The Earl's Marriage Bargain by Louise Allen

Author:Louise Allen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2020-03-06T20:16:38+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Three days later

Jane took out the letter she had begun to Verity the afternoon that Ivo had proposed to her and started afresh, wondering if writing it all down would help her believe what was happening.

And so you see how it comes to pass that I am making almost as good marriage as you! Mama, you will hardly be surprised to hear, is beside herself and half convinced that she would have discovered Ivo herself, once she had exhausted her search for distant heirs to dukedoms. He is, of course, the pineapple of perfection in her eyes—and I have to admit he is proving to be a very satisfactory husband-to-be.

Sometimes I have to stop and pinch myself. I said I would never marry except for love. Then in a moment of madness I swore that I would be independent and paint for a living. And now I am doing neither.

But is this the right thing? I keep thinking, What if? What if those two chairmen had not been passing just as we were arguing? What if Ivo’s friends had not appeared at just the wrong moment?

But then I come back to worrying about what would have happened if we had not been held up at just the right point in Kensington. Then I would never have met Ivo and he might have been seriously injured. And that makes me feel quite sick.

From your letters, Verity darling, I know that you sometimes find it difficult, learning to be a duchess. At least I will not have to be a marchioness immediately—not for a long time, I hope, because I am learning to love the Marquess despite all his growling.

Anyway, I hope you will able to give me some advice on how to go on—I am relying on you.

But I am not writing to bore you with all my dithering thoughts and three-in-the-morning doubts. Will you lead my attendants at the wedding? I am writing to Lucy and Melissa and Prue to ask them to be bridesmaids, of course, but you would be matron of honour—although I find the idea of any of us being matrons so funny that I giggle every time I think of it.

You will receive a formal invitation, of course, for you and Will and all his brood of brothers and sisters. I am so looking forward to seeing them meet the Marquess!

It would mean so much if you can be there to watch over me.

Your ever-loving and quite distracted friend,

Jane

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