Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

It was the most dreadful inconvenience to have to walk back to one’s own wedding breakfast on wobbly legs, as Evie soon found out to her great discomfort. Fortunately, no one seemed to have missed her in her absence, and as soon as she walked back into the party, she was whisked into a flurry of greetings and well-wishes and the like once more.

She supposed this was much better than having to make sense of what Daniel truly wanted. In that aspect, she truly was at a loss. There was no mistaking the hunger in his eyes when he kissed her—that much was true—but then, he distanced himself once more and pushed her away.

What was he so worried about? They were both married now, and although it was highly unusual for couples to actually have a deep affection—and maybe desire—for each other, it was what everybody secretly wanted and hoped for. Otherwise, why would the esteemed members of the ton continue in their aimless search for love outside of marriage?

And they say that women do not know what they want. How dreadfully troublesome is it to have to convince one’s husband on certain… matters.

“Your Grace, I must congratulate you on such a beautiful wedding,” a sultry voice penetrated through her confusion. “You must forgive my lack of etiquette for showing up without an invitation. His Grace and I are… well, you could say we are old acquaintances.”

The woman who spoke stood before her, the very picture of allure, with her dark hair pulled up in a simple yet elegant fashion. She appeared to be slightly older than Evie, with a smile that hinted at seduction and dark eyes that spoke of forbidden secrets. Her attire, although still within the bounds of propriety, still had a lower neckline than Evie or the other ladies might have worn.

The Marchioness of Cobham truly was a beautiful woman.

Jealousy, cold and insidious, slithered in Evie’s veins as she recalled the look the Marchioness had given Daniel that one time at the ball. She knew that the Marchioness and her husband were more familiar with each other.

Certainly more familiar than I am with him.

But a guest, even one who had not been invited as the Marchioness was, must still be treated with courtesy.

“Oh no, Lady Cobham, you must not say such words. I cannot have you feeling unwelcome here at Ashton Hall.” Evie smiled back at her, even though the words grated on her. “Not in my own wedding, at least.”

The Marchioness looked at her with some surprise, and then a slow smile formed on her lips. “His Grace has always been aloof, you could say. We—the Marquess and I—never expected him to find someone so young and… bright.”

That somehow does not sound quite right…

But then again, it was not inappropriate either, although Evie thought it was a highly unusual thing to say to a bride and at her own wedding.

“Ah… Thank you, Lady Cobham,” she managed with a polite smile.

“In any case, I am happy that my old friend has finally found happiness.”

The Marchioness smiled at her in that mysterious way of hers once more, before she politely excused herself to join her husband. Evie could only stare after her as her mind replayed that rather odd and unexpected conversation. Truly, she did not know what she should make of it.

Or if there was any point in looking into it any further.

“Evie.”

She turned around to find Scarlett and Phoebe looking at her concern, their lips pulled into tight smiles.

“I saw you talking to the Marchioness of Cobham,” the redhead began. “If she said anything⁠—”

“She was not causing trouble of any sort, I assure you,” Evie quickly corrected her friend.

Scarlett was known for her boldness and her impulsiveness. Evie could not have her hotheaded friend going after the Marchioness just because of a few cryptic words.

“You do know that His Grace and the Marchioness…” Phoebe trailed off. The distrust was still clear in her eyes, the disapproval in the grim line of her lips.

It was very rare for the brunette to show scorn for anything, as she had always been so polite and proper.

For Phoebe to regard the Marchioness so spoke volumes of her loyalty as a friend, and it warmed Evie’s heart, even as she grappled with her enigmatic conversation with Lady Cobham and how Daniel turned her away just earlier.

Evie smiled and reached for their hands. “I am truly blessed to have friends like you who watch out for me at every turn, but I assure you, she did not mean to cause trouble of any sort.”

At least nothing that warranted the sort of confrontation Scarlett was going to unleash on her. The Marchioness did keep referring to Daniel as her “old friend,” and Evie did not particularly like the sound of that.

In any case, I am the Duchess now. And he is my husband.

“Well, whatever ploy she has in her head barely matters.” Scarlett sniffed disdainfully. “You are the Duchess of Ashton now, Evie. Can you imagine that? Duchess!”

Phoebe smiled. “Scarlett is right.”

“I suppose the gossips would not be too happy to hear about it,” Evie sighed in mock dismay. “After all, they have all been breathlessly anticipating my downfall.”

“Not if your husband has anything to say about it.” The redhead smirked with a raised eyebrow. “I swear, that man derives as much pleasure as I do from proving all those nasty naysayers wrong!”

Phoebe looked at her helplessly. “What did your mama tell you about swearing, Scar?”

Scarlett simply grinned at her impenitently. “How fortunate then that she is not within earshot at the moment!”

They burst into laughter beneath their gloved hands, with Phoebe shaking her head at Scarlett’s antics.

Evie could only smile as she watched her two friends. How fortunate they were to not have to marry such a complicated man as the Duke of Ashton. The unmarried young ladies of the ton and their mamas might look at her with envy for managing to wrangle a proposal from a duke, but only Evie herself truly understood the dilemma in such a union.

Daniel had told her that they were to maintain their distance in private, even if they must act as if their marriage was truly a love match when in public.

However, if there was one thing that her husband had yet to learn, it was that Evie herself did not exactly like to be told what to do and how she should do it.

Daniel is simply going to have to find out the hard way.

Weddings were usually held in the morning to allow the bride and the groom to retreat to their home or leave for their honeymoon.

For Evie and Daniel, there was no such thing, although sometime towards the end of the wedding breakfast, he had subtly dismissed the guests as if he could not wait to have his bride to himself. The guests had laughed politely and then left, eager to spread the word that the Duke of Ashton was the most enthusiastic of bridegrooms and his new Duchess had to be the most blessed of all women to have secured such an attentive husband.

And that she might even require the services of a discreet physician in the morning as a result of his excitement—whatever that meant.

“Reformed rakes truly make good husbands!” Lady Merlon had remarked in astonishment before she left. “And it would seem that Wolves are the very best of the lot!”

Indeed, Evie would not be surprised if young ladies all over London started to consider marrying a Wolf.

If they only knew how difficult they can be!

Evie laughed inwardly and shook her head bitterly.

She knew just how stubborn Colin was. But Daniel? He was ten times more so. A hundred, even!

They might all look at her with envy for making what was now purported to be the match of the Season, but how could they know that the new Duchess of Ashton was lying in her bed all alone while her husband locked himself up in his tower?

Even if I tell them, they will never believe me!

She let out a groan as she rolled over onto her back and stared at the luxurious canopy above her. Ever since she had moved into Daniel’s rooms, the servants had gone out of their way to furnish the vast expanse of it according to her tastes.

The dark and dreary upholstery had been replaced with pale blues and golds. The heavy velvet curtains were thrown out in favor of lace and light blue satin. Softer carpets in soothing hues were laid underfoot.

Naturally, even the bed linens had been changed to suit the rest of the room, so instead of the oppressive black she had woken up to on her first morning in the estate, she stared up at a canopy of icy blue embroidered with silvery flowers.

However, even that most gentle color could not give Evie the peace of mind that she sought. Nor could it lull her to a dreamless slumber so that she might forget—at least for the night—that she was now married to Daniel.

Or that she, as his wife, was now entitled to certain privileges.

He should have been right here with her. In her rooms. In her bed.

She bit her lower lip, a warmth rising to her cheeks as she recalled how he had kissed her just that morning. It almost felt as if she was standing too close to a fire, but strangely enough, the warmth did not frighten her.

Instead, it pooled low in her belly, reminding her of the way his hands had held her, his fingers digging into her flesh as she pressed herself to his hardness…

Evie groaned and rolled over, squeezing her eyes shut in misery and frustration. Brides should be excited about their wedding nights. Her own grandmother had not been so forthcoming with the knowledge, fearing that Evie would succumb to hysterics before the ceremony could be completed.

“You will find out for yourself,” her grandmama had told her hastily, looking rather uncomfortable. “Your husband will guide you through it. I am quite certain, however, that he will not fumble his way through it like an untried youth.”

Indeed, her grandmother must have expected too much of her new grandson-in-law, for not only was he not properly educating Evie on this most important aspect of a relationship between a husband and wife, but he was also actively avoiding it!

This cannot go on. I shall have to make him see reason!

Evie stood up and grabbed her robe, her feet whispering against the soft rug underfoot. The distance between the rooms she occupied and the tower was not small, and once more, she inwardly berated Daniel for being so difficult.

If she had to marry him, then she would become his wife in every sense of the word.