Page 72 of Married to the Icy Duke
Biting his lip and avoiding Charlotte’s stare, Isaac turned and left the room, holding his nephew close.
He thinks I am his Papa. He loves me like a father,Isaac thought, biting back a wide smile.I won’t let him forget his real parents, but this … This means more than I ever thought it would.
I have done it.
CHAPTER 21
Rain on a wedding day is bad luck,Charlotte thought, watching water sluice down the windowpane.Is it only rain that’s bad luck, or is a stormworseluck? Is it possible that only yesterday I was painting in the sunlight with Isaac and Tommy? And today, it rains.
She didn’t voice her worries aloud. There would only be a flood of reassurances, reminders that we make our own luck, that they lived inEnglandand so rain on an important day was all but guaranteed.
Frankly, Charlotte was too tired for it all. She had been up since before dawn. They all had.
“There,” Thalia said, with a hint of pride in her voice. “Your hair is done. What do you think?”
Charlotte inspected her reflection in the mirror. She felt as though she’d done nothing else since she got up. Everyone elsebuzzed around her like bees while Charlotte sat still, staring at herself in the vanity mirror, the choking scent of flowers filling her room.
Thaliahaddone well with her hair. It was elaborately braided and twisted, carefully piled up on top of her head. Ringlets were pulled strategically down, resting on the back of her neck.
“I look rather different, I think,” Charlotte said at last.
Thalia bent down to put her face beside Charlotte’s.
“Good different, or bad different?”
Charlotte smiled faintly. “Good different.”
“Excellent. Now, stand up, and let me get another good look at your gown.”
Charlotte obeyed, with much rustling and crumpling of fabric. Her gown still felt strange and alien to her. Swathed in a torrent of blue silk with that daringly low neckline, she felt like a walking waterfall. The bodice was tighter than Charlotte preferred, but she had to admit that it flattered her to perfection.
The gloves were a present from Gabriel and Thalia, the most shockingly expensive white lace, trimmed with heavy seed-pearls. She flexed her hands, watching the lace crumple.
“Well?” Madeline prompted eagerly. “What do you think?”
Madeline had spent a good deal of the morning reading a book. It was not her fault, Thalia had simply taken over all the preparations and there was nothing left for poor Madeline to do. Now, however, Madeline had put aside her book and had come to stand behind Charlotte, beaming.
“I like it,” Charlotte managed. “It’s perfect. You’ve both worked so hard, thank you.”
The words came out flat. Thalia caught her eye in the mirror, eyes narrowing.
“Our bride-to-be needs a little privacy, I think.” Thalia announced. “Madeline, would you be a dear and check on the bouquet? It ought to be ready.”
Madeline nodded and obeyed, followed by a host of maids and ladies’ maids, all sent to help the bride on her wedding day.
Charlotte sank down into her seat, careful not to crumple her gown. She stared down at the jewels set out for her to wear. A diamond bracelet which would be mostly hidden under the gloves, a matching necklace, and a set of glittering diamond earrings which bounced and danced in the light when she moved her head.
They were a gift from Isaac. He had sent them only that morning.
“Now,” Thalia said firmly. “Tell me what is wrong.”
Charlotte swallowed. “Nothing is wrong.”
“I am excellent at sniffing out a liar, my dear, so let’s dispense with the formalities. Youareunhappy, so tell me why. Do you have cold feet? Are you rethinking the whole wedding business? It’s not too late to call it off.”
Charlotte scoffed. “I rather think it is.”
Thalia tensed her jaw. Coming around to the side of Charlotte’s seat, she crouched down, taking her hands, and forced Charlotte to look her in the eye.
