Love is Blind by Lynsay Sands

Author:Lynsay Sands [Sands, Lynsay]
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2010-01-30T21:28:23+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Clarissa woke up early, realized it was her wedding day, and simply couldn't get back to sleep. She lay

in bed for a few minutes drinking excitedly about the day ahead—and the night—then recalled her new

specta-cles. Sitting up abrupdy, she retrieved them from the small detachable pocket she usually wore

under her skirt and popped them onto her face.

A little sigh slid from her lips as the world came into focus. Most of the time everything around Clarissa

was a blur, and her head was slightly achy from squinting. Her spectacles might not look good on her,

but when she was wearing them the world around her certainly iooked better.

It had been difficult not to wear them, not to scream with joy to everyone that she could finally see.

However, she still felt it was better to keep them a se-cret until Adrian formed a tendre for her.

If he formed a tendre for her, she thought. Clarissa

bleed. And it will hurt as you would expect. But if you are very lucky, he will finish quickly and leave you

alone to sleep and weep in privacy. I somehow doubt Lord Mowbray will be so considerate."

Leaving behind the mess she'd made, Lydia turned to the door and opened it. As she walked out, she

said dryly, "Enjoy your wedding night."

Clarissa watched the door close, then moved weakly to sit on the dressing table chair. She didn't seem

able to tear her gaze away from the pie. The barely golden, almost white crust was stained with—and

soaking up— the red juices of the smashed fruit. The truncheon still stood up out of it, proud and hard.

"Damn," she breathed. Clarissa had sworn to herself that she would not allow Lydia to upset her, but this

was .. . well, it was upsetting.

"My lady?"

Clarissa turned at Joaq,'s voice, and stared at her maid's blurred image that slipped into the room. "I saw

your stepmother leaving as I approached. Is every-thing all right?"

"I. .." Clarissa paused and cleared her throat, then promptly forgot what she'd intended to say. She

asked instead, "Do we really have a maiden's veil, and does the man really have to break through it?"

"Well..." Clarissa could hear the reluctance in her voice.

She bit her lip. "It is true, is it not?"

"Well, yes. But—"

"And will there be blood and pain?"

Joan sighed. "My lady, you should not have let Lady Crambray upset you. The first time is painful for

most women, but—"

"Most?" Clarissa interrupted hopefully. "Then 'tis not always so?"

"I have heard that some women suffer little in the way of pain," Joan assured her.

"Heard," Clarissa echoed. "Heard? But do you know anyone who did not suffer pain and bleed?"

"Well.. ."Joan hesitated, then closed the bedcham-ber door and approached with an air of determina-tion.

"Never you mind. Come. I am sure Lord Mowbray will make it as easy on you as he can. We should

get you ready now."

"But—"

"My lady," Joan interrupted. "Do you wish to marry him or not? Would you really prefer to marry Lord

Prudhomme or someone of his ilk? Because I assure you that I do not think Lord Prudhomme would at

all concern himself with your comfort or well-being.

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