Two Dukes and a Lady by Lorna James

Author:Lorna James [James, Lorna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Scorched)
Published: 2017-08-13T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Lily sat through church with her uncle, who was grinning like a madman. He obviously couldn’t wait to get her out of his house, so his reprobate friends could drink and smoke and gamble in peace. On her other side was Charles and his family. William sat behind them. There was a grim tension between them that worried her. She couldn’t put her finger on what was wrong, but something was off. As the morning sun prismed through the stained glass windows, she wondered if she was doing the right thing. Would this sin of lust be unforgivable in the Lord’s eyes? Or because she loved them both, would it be only a minor sin? Or was it even a sin at all?

Charles was a solid, warm presence next to her, and the relief their forthcoming marriage gave her made her want to slump against him in gratitude. The heated looks William sent her under hooded eyes made her eager for the sermon to be over. After the service, they were all going to sneak off together. Everything would be all right once they were together. It always was. She was so nervous, though, she barely could sit still in the pew.

Finally, the minister gave the benediction and they milled outside of the church. Lily took great gulps of air that tasted like freedom. With Charles by her side, they accepted the congratulations of the parishioners on their engagement. William stood off to the right, but close enough to be a part of the conversations.

“Oh, Lily, dear, how wonderful to see the two of you together.” Charles’s mother embraced her. Her son had given her the impression that Lily was now a wealthy widow, because he wanted his mother to be as receptive to the marriage as possible. Lily didn’t like the lie, but she also didn’t want any discord marring their happiness.

Charles’s brother, Sebastian, also offered his grudging congratulations.

“How did you like Boston?” Sebastian asked once the pleasantries had been observed.

Lily didn’t want anyone looking closely at her past hoping to reveal a financial scandal and finding out instead what Charles and William planned for their marriage bed. “It was dreadful,” she said, fluttering her fan. “I am so glad to be back in civilization with stalwart and honorable men such as yourself and your brother.”

Sebastian grunted.

“I’m very happy to become part of your family,” Lily said, from her heart.

“And you,” Charles’s mother said, pointing at William. “You’re next.”

William raised an eyebrow. “Madame, since you are taken, I cannot bear to consider another woman.” He gave a short bow, while Charles rolled his eyes.

Charles’s mother fixed him with a stern glance. “Mark my words, you will settle down shortly.” She tapped him on the arm with her fan. “Count on it.”

After another hour of small talk with what felt like half of London, Charles handed her into his phaeton with William and they took the open-air carriage for a ride. Lily held onto her bonnet with both hands

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