Page 40 of Long Live the Baron
The duchess shook her head, smiling down at Lily, whose head barely cleared her chin. “We are sisters now, Lily. You may address me as Annabel.”
Lily’s jaw dropped. She quickly shut it.
You will catch flies if you allow your mouth to hang open like that.Mama’s admonishment from childhood echoed in her ears, while Lily’s thoughts scrambled at the idea that a duchess viewed her as a sister. “Thank you, Your—Annabel.”
“It is I who must thank you. I appreciate what you have done for my brother. It was a remarkable sacrifice, and I am pleased to welcome you to the family. Sophia regards you very highly, and it is a wonderful day for the Ridley family to welcome such an exceptional young woman into our midst.”
“Um—I—thank … you.” Lily was rarely speechless, but she had always been somewhat in awe of the duchess, so it was going to take time to accustom herself to being on a first-name basis.
Annabel smiled, leaning over to buss her on the cheek. “Welcome to the family, Lily Ridley.”
Lily Ridley!
Lily Beatrice Anne Ridley!
Lady Filminster!
She was a married woman. And she had found herself a young, handsome gentleman who had many fine qualities, according to Sophia and Richard. Now all that remained was to orchestrate some love in their union, and she would have achieved the future she had planned for herself, despite the recent debacle.
Lily watched the duchess walk away to join her husband, the butler opening the front door for their departure with a haughty demeanor. Soon they took their leave, and Mr. Ridley—bosh!—Brendan returned down the hall to the breakfast room to find her waiting in the doorway.
“Miss Ab”—Brendan winced—“Lily, you are … radiant today.”
Lily blushed, staring down at her slippers in embarrassment. She had not failed to notice her groom’s interest had been piqued. First at the church, where he had evidently been taken aback by her transformation, and then over breakfast when he had frequently glanced in her direction. She had not missed that some of his surreptitious glances had fallen to her bosom, which Signora Ricci had modestly revealed with the simple beauty of her gown.
But is it enough to make him forget the voluptuous Lady Slight?
* * *
Brendan escorted Miss Ab—hisbride to a drawing room down the hall. It was a small sitting area overlooking the garden and mews to the back of the property, which he had preferred to the large one on the next floor. The light was better in this room, his primary reason for favoring the study, which was currently restricted, and this room.
Lily was radiant in the early afternoon light. The change in attire and coiffure had revealed a lovely young woman beneath all those layers—a person who had not been far from his mind since seeing her in church that morning. She might be a petite woman, but she certainly was inducing monumental musings, which was an unanticipated turn of events.
Burn my buttons! Is there something to the whole matchmaking business where one is introduced to appropriate potential matches?
Brendan’s only foray into the marriage market had resulted in the baron’s interference through the Royal Mail, leaving a bad taste in his mouth and an unwillingness to proceed. He had fallen in with widows, living a careless existence, which recent events had proved to be a poor choice. When he had needed support, he had received it from an unexpected quarter, and his desire to eventually find a wife in the vein of his friends had come to fruition despite his roguish behavior.
However, the weight of responsibilities was a new burden to bear, and before he could build a new life with his bride, he needed to secure their safety. Lily was a virtuous and kind woman who may have saved his neck from the hangman’s noose. He must do everything in his power to secure a long and happy future for her.
“I have some news to impart, I am afraid. It is our wedding day, and I wish to focus on the celebration of such, but there is a … situation … that I must inform you of. For your safety.”
Lily was swallowed by the red, faded settee she had taken a seat on. She leaned forward, her attention on him fully while he stood hesitantly, gazing at his polished boots.
How to broach the subject? His bride had undertaken so much risk on his behalf, and now he was to inform her that there were further risks to overcome?
Brendan was momentarily distracted when he noticed that her leaning forward had revealed the hollow between the swell of her breasts, and his thoughts drifted to peeling her gown from her lithe body.
Good grief, she was an entirely unfamiliar creature in the new gown. His bride’s skin was glowing with health, and the rich hues she deserved had replaced the unflattering colors of their prior encounters.
“What is it? Is there something wrong? Are the duke and Richard aware?”
Brendan snapped back to the moment, realizing he had been staring at Lily’s bosom like a green youth discovering women for the first time. How could a girl with such strength and integrity be so ravishing? He had grown accustomed to beautiful women who were selfish and self-absorbed and had accepted it as a matter of course.
Lily was not, strictly speaking, a fashionable beauty by societal standards, but she was very attractive in her own right. All soft curves and indentations that made him think of?—
“It is regarding the matter of the baron’s murder. Halmesbury and Richard are well-informed. We have discussed the matter, along with the countess, and I do not wish to alarm you, but I feel it is imperative you know what has happened so you might be alert and take measures to protect yourself.”
Lily’s eyes rounded, but she maintained her composure despite the serious nature of their discussion. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out the thought running through his mind. “Exactly how old are you, Miss Ab—Lily?”
