concern. She had gotten rid of her last wedding dress in a fit of despair. It would have fit better, and been more modern, but she was glad she was not wearing it. To be reminded ofhimagain… those memories were best kept in a box, locked deep inside her.
Once she was dressed, Diana did her hair in a simple chignon and curled the hair around her face in a gentle frame. A string of pearls completed the image, and Diana and Alanna stood back with pleased grins.
