The Duke She Wished For by Ellie St. Clair

Author:Ellie St. Clair [Clair, Ellie St.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2017-07-23T18:30:00+00:00

16

Four months later

“My cousin Alexander is simply fascinated by your friend Matilda,” Nicholas whispered in her ear as their wedding guests milled through the ballroom enjoying themselves.

She followed Nicholas’ eyes and saw Matilda, looking resplendent in a ruby-colored gown of her own creation, moving through the crowd and a large blond duke-to-be weaving in and out of the mass of people just a few paces behind her.

“I would say the feeling was mutual, but she is playing hard to get right now for some reason,” she laughed. Nicholas moved behind her and put his arm around her shoulders.

“Do you feel different?” He asked, leaning close so nobody else could hear.

“What do you mean?” She turned her face toward his.

“Being a duchess, a wife,” he pressed. “Was it as difficult as you thought it would be four months ago when you agreed?”

She laughed at that.

When they had made their way downstairs after Nicholas proposed, he had done exactly what he said he would—he stopped the musicians and stood in the middle of the staircase, getting the room’s attention. Tabitha stood near the bottom of the staircase, as she had returned to the ballroom after taking her time re-dressing. Lorna had come in to help her with a sly grin on her face.

“I know we are here for a masked ball, but I had other motives when I invited all of you here tonight,” he said, his voice booming. Tabitha had felt like her heart would beat out of her chest and she had been close to panicking. “I wanted to introduce my fiancée to you all, as she has just agreed to be my wife.”

The room let out a collective gasp and people started looking around, trying to find the mystery woman who had won the duke’s heart. Instead of slinking back like she’d been wont to do, Tabitha held her chin and walked toward Nicholas when he held his hand out to her, motioning for her to come to him.

“My fiancée, ladies and gentlemen,” he said. “Miss Tabitha Blackmore.”

The applause took a moment to start and when she saw Sabine Banon rip her mask from her face in anguish, she thought she’d have a revolt on her hands soon, with her stepmother and Frances joining in. But people followed Alexander’s lead with his boisterous applause and she clasped Nicholas' outstretched hand as the mostly approving crowd cheered.

She had been nervous about Lady Gemma’s reaction to getting a commoner as a daughter-in-law, but Gemma had said that after living in a of marriage that had been made out of convenience and stature, she understood the importance of a marriage based on love and happiness.

“You are that worthy woman for Nicholas, Tabitha,” Lady Gemma had said, nearly flooring Tabitha with her kindness.

Ellora and Frances had been seething when she returned home later that week.

“You little liar,” Ellora had spat as Tabitha walked through the door. “You were sneaking around in an attempt to snare yourself a husband!”

Frances had nearly thrown a dinner

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