Page 47 of A Duke Makes a Deal
Closing her eyes, she fell into a restless sleep. Though she couldn’t recall any faces she encountered in her dreams, she seemed to be running down a corridor full of people, calling her name. But every time she tried to get their attention; they looked past her. Eventually, the image melted away and she saw Silas, standing behind a woman. One arm was pressed against her midsection, while his other hand was wrapped around her throat.
Horrified, Clara came closer. She tried to call out, but no noise came and when she finally reached the couple, she saw that the woman was her.
And she was smiling.
Clara’s eyes popped open. She felt confused and slightly apprehensive. The early morning light told her that she had slept for hours, though it had only felt like minutes.
What a strange dream.
Rolling over, she saw a maid adding wood to the fireplace. She turned and when she saw Clara, she curtsied.
“I’m sorry, my lady. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t. I just can’t sleep, I think.”
“That’s to be expected, my lady.”
“Is it?”
“Well, yes,” the maid said, with a bashful smile. “It is your wedding day.”
“Oh, yes. It is, isn’t it?” Clara said as the maid curtsied again and left the room.
Clara’s mind wandered in the early morning. What had her dream meant? The sight of Silas’s hands wrapped around her own throat had made her feel both frightened and, to her shame, tempted. What in the world was wrong with her? Surely, he would never do something like that. He had told her as much,and she believed him. But then a small, wicked part of her wondered if perhaps he might and maybe she wanted him to?
After a few more hours of restless sleep, Clara was awakened by Mrs. Bridges, who came in with her army of maids to ready Clara for her wedding.
She was bathed, dressed, spritzed, brushed and painted over the next few hours. The entire affair was executed with meticulous detail that Clara felt as though she barely had to do anything. Her mother had been with her for the entire time, but had been surprisingly quiet. Clara wondered how strange it must all be for her mother, who was once herself a maid, to now be a guest in a home such as Greystone, watching her daughter prepare to become lady of the house.
When they were finished, she put her ring on the opposite hand and nodded to Mrs. Bridges, who opened the door and led the way. The house seemed empty on her walk down from the duke’s rooms to the chapel that stood at a detached end of the manor in the northwest corner. Clara felt as if she were in some type of dream.
She really hadn’t expected to be married so quickly and to be instantly made to get ready wasn’t the only surprise. She wore a pale lilac-colored gown that was perhaps slightly too snug as she did not have as slender a figure as her sister-in-law, but that was tailored in such a refined way that it would have made even a mule look elegant.
She met her father at the door of the chapel where he handed her a bouquet of ivy leaf, myrtle and lily of the valley. Clara knew the meaning of flowers and was glad to have a bouquet that represented friendship, luck and kindness.
Two servants standing on either side of them opened the chapel doors and Clara and her father began the processional walk. Clara was in awe of the beauty of the chapel, with the setting sun shining through the stained glass windows. Therewere only eleven people in attendance. The dowager duchess and Violet sat next to the Duke and Duchess of Egmont, as well as Derek Trembley, his two brothers and their mother, while Clara’s parents sat with Holly and her siblings.
As her father handed her off before the altar, she took Silas’s hand and smiled at him, glad to once again be in his presence, but her smile faltered. He was staring at her with an intensity that she had never witnessed on him before and she was sure he must be feeling a whole mess of emotions. As for herself, she wasn’t sure why she felt so warm beneath his gaze.
The vicar spoke about the importance of vows and Clara felt Silas’s fingers tighten at the vicar’s words. She was curious as to what everyone in attendance must be thinking. Did they think she was too tightly dressed? Was this the same vicar who had married Silas and his pervious bride? Had any of the guests here borne witness to that wedding, as well?
Clara wanted to see the guests, but she couldn’t take her eyes away from where her hands were joined with Silas’s. His grip was tight, almost uncomfortable, but Clara wondered if he was perhaps somewhat nervous. It seemed a sobering affair and for a moment she wondered if perhaps Silas felt a little sad at having to marry someone again.
He appeared calm and collected, but held her fingers like she was a rock and he was in a raging river. It unnerved her that he should seem outwardly so relaxed, when she assumed his nerves were probably frayed.
She was aware that Silas held no feelings for Cynthia anymore, but a small, nagging something in the back of her mind wondered how he must feel to be marrying again. She lifted her eyes and saw the burning heat in his gaze had been replaced by a somewhat subdued wonder, as if he wasn’t sure who she was. Clara felt a powerful urge to tell him things she had never planned on telling him.
Things like she found him attractive, very much so and it made her feel strange and giddy to stare at him for long moments when he wasn’t aware. She wanted to tell him that she thought he was humorous and clever and that he was far kinder a man than she had ever expected him to be.
She wanted to tell him that she would never, ever do to him what Cynthia had done. While she wasn’t fully aware of all that had transpired between them, she wanted him to know for certain that he could trust her, implicitly.
The ceremony ended and with a very chaste kiss on her cheek, a kiss of friendship and nothing more. And with that, their vows were sealed. The small group cheered and they left the chapel, followed by their friends and family, and made their way to the dining room.
Among their guests were Clara’s dear friend, Holly Smyth and her twin siblings, Jasper and Katrina, who were sixteen. All three Smyth siblings shared the same honey brown hair, though Katrina looked most like her sister.
Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey, friends of Clara’s parents, had also attended as had Lord and Lady Bryant, old acquaintances of the dowager duchess, as well as Derek Trembley.
Silas escorted Clara through the house to the dining room where a feast had been prepared. There was a serving of roasted pheasants, venison, duck was served with soups, vinaigrettes, roasted vegetables and creams puddings and pies all lined a long oak table. Wine was poured and general merriment and conversation was had by all. Clara was slightly dizzy when she leaned back from her plate and realized how completely different her life was going to be from this moment forward. Had she made the right decision in marrying Silas?
