Intimate Deception (23 page)

“And terribly happy for you, Your Grace,” he said, nodding in Grace’s direction.

“Thank you, Mr. Germaine. I’m glad you could come.”

“I’m honored you thought to invite me. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. You can’t imagine the buzz your announcement caused among the
ton
. There’s not a club, salon, or sitting room in all of London that was not in total shock and disbelief this morning. Of course everyone boasts having a suspicion the two of you intended to marry. They all noticed your closeness of late. They are just surprised you married secretly. And by special license.”

Grace knew her cheeks had turned a fiery red, and she looked at the floor.

Vincent pulled her closer. “Our marriage was hardly secret. It was quite public,” he said, casting a gaze at the large family he’d just inherited. “As for the special license, you can see we’re far too happy to suffer through a prolonged engagement.”

“Well, you certainly took everyone by surprise. It’s not often anyone can get the better of society’s expert gossipmongers. But you certainly did. I’m happy for you both, though. Truly happy.”

“Thank you,” they said in unison, then Germaine stepped back as Grace’s sisters gathered around them to offer more good wishes.

Grace went through the motions, smiling at the appropriate times, laughing with what she knew was forced gaiety, and accepting Vincent’s attentions with all the warmth and elation a bride should show her new husband.

Under different circumstances, it would have been the perfect celebration.

After an appropriate time, they moved to the formal dining room and sat down to the wedding breakfast that was originally intended to be a luncheon to welcome Anne home from her honeymoon. Grace did little more than shove her food around on her plate as she tried to keep her lack of appetite from Vincent. The way he watched her made it impossible.

“Are you well?”

She looked up at him and smiled. “Of course. Just not overly hungry.”

He placed his hand on top of hers, a gesture noticed by everyone and commented on by more than one of her sisters with a teasing remark.

He laughed. The first time she’d heard him laugh in weeks, and a stabbing warmth rushed through her. Oh, how she wished his laughter was genuine. How she wished his actions were real and the look on his face sincere. But she knew none of it was. It was all an act. Just as the last month and more had been an act.

When the meal was finished, the men adjourned to Wedgewood’s study and Grace and her sisters shared a cup of tea before she went upstairs for a few minutes of privacy before leaving.

Grace entered her room and closed the door behind her. A part of her was eager to start her new life. A part of her wasn’t ready to face the challenge. A part of her wasn’t sure she knew how.

She sat on a chair and let Linny’s words come back to her. “Don’t give him a choice to turn away from you, but bind yourself to him from the start.”

Grace repeated Linny’s advice over and over until the words were indelibly etched in her memory. In time, she felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her. The answer had been within her grasp all this time but her fears had gotten in the way. She knew exactly what Linny meant, knew exactly what she had to do.

She rose with a smile on her face. This may not have been how she’d have chosen to start her married life, but she owed it to Raeborn to be a wife with whom he could be happy and content.

She vowed she would be everything he wanted in a wife. Because she already cared for him a great deal. And because she was carrying his child.

Could anything be more wonderful?

“Welcome to your new home, Your Grace.”

Grace took her husband’s hand and stepped to the ground. She looked up and for the first time saw the house where she would live.

Raeborn House was one of the most impressive homes in London. Her heart swelled with pride.

“Does your new home meet with your approval?”

She looked up and met Vincent’s serious gaze. He truly cared what she thought of his home.

“It’s beautiful, Vincent.”

His gaze softened. “I’m glad you like it. It will be our home for—”

He paused as if he wasn’t sure how to finish. Grace finished for him. “For the rest of our lives.”

He nodded. “Yes, the rest of our lives.”

The way he spoke those words caused her whole body to turn strangely warm. Spiraling spikes of emotion soared to every extremity the moment he touched her. She trembled.

“Are you cold?”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and held her closer to him. “No, I’m fine.” But she wasn’t fine. His nearness was like a fiery blaze, warming her. She was burning from the inside out.

“It’s been a long, exhausting day. I’ll have some warm tea brought to you before you go to bed.”

“Thank you. That would be lovely.”

They walked up the steps and through the open door. Even though it was quite late, the whole staff was dressed and waiting.

Her stomach churned. At first she was nervous to meet the servants. But any qualms she had vanished the minute she saw the broad smiles on their faces.

“Carver,” Raeborn said to the butler, “may I present Her Grace, the Duchess of Raeborn.”

Carver bowed politely. “Your Grace.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Carver.”

“Your staff, Your Grace,” the butler said.

With Raeborn at her side, Grace went down the long line of servants, with Carver introducing each of them. She made an effort to speak to each of them individually. When Carver finished, the staff bade her good night and went to their quarters, probably glad to lay their heads on their pillows.

“If there’s anything you need, you have only to ask. The staff is at your disposal.” Raeborn tucked her hand through the crook of his arm and walked with her to the long, curving stairway. “It has been a while since they’ve had a mistress to oversee them, but they are all longtime employees and very loyal.”

“I’m sure everything will be perfect, Vincent,” she said as they walked up the stairs. Grace turned her head and looked back behind them to the rich oak woodwork and the ornate vases adorning the massive foyer. “Your house is beautiful.”

“Thank you. But it’s your home now. Tomorrow I’ll take you on a tour. I think you will be especially pleased at the gardens. Hennely seems to have the ability to turn even the homeliest plants green.”

“I look forward to it.”

They reached a room at the end of the hall and he stopped. “This is your suite of rooms, Grace.”

“
My
suite?”

“Yes. My rooms are next door. There’s an adjoining sitting room.”

Grace felt a cold chill race through her body.

He looked to the side as if he couldn’t meet her gaze. “I will be nearby if you have need of me.”

“I see,” she whispered, struggling to find her voice.

“I’ve taken the liberty of asking Alice to serve as your lady’s maid. Carver recommended her. If she isn’t to your liking—”

“I’m sure she will be fine.”

“Very well. Good night then, Grace.”

“Are you coming to bed now?”

“No. I’ve got work to see to before I can sleep. I’ll be in my study.”

“I see.”

He gently pulled her toward him and kissed her chastely on the forehead. “Good night,” he said again, then opened the door to her room and stepped back for her to enter.

Grace walked into her new room on legs that weren’t quite steady beneath her. Surely he did not mean he intended to separate himself from her? Surely he did not mean theirs was to be a marriage in name only?

Grace didn’t see the pretty young maid standing beside the bed until she spoke. Her tumultuous thoughts were too confused by the way Vincent intended to start their marriage.

Grace changed from the gown she’d worn for her wedding into a beautiful satin nightgown Anne had given her especially for this night, then sat on the cushioned stool before a mirrored table and let Alice comb out her hair.
The little maid chatted nervously while doing her work, but Grace hardly heard a word she said. Her thoughts were too occupied with her husband who’d gone back downstairs. With her husband who’d left his wife on their wedding night.

“Will there be anything else, Your Grace?” Alice asked, standing behind her with a pensive smile on her face.

“No. Thank you, Alice. That will be all. I appreciate your help.”

Alice opened the door just as an upstairs maid named Jane came with a tray. “His Grace thought you’d like some hot tea before you went to sleep.”

Grace looked at the tray and for a second wanted to send the plump little maid back downstairs to tell His Grace that what his wife wanted was her husband to come up to her. Instead, she motioned for the maid to set down the tray.

“Please tell His Grace thank you.”

“Yes, Your Grace. I’ll be sure to tell him.”

Grace stared at the pot of tea long after the servants left. The tea service was of fine china, and Grace rubbed her finger over the delicate gold-leaf design on the cups while her anger and disappointment grew stronger.

How did he think they could have a marriage if they never shared the same bed? How did he think they could grow closer if he separated himself from her?

She walked to the window and looked out in the darkness, seeing nothing.

How on earth could she breach the wall he intended there to be between the two of them?

Linny’s words came back to her. “You breach it with patience and with love.”

Grace sat in the burgundy velvet wing chair next to the dying fire and waited, praying he’d change his mind and come to her eventually.

Several hours later she heard him climb the stairs. Then she heard the soft thud of the door when he closed it.

Her heart pounded in anticipation. She waited, praying the door connecting their rooms would open. Praying he wouldn’t leave her alone on their wedding night. Praying he didn’t intend for theirs to be a loveless marriage. Praying…

Grace sat in the darkness long after the last ember in the fireplace had died. Her head ached, her temper grew increasingly more fitful, and her heart ached as it never had before.

She took a shuddering breath as Linny’s advice slapped her full force in the face.
You breach the wall he erects with patience and love
…
and don
’
t give him a chance to turn away from you.

Grace dropped her blanket to the floor and walked to the door that connected their rooms. She understood with clarity how much she would truly lose if she gave him the chance to turn away from her.

V
incent stood at his bedroom window, looking out into the darkness below. The street outside was quiet, the last of society’s partygoers having gone home long ago. His wedding day was finally over. And somehow he’d survived.

Bloody hell, he never thought he’d have to go through another wedding day.

He remembered every detail of it, from the time he stepped into Wedgewood’s town house this morning. He’d thought to have a moment alone with Grace. A moment to prepare her for how their personal lives would be instead of seeing the surprise, even disappointment, on her face tonight when he’d walked her to her rooms—and left her.

But there hadn’t been an opportunity to talk to her. Lady Caroline gave the excuse that Grace was busy getting ready for her wedding, but he knew that wasn’t entirely truthful. He knew she was ill. Ill from the babe he’d planted inside her. Like she’d been ill every morning when they’d been in the country, even though she’d tried to hide it from him.

Vincent fought a rush of panic that nearly took him to his knees. He’d never been part of a family like this. A
family burgeoning with life and love and laughter. Their numbers alone were staggering. Their exuberance astounding. He’d grown up alone, an only child. To this day he had only one living relative. Grace grew up in a crowd, and they had descended on Wedgewood’s town house like a band of merrymaking revelers. En masse. Her entire family. Her six sisters and their husbands.

Lady Caroline and Wedgewood were, of course, already there. Then Lady Josalyn arrived with her husband, Viscount Carmody. And Lady Francine and her husband, the Earl of Baldwin. And Lady Sarah and her husband, Baron Hensley. And Lady Mary and her husband, the Earl of Adledge. And finally Lady Anne and her husband, Wexley.