The Shy Duchess by Amanda McCabe - The Shy Duchess

Author:Amanda McCabe - The Shy Duchess [McCabe, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Historical
ISBN: 9781408923122
Google: Af0awnKbCckC
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 10354173
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

“Oh, Emily, my dear! I cannot believe tomorrow is your wedding day,” Emily’s mother said with a sigh as she ran the silver-backed brush through Emily’s hair. She had dismissed Mary for the evening, saying she would help her daughter herself.

Emily laughed. She pressed her hand over her dressing gown, where the precious emerald pendant lay against her skin. “I can’t believe it myself, Mama. The days have gone so quickly.” Too quickly, passing in a blur of lace and flowers and visitors. She had seldom seen Nicholas in all the confusion, and had never been alone with him at all. Even last night, at the impromptu dinner party that had become a betrothal celebration, they had only had one stolen moment together where he kissed her cheek and asked her once more if she was quite sure.

She was not sure, of course, not in the least. But this wedding juggernaut was utterly impossible to stop. Her fate was decided and she had to make the best of it now.

In the dressing-table mirror she glimpsed her pale blue silk and white lace wedding gown, hung on the back of the wardrobe door. It fluttered a bit, as if to entice or mock her.

“You have been working so hard on all the preparations, Mama. You must be very tired.”

“I am not tired in the least! In fact, I am more energised than I have been in years. My little girl is to be married, and to a duke. I knew when you were born, and I held you in my arms and saw how beautiful you are, that you were meant for great things. And I was right.”

Great things? Emily doubted that. She had to learn how to be a good duchess, but she was a hard worker and she was quite sure she could do it.

Her mother tied off her braid and kissed her cheek. “Come sit by me for a moment, Emily dearest. I want to speak to you about something very important.”

Emily’s stomach clenched. Whenever her mother had that tone in her voice, Emily knew she wouldn’t like what she heard. “Oh, Mama, I am very tired, and tomorrow is such a busy day. Can it not wait?”

“No, it cannot,” her mother said sternly. “This is very important. Now, come sit by me on the bed and listen to me carefully.”

Emily went with her in silence, letting her mother hold on to her hand. Her fingers were very tight, pressing the emerald ring into Emily’s skin.

“Now, my dear, a wife has many duties, especially a wife who is a duchess,” her mother said. “I have taught you to run a house properly, to dress fashionably and to remember to be charitable and kind. But there is one last, most important duty I must tell you about, as my mother did for me the night before my wedding.”

Emily very much feared she knew what was coming now. “Oh, no, Mama.”

“Yes.” Her mother’s lips pressed together grimly. “You will have your duty in the bedchamber.

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