Page 50 of His Forbidden Duchess
“And to you, Your Grace,” she whispered, avoiding his gaze.
Lady Brimsleigh was the first to approach them after the ceremony had concluded.
Eloise wondered how much of the truth she knew. Did she know that this was a marriage of convenience, or did she believe Felix genuinely loved her? Maybe she simply thought Felix had lost his mind.
“Goodness me,” she declared, laying a laying gently over her heart. “How delightful that was. A simple ceremony, it is true, but how very charming. Welcome to the family, Eloise.”
The Viscount of Stentford, standing just behind Lady Brimsleigh, gave Felix a knowing look.
“I knew there wassomethinggoing on, but I must admit, old boy, this has come as a shock to us all!” He glanced at Eloise, realizing what he had said. “A wonderful surprise, of course, but a surprise all the same.”
Felix’s eyes flicked to Eloise for a moment before he replied, “Yes, who would have thought?”
The tension in his voice eclipsed the sweetness and charm elicited by their recent vows. Lady Brimsleigh narrowed her eyes as she assessed the newlyweds. Something unspoken was clearly hanging between Eloise and her godson.
Overwhelmed, Eloise said nothing, only smiling and nodding when someone spoke to her.
At least until her mother hurried forward in a fluster as she always was.
Eloise’s eyes softened to see her. She loved her mother dearly, even though they sometimes clashed in their views and roles. She was glad that, for once, her mother’s tears were those of joy, not sadness or fear.
“Oh, Eloise!” Lady Danridge cried.
She flung her arms around Eloise dramatically, and Eloise hugged her back tightly, feeling a mixture of happiness and grief swell up within her.
“It is finally over, Mother,” she whispered quietly in her ear. “You no longer have a reason to worry or be fearful.”
“Oh!” Lady Danridge’s voice quivered in Eloise’s ear, her embrace as tight as ever. “Nothing to worry about? But there is still so much to worry about!”
Eloise let out a silent sigh then put on a smile and pulled herself out of their embrace.
“What could possibly worry you now? The Duke… he has saved us,” she whispered, her eyes darting around in the hope that no one could overhear their conversation.
“I am so happy for you, my love, of course I am,” Lady Danridge said. “But I shall miss you terribly. How will I manage without you in the townhouse? How will I cope?”
Eloise felt the familiar pang of worry spiral in her stomach.
Howwouldshe cope?
There were servants, certainly, but her mother had never been very resourceful on her own. She’d relied on Eloise for so very long.
She put a hand on her mother’s arm, hoping to calm her.
“Mother, you will be fine. We will still see each other often, I promise. And you have the servants and your friends. There are plenty of people around you to help with whatever you require.”
Lady Danridge sniffed, her handkerchief clenched in her fist, and shook her head. “It will not be the same. You know how to fix everything. You have always been there. You are my only daughter. Oh, Eloise!”
As I have fixed this.
Eloise sighed and opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, Felix cleared his throat.
My husband.
“Lady Danridge,” he said, “you will always be welcome at Kingswell House. And of course, Eloise will visit as often as she wishes.”
His voice carried the rich, caring, velvety tone that she always heard in her dreams, and yet there was an irritated formality about him as he spoke to the Dowager, as though Lady Danridge’s complaints were a nuisance to him.
Eloise felt a rush of warmth. He was protecting her, she realized, ensuring that her mother had no cause to complain. She allowed herself a small smile, daring to believe that perhaps he wasn’t so cold after all.
