Page 57 of Nothing Compares to the Duke
For as long as she’d known him, Rhys had tempted her—into mischief, into fun, into breaking free of the rules she tried so hard to follow. Now he was a different sort of temptation and she had to find a way to shore up her defenses.
She couldn’t deny the pull between them, but she had to be less impulsive.
“Shall we head down? Guests will begin arriving soon and it’s probably best if you’re with the duke when they do.” Louisa offered Bella a shawl, holding it out so that she could turn and step into the outspread fabric.
“We should go down. There might be some last-minute tasks we can do to assist the preparations.” She sorely needed something to do rather than worry.
“Aunt Gwendoline says you’re not allowed to help,” Louisa said with a soft smile. “This is all very exciting for her.”
“I know.”
Her mother had arranged everything with giddy enthusiasm. She’d been waiting for Bella to marry for so long.
“This will be a happy occasion.”
“It only needs to be a successful one. After it’s done, the next step will be to convince Mama and Papa to depart.”
“Aunt Gwendoline has already spoken of preparations and I know how eager your father is to see the Grecian ruins. I don’t think that step will be difficult.”
Bella nodded. Louisa’s cheerful demeanor made it hard to hold on to doubts and worries.
But her stubborn nature wanted to try.
“This could all go spectacularly wrong.” Bella hated the quaver in her voice. She thought of Rhys and his unflappable bravado. If only he could lend her a bit.
Louisa stared at her, brow crimped in concern. “You’re rarely this pessimistic about a well-thought-out plan, Bell.”
“Yes, but none of my other plans involved the Duke of Claremont.”
Rhys flicked his pocket watch from his waistcoat, caught it in his palm, and checked the time. Only quarter of an hour since he’d last looked. No one told him that engagement parties involved a great deal of accepting well-wishes from virtual strangers and not a single moment alone with one’s betrothed.
He and Bella had stood together as Lord Yardley announced the engagement and they’d both smiled when a few guests immediately offered up murmurs of congratulations. But soon after they’d each been whisked away in opposite directions and he hadn’t spoken to her since.
The news only seemed to come as a surprise to a few. Most in the intimate gathering of lords and ladies from the county’s best families already seemed toknow. News traveled fast in a small village and it was probably the only scandal-free bit of gossip a Claremont had generated in decades.
“You’re not smiling as much as you should be.” Meg approached the spot where he stood a few feet away from the other guests. She wore a cheerful smile and offered him a crystal cup filled with punch. “You look restless. Thought perhaps you could use some refreshment.”
“Unless that’s been spiked with whiskey, no thank you.” He’d already had enough of the sickly sweet concoction to turn his stomach.
“Is there a reason you’re hovering here on the periphery? You usually love parties.” Her smile faded as she moved to stand beside him. “Is something amiss?”
“Honestly, I was hoping to steal a moment with Bella.”
Together they looked out on the gathering to find her. Bella stood in a cluster of ladies, where she’d been stuck for over half an hour. The conversation seemed jovial enough, filled with bursts of laughter and chatter that drifted all the way to where he stood near the hedges.
“The ladies are understandably curious about where she’ll obtain her dress, when the nuptials will be held and where.” Meg glanced at him. “She says none of those decisions have been made. I understand why you’re waiting. A wedding requires so much preparation.”
“As does a Season.” He winked at her.
Meg’s eyes widened. “Good heavens, tell me I’m not the reason you’re postponing the wedding until next year.”
“You’re not. Though it’s better if Bella has time to help you prepare for the Season.”
“She already has.” Meg turned to him, almost breathlessly eager. “We’ve decided on everything I’ll need and we’ve prepared lists of tasks to accomplish and she knows exactly which shops I should visit.”
“Sounds as if it’s time for a trip to London. I say we depart tomorrow. Stay a few days at Claremont House.”
Rhys expected a smile. Maybe even a shout of glee. Instead, Meg cast her gaze toward Bella and then shot him a worried look.
