here.”
“The guests will be here for hours. It’s perfectly acceptable for us to retire.” He drew her to his side. “Come. Let’s say our good-byes.”
Ariana cast a final glance at Dustin. She felt like a small lamb being led to slaughter, while being torn from an old friend rather than a new acquaintance.
Dustin interceded to kiss Ariana’s cheek. “I’ll see you at breakfast,” he promised. Turning to his brother, he extended his hand. “Congratulations, Trent. Be happy.” He leaned closer, murmuring, “And for God’s sake, be gentle.”
The tightening of Trenton’s jaw indicated that he had heard.
Whether he would comply was another thing entirely.
CHAPTER
7
“T HERESA, I THINK I’D LIKE to try wearing my hair in a different style.”
The silver-handled brush paused for a moment, then continued its downward journey through Ariana’s glowing auburn waves. “If you wish, my lady.” Theresa regarded Ariana calmly in the dressing-room mirror. “We’ll experiment tomorrow.”
Ariana whirled around, gazing up at Theresa with frightened eyes. “No. Why don’t we begin tonight?”
Theresa patted her cheek gently. “I don’t suppose your new husband would appreciate being kept waiting for hours while we dress your hair.”
Ariana swallowed. “I suppose not.”
Laying down the brush, Theresa took Ariana’s hands and eased her to her feet, inspecting her like a mother hen would its chick. She smiled at the youthful picture her mistress made. In her pristine white cotton nightdress with the frilly trimmings down the front and at the neck and sleeves, with her turquoise eyes wide as saucers, she looked more like a child about to be tucked into bed than a bride awaiting her husband on their wedding night.
Ariana ran her tongue over dry lips. “Will I do?” she whispered.
Theresa clasped Ariana’s cold fingers in hers. “To quote Sir Francis, ‘Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set.’ You are beautiful, both inside and out. You are also nervous, which is perfectly natural. But all will be well; I promise you.” She gave Ariana a slow, infinitely knowing nod. “Yes, all will be as it should.”
Ariana let the reassuring prediction soak in like warm honey. Then, hesitantly, she peeked around to the bedchamber beyond. “He was so angry,” she murmured, remembering Trenton’s earlier behavior.
“Anger is easier to admit than many of the emotions it conceals.”
“There is more to him than he allows the world to see,” Ariana concurred instantly. Her expression unclouded, her small chin set. “I just know it.”
“Then follow your instincts, pet. And leave any foolish notions behind.”
Ariana pondered the advice, and slowly her anxiety began to wane. “You’re right.” Impulsively, she hugged Theresa. “Thank you, my dear, dear friend.”
“Go,” Theresa ordered, her voice choked. She kissed Ariana’s brow and shooed her off. “The duke is on his way.”
With a determined expression, Ariana stood tall and marched through the connecting door.
She had unpacked her things earlier that night, so it was not the first time she’d been in her new bedroom. Nevertheless, its enormous size and austere presence still unnerved her. Aside from a low wooden table and two straight-backed chairs clustered around the far wall housing the marble fireplace, the room was barren, almost completely devoid of furniture. The polished wooden floors stretched endlessly beneath a towering domed ceiling, with nothing below save a china basin and pitcher, a tiny nightstand …
And, in the dead center of the room, a massive four-poster bed.
Tentatively, Ariana walked over, brushing her fingers across the soft coverlet and cool linen. She noted that the bed had been turned down in preparation for sleep … or whatever preceded sleep.
Ariana tried to imagine lying here with Trenton Kingsley. Her stomach lurched, and turning away, she wrapped her arms about herself for reassurance. It was
“The guests will be here for hours. It’s perfectly acceptable for us to retire.” He drew her to his side. “Come. Let’s say our good-byes.”
Ariana cast a final glance at Dustin. She felt like a small lamb being led to slaughter, while being torn from an old friend rather than a new acquaintance.
Dustin interceded to kiss Ariana’s cheek. “I’ll see you at breakfast,” he promised. Turning to his brother, he extended his hand. “Congratulations, Trent. Be happy.” He leaned closer, murmuring, “And for God’s sake, be gentle.”
The tightening of Trenton’s jaw indicated that he had heard.
Whether he would comply was another thing entirely.
CHAPTER
7
“T HERESA, I THINK I’D LIKE to try wearing my hair in a different style.”
The silver-handled brush paused for a moment, then continued its downward journey through Ariana’s glowing auburn waves. “If you wish, my lady.” Theresa regarded Ariana calmly in the dressing-room mirror. “We’ll experiment tomorrow.”
Ariana whirled around, gazing up at Theresa with frightened eyes. “No. Why don’t we begin tonight?”
Theresa patted her cheek gently. “I don’t suppose your new husband would appreciate being kept waiting for hours while we dress your hair.”
Ariana swallowed. “I suppose not.”
Laying down the brush, Theresa took Ariana’s hands and eased her to her feet, inspecting her like a mother hen would its chick. She smiled at the youthful picture her mistress made. In her pristine white cotton nightdress with the frilly trimmings down the front and at the neck and sleeves, with her turquoise eyes wide as saucers, she looked more like a child about to be tucked into bed than a bride awaiting her husband on their wedding night.
Ariana ran her tongue over dry lips. “Will I do?” she whispered.
Theresa clasped Ariana’s cold fingers in hers. “To quote Sir Francis, ‘Virtue is like a rich stone, best plain set.’ You are beautiful, both inside and out. You are also nervous, which is perfectly natural. But all will be well; I promise you.” She gave Ariana a slow, infinitely knowing nod. “Yes, all will be as it should.”
Ariana let the reassuring prediction soak in like warm honey. Then, hesitantly, she peeked around to the bedchamber beyond. “He was so angry,” she murmured, remembering Trenton’s earlier behavior.
“Anger is easier to admit than many of the emotions it conceals.”
“There is more to him than he allows the world to see,” Ariana concurred instantly. Her expression unclouded, her small chin set. “I just know it.”
“Then follow your instincts, pet. And leave any foolish notions behind.”
Ariana pondered the advice, and slowly her anxiety began to wane. “You’re right.” Impulsively, she hugged Theresa. “Thank you, my dear, dear friend.”
“Go,” Theresa ordered, her voice choked. She kissed Ariana’s brow and shooed her off. “The duke is on his way.”
With a determined expression, Ariana stood tall and marched through the connecting door.
She had unpacked her things earlier that night, so it was not the first time she’d been in her new bedroom. Nevertheless, its enormous size and austere presence still unnerved her. Aside from a low wooden table and two straight-backed chairs clustered around the far wall housing the marble fireplace, the room was barren, almost completely devoid of furniture. The polished wooden floors stretched endlessly beneath a towering domed ceiling, with nothing below save a china basin and pitcher, a tiny nightstand …
And, in the dead center of the room, a massive four-poster bed.
Tentatively, Ariana walked over, brushing her fingers across the soft coverlet and cool linen. She noted that the bed had been turned down in preparation for sleep … or whatever preceded sleep.
Ariana tried to imagine lying here with Trenton Kingsley. Her stomach lurched, and turning away, she wrapped her arms about herself for reassurance. It was
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