Page 54 of Trapped with the Forbidden Duke
“Lucien Fitzgerald, I promise to be an honorable duchess. I swear to support your every endeavor and ensure that the dukedom continues to flourish. I promise to comfort you in darker hours, and to provide light among shadows, as you have done for me.”
She did not regret her words, or see them as foolish. Instead, she held the Duke’s gaze so that he knew that despite her not having romantic feelings for him as she had once envisioned having for a man she was marrying, they were together in this. She did not regret doing what she needed to do.
The remainder of the ceremony passed by swiftly and without a hitch, and there was a band on her finger, as cold as ice, grounding her in her new position.
“The Duke and Duchess of Stormhold,” the officiant announced.
Edwina’s stomach flipped as she heard her new title in full for the first time.
They faced the meager congregation, and as the ceremony came to a close, the Duke made his excuses to remove himself.
“We shall leave for the countryside within the hour,” he said. “I have spent enough time here, and I need to attend to estate matters.”
“Of course,” she agreed quickly. “You have sacrificed much to help us.”
Lucien only nodded before striding away.
She saw him speak with Nicholas in a hushed tone at the back of the chapel. But before she could question their exchange, Diana’s bouncing, blonde curls appeared in her field of vision.
“Edwina!” Diana cried, taking her hands. “You have kept such secrets!”
“There were none, I assure you,” Edwina corrected. “This was a rather… hurried arrangement.”
“I will not pry. Does it have to do with your brother and the trouble you mentioned?”
Diana could be a gossip, but Edwina trusted her friend not to makeherthe subject of gossip.
She nodded hesitantly. “I am glad you have attended.”
“How could I not?” Diana gushed. “My best friend is now a duchess. I do hope I will receive an invitation to Stormhold. Although I do not think your new husband will be amenable to the company.”
“I am sure he will,” Edwina said, knowing that Lucien would not deprive her of company.
After all, theirs was a marriage of convenience, and he had done this so she would not be alone. Surely he would not force loneliness on her by stopping her friend from visiting.
“I will write to you as soon as I can.”
“Please do.” Diana tugged Edwina into an embrace and lowered her voice. “Just be careful, please. I understand you may know him far better than others, but that could only be more dangerous. Keep your guard up, Edwina, and remember that you are very strong.”
The words were more than what Edwina needed to hear, and she hugged her friend tighter. “Thank you.”
Back at Montgomery Manor, Edwina stepped into the entrance hall with Lucien. It was strange how, scarcely a week ago, she had bargained with Lord Stockton over seducing the Duke, who was now her husband.
Her aunt was standing next to Nicholas, who appeared a little worse for wear but smiled at her tiredly.
By the door, her belongings were stacked up, as meager as they were. Seeing them in such stark light made her a little ashamed, for she had opted to leave behind old dresses and jewelry. Had it not been for Lucien buying her new gowns, she would have left behind almost all of her belongings.
Her brother stepped forward, his face solemn as he held out a hand to Lucien. “Safe journey to Stormhold, Lucien.”
“Thank you,” Lucien returned stiffly. The two had yet to fully reconcile, but they were not fighting, so Edwina had to consider that a victory. “I shall visit you the moment I hear you are settled.”
Nicholas jerked his nod in acknowledgment.
Edwina stepped forward to embrace her brother.
“You look beautiful,” Nicholas told her, hugging her tightly for a moment.
It hit Edwina that she was moving out of her family home, that she had married into another family—the very thing her mother had groomed her to do. To leave home and be a true lady of the ton. Yet, the very notion, as much as she had planned for it, made her emotional.
