The Duchess and the Spy (21 page)

“There isn’t a dearer soul than you, Maria.” Maria smiled one last time at her, and scurried out of the bedchamber.

Her heart quickened, as her eyes fell on the letter. She smiled.

My lovely Isabella,

I have reflected upon our past confrontations together, and I have concluded that our collective stubborn will and pride, have conflicted, and to this end, we have treated each other in a very ill way indeed. Pray, let us forget the past transgressions, and start anew. As my wife you shall be the most important woman in my life, and I trust that as your husband I shall be the most important man in your life. Today is our day, my dear. Let us make it one that shall not be soon forgotten.

Affectionately yours,

Saint Christopher.

She was startled to discover that he had signed her old nickname for him to the letter, and was even more astonished to discover the abundance of goodwill that it contained. He wanted to try. He wanted to take the chance. And despite the fact that he had been literally thrust into the position of marrying her to save her reputation, and to avoid a disastrous scandal he was still attempting to woo her, even if it was done in his highly unconventional way. He still wanted her, and perhaps as he kept telling her, she wanted him as well.

She waited until she had resumed her senses, and placed the letter down upon the dressing table. Hearing Maria whoosh into the room, she turned her body to study Maria. “Oh, Maria, you do look quite fetching,” she exclaimed, jumping up from her chair and walking over toward her. Gathering Maria’s hands into her own, she squeezed them gently. “Thank you, for being here with me, when I needed it the most. I confess I do not know what I would have done without you. My friends seem to be so scarce these days, and it warms my heart to know that there are good generous people still left in this increasingly cold and bitter world,” she sighed deeply, and then stared over at the wedding dress that had been laid out for her.

She laughed as Maria finished smoothing out the dress, and then she made sure that her hair was unruffled. Maria reached for a jewelry case, and produced a strand of pearls. Isabella started, when Maria slipped the pearls around her neck and fastened the clasp. Then she slipped the dainty drop earrings into her ears.

“Lovely,” Maria breathed, as she led Isabella over to the full-length mirror. Isabella examined her reflection in the mirror, turned to Maria and nodded happily.

“Oh, Maria it is so very fine looking, though I daresay that no one in the room shall even give me the slightest attention. They will most undoubtedly be too preoccupied with watching Christopher. He can be quite entertaining, and he does like to hog the attention.” She pressed her hand to her mouth to still the chuckle that she felt coming upon her.

“Yes, he can be,” Maria heartily agreed, as she became moony eyed. “I adore my Theo, but your Christopher, is a very handsome fellow. And I a rather capable fellow. I envy you my dearest you shall have the balls and the grand townhouse in England, and at least one country estate, why you are the most fortunate woman that I know.”

“I already have all of those things, and besides it is all worth nothing if you are not in love. What I really need is love. Not a handsome persnickety husband. I need love!” she proclaimed longingly, marching back over towards the dressing table. “I tried to convince myself but I can’t marry him in good faith, I simply can’t,” she decided, reaching down to rouge her lips once again. “I’ve made many mistakes in my life I can’t add one like this to my already formidable list.”

“Yes, but dearest, you do not have a choice. And do not despair. You will be treated as if you were crystal. He will not hurt you.” The inner turmoil raging inside of Isabella was about to get the better of her. She had to calm down, and gain a clear mind.

“You are right, and as I always say we do what we must.” She pressed a strand of hair back away from her forehead, and sighed, when it popped back out and fell against her forehead. She blew upwards and that did no good either. “There are some things that one must deal with.” She turned to Maria and locked arms with her. They walked arm in arm from the room.

Isabella walked to the church holding Jason’s arm so tightly that she could almost see the twitch of a wince across his features. He smiled down at her and patted her arm affectionately. She desperately wished that they were going to someone else’s wedding instead of her own.

“I have a lady in London that I fancy, and I’ve told her that if she ever accepts another man, I shall challenge that man to a duel at dawn.”

“You didn’t,” she breathed, exhaling a great rush of air. “Well, of course you did, that sounds exactly like you,” she giggled, placing her other hand to her mouth. “If you ever challenged a man to a duel at dawn I would be forced to box your ears.”

“Then you are too late, my dear cousin. I have already challenged two men, and I confess, I won both duels. Do not look so stricken, they are both still quite alive.”

“Oh, Jason.”

“Honestly, Isabella, if you think that that is shocking then you shall not want to discover Christopher’s dueling legacy,” he promised, as a twinkle entered his eyes.

“Whatever do you mean?” she questioned, as they walked up the church steps.

“I mean that you shall have to find out from him, those secrets are his to divulge, not mine. I have no business revealing the more exciting parts of Christopher’s life. Some of which, I know you already know about.”

She entered the church, and stared down the length of it. She wanted to run. She wanted to take off, and never look back. She had a chance if only Jason would release her arm, she could run, find a carriage and take off. She could find her way to London or Scotland. Either way, she would be away from Christopher. And she needed to be as far away from him as possible, before she became attached to him as well. Everyone she became attached to found an untimely demise. So she would keep herself away from him, if only for his own good.

She let go of Jason’s arm, and slipped through the church door. Everything became a blur to her. She had made it out onto the street, and had begun to make great haste, when she heard loud footsteps behind her. 

“Oh, no you don’t! You are not running out on me!” she heard Christopher say, as he swept her right off of her feet, and carried her in his arms back to the church. She stared at him in astonishment. He looked quite handsome indeed. His hair was combed even though the midnight waves still had a mind of their own. He was freshly shaven, and she was certain he had just bathed. His white shirt looked endearingly crisp against the navy blue tailcoat outfitted with gold buttons. His cravat was tied in his own customized knot and looked quite smart against his white shirt and blue tailcoat, and his gold watch and watch fobs added to the look of his tailcoat. His tight breeches were a creamy colour and fit him snugly, perhaps a wee bit too snug, and now she knew why the English called them inexpressibles. He placed her on her feet.

“Now, you stay here,” he walked over to Jason, and then took his place by the vicar. Jason came down and took her arm.

“There is no running away now, Isabella. Don’t even think about it.”

“I shan’t,” she said. Her heart fell. She was doomed.

Jason walked her down the aisle, and presented her to Christopher. His eyes fell to her heaving breasts. She knew he was looking at the emerald pendant. A smug grin enveloped his features when he discovered that it wasn’t glowing. “Those pearls look quite fetching mixed with the emerald amulet.”

*****

Christopher stared down at her, and smiled at her. She had such wildly beautiful hair. Her crimson curls were already beginning to frame her face, and the wedding bonnet she wore her seem quite diminutive. The wedding dress itself was rose hued, and was made of silk. It had long sleeves and a low plunging neckline. Her breasts were very well displayed, since it was tighter than usual across the bust line, and they were pushed up so high that his eyes widened in wonderment.

“I trust you can behave yourself while the Vicar performs the ceremony?” he whispered.

“Oh, aye,” she whispered.

Today he would learn that patience was her virtue, and that no matter how barbed his tongue became she would ignore him, and attempt to make what she could out of the situation. He had lain so many charges against her door that she could not possibly change his mind on the manner. She did not delude herself with frivolous thoughts.

He did not hold her in high esteem, and she doubted that he ever would. That no longer mattered to her. She would do what she could and pray that somehow she would convince him to change his view towards her. She would take the tattered remains of her self-respect, and endeavor to restore them to her full glory. He would not make her feel miserable on her wedding day. He would not! But the misconceptions he had of her would never make her weak. If he sincerely believed that he could bend her will and consummate their marriage without her being truthfully passionately in love with him, then he was sorely mistaken.

Men tried to rule her life, and play her like a pawn in a game of chess, but this time she would prevail. This time she would not be controlled or manipulated, and she would definitely not be conquered. No man could be her master. No man!

The sooner he realized that, the sooner that they would find an amiable and perhaps even an indifferent relationship. She would ignore him at all possible opportunities, and he would no doubt ignore her as well.

“Might we begin?” The vicar asked wearily, glancing across the church, and locking gazes with his wife and daughter.

Isabella remained silent during the full course of the vows until she had to give her acceptance. Then, all eyes were focused entirely on her, and she could have sworn that her face had turned as red as her hair, even though she realized that no one could see her. Tears glistened in her eyes, as the vicar waited rather patiently. Mayhap, he’d had other brides who were as nervous as she. She felt Christopher stiffen beside her, though he really hadn’t distanced himself very much, since he had settled her onto her feet.

She spoke when she had to and held her out for him, as he recited his troth, “
With this Ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” It was done. The vicar went on a bit more and then pronounced them man and wife, at which point she was expected to seal their union with a kiss. Christopher kissed her, and this was no passionate kiss, it was a light kiss only long enough to do appease the vicar and everyone else in the church, as their kiss finished the ceremony.

They signed the required documents with their witnesses and then, she suddenly felt quite weak. She felt as if she’d just signed her life away.

Maria came over to them and offered her congratulations, and Christopher took her arm, and pulled her toward the head of the church. She tried slowing him down, but he would not give in.

“Come, my dearest, I have a surprise for you.”

Isabella didn’t like the tone that was in his voice. She struggled against him, and fell silent when he finally pulled her out. The open carriage was decorated and was absolutely breathtaking. She gasped, even though she hadn’t let one word escape her mouth. She wouldn’t betray herself. She had vowed to not speak to him, and not speak she would. She heard Maria exclaim, and then turned to Jason.

“Why do we require a carriage, when we are only going to be in the Town?” she asked, as her mind began swirling with conflicting thoughts. Her emotions were rioting and she could not fathom to what end he had hired a carriage for, and then, as she inspected it more closely, she realized with her heart pumping furiously that it was not a hired carriage, it was his own, for it had his crests upon it. She believed it was a barouche, and a lovely one at that.

“We can’t go anywhere, for Maria has organized a wedding feast for us, and I shan’t disappoint her.” Her heart raced. She felt as if she were suffocating.

“We shall stay for the meal my dearest, and then we’ll make haste to travel before it becomes dark,” he whispered taking her by the arm. She tossed her head haughtily, and completely ignored him. She turned to Jason seeking his support.

“We can’t possibly be going to London, yet, we must stay with you and make sure you are well on the mend before we leave,” she argued, hoping against all hope that she wouldn’t have to be stuck in a carriage with her husband for any great length of time.

“We aren’t going anywhere, my dear Isabella. I am staying here for a few more days, and then I will travel on to London, alone. I have no idea where your destination will be, for your husband refuses to enlighten me. And since he is your husband, he is higher on your list of priorities than I am. He is your master now. I’m well on the road to recovery, you needn’t fret over me.”

“Isabella, you might be able to twist my arm for the information,” Christopher offered helpfully, sending her a wicked smile. She scowled back at him, and continued to only give her attention to her cousin. She could tell that he was grossly offended by her affront, as he had tightened his hold upon her as he led her towards the carriage. “I am your husband now after all, and a husband expects certain liberties.” At his declaration, she nearly tripped down the church steps.

“Oh do hush. As far as I’m concerned you can blow your damn liberties out your… ear,” she hissed angrily, flashing him a hateful stare. “I can’t abide listening to you one moment longer.”