Chapter 7

She heaved a sigh as she stared at her reflection in the mirror; her heart beating really fast, threatening to jump out of her chest. Jane tried to control her breath but she wasn't doing a pretty good job at that. This was the day she would become the duke's wife and for some reason, she was nervous for the first time in a long time.

Clad in a high waistline short-sleeved white wedding dress, which was made luxurious satin fabrics with intricate lace and embroidery she exuded elegance, glowing like the bride that she was.

Reflexively, she reached for the tiara on her head, adjusting it for a moment with a smile she managed to squeeze out. Her attention was drawn by the sound of her sister's soft grunt from behind her.

"All set." Sarah rose to her feet, dressed in light silk pastel fabrics adorned with delicate lace.

She'd been helping the bride with the train of her gown for the past few minutes.

"Thank you, Sarah." Jane turned to face her.

"What are you thanking me for?" she asked amidst chuckles.

"Everything. I'm thanking you for everything, especially for how you've been a mother to me all these years."

Her words melted Sarah's heart and her eyes started to blink rapidly as she tried to stay composed. Jane could tell that these few words spoken genuinely and with all sincerity had affected Sarah positively.

"Is it part of your plan; to make me shed tears on your wedding day?" Sarah asked, gratitude flickering in her gaze.

"Tears of joy…yes," Jane replied and immediately, Sarah slipped into her arms.

"You look gorgeous, by the way," Sarah said to her.

"And you, my principal bridesmaid, look adorably stunning," Jane replied.

"Okay, now you're simply over exaggerating."

They laughed lightly and were soon interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Jane inquired.

"It is I, my lady," the voice spoke from behind the closed door.

Jane recognized the speaker. It was Elizabeth, the housekeeper.

"Your carriage is ready and your father seems furious that you're running late for your own wedding."

"We'll be out in a minute, Elizabeth. Thank you," Sarah replied and they both heard the sounds of retreating footsteps.

"Are you all right?" She asked Jane.

"Yes. Yes, I am. Why would I not be?" came the reply.

Sarah looked closely at her sister, peering into her eyes with concern coloring hers.

"You're not having cold feet now, are you?"

"What? No!" Jane responded swiftly, squinting at the question.

"Good." Sarah flashed a smile at her. "Okay." She walked over to a table and picked up a bouquet of flowers and handed it over to Jane. "Let's go get you married."

Jane accepted the flowers and smiled.

The church bell tolled and the doors parted while Jane stood at the entrance. Her slender figure was enveloped by the soft rays of sunlight steaming from behind. The illumination created a halo around her, brightening the lace of her veil.

The building interior was adorned with floral arrangements and ribbons. Garland of roses, lilies and other greenery draped over the pews, intertwining around the columns.

From the choir stand, a soft sound of string instruments filled the air as she walked down the aisle, her dress shimmering subtly as the beams from the sun caught her fine fabrics.

She exuded an ethereal grace as the sunlight bathed her in a warm golden aura. Walking down the aisle with majestic steps, heads turned but her gaze was fixed on the man she was about to say yes to. The man she was going to spend the rest of her life with; the Duke of Montford.

He was standing at the altar alongside his groomsmen, looking like a charming prince in his tailored cutaway coat, waistcoat, cravat, and breeches. Colin looked so handsome and she couldn't deny that fact.

As Jane walked to him, she could hear the murmurs amongst the young ladies seated in the pews close to her but couldn't quite make out what they were saying. She knew they were most probably gossiping about her but she didn't care.

Jane's eyes caught her sister as she smiled at her from that part of the altar. Jane smiled back. It was a small ceremony, only luxurious enough as to fit the name of the Duke and not get the tongues of the ton wagging. Still, only few were in attendance and Jane was grateful.

She got to the altar and Colin helped her up the steps. She smiled and muttered an appreciation as she stood facing him, both of them before the clergyman.

As the ceremony began, the clergyman's voice was gradually becoming distant to Jane. Her heart was racing and her hands were subtly trembling.

Colin leaned closer and whispered to her.

"I thought nothing scared you." He smirked satisfyingly.

Jane squinted at him as if to say that she needed more clarity.

"You're nervous," he declared almost inaudibly.

"No, I am not," she responded with the same tone, hating the idea that he was able to detect it.

He took her hand and gently squeezed it. The feeling of his skin against hers was reassuring but what was more reassuring was the look in his eyes. He didn't have to say anything, his countenance and expression said it all, making her blush discreetly.

It was time for the most important aspect of the ceremony and the clergyman began with the duke, reading him the ritual rites.

Colin looked at her with a faint grin and said;

"I do."

The clergyman turned to the bride and read her the same rites to which she responded after a few seconds of hesitation.

"I do."

He then pronounced them man and wife after which Colin leaned forward and planned a kiss on her lips to seal their union. A round of applause erupted from the crowd.

Amidst the flurry of congratulations and well-wishes, the newly-wedded couple emerged from the church, heading straight for the carriage that awaited them in the open.

Fingers intertwined, they walked down the steps at the entrance of the building with Colin holding her hand tightly.

Jane was tired and exhausted but she was obligated to smile and wave so she wouldn't seem rude. She was a duchess now and this was just the beginning. Prudence's words still lingered on the fringes of her mind, keeping her on her feet.

They headed toward the duke's carriage; a magnificent four-wheeled vehicle richly decorated with a glossy black lacquer finish with gilded accents that gleamed in the sunlight.

Four healthy horses with their manes adorned with white ribbons stood gallantly, ready to pull the carriage.

As the couple approached the vehicle, Jane admired the intricate carvings and the Grove family crest emblazoned on the fine wooden doors.

Colin helped Jane settle into the carriage, making sure that her gown was elegantly arranged. When they were seated and ready, the coachman, dressed in a fine livery cracked his whip and the horses sprang forward.

"Hyah!" his voice echoed, blending with the sounds of the horses' hooves as the carriage rolled smoothly along the cobblestone path, its wheels turning steadily towards the Montford Manor.

Inside, seated on the luxuriously plush, upholstered seats, Jane exclaimed in her mind.

Finally!

Silently, she sat juxtaposed with her husband who could not stop staring at her. He was so handsome himself that she struggled to keep her eyes off him.

Jane was grateful this day was finally over. She had been anticipating this moment since the preparations began for one reason, to get it over and done with. She saw the event as too demanding and she wanted to have it done once and for all.

It's finally over,

She assured herself and then her husband spoke to her.

"I can't wait for you to meet my nieces," his voice drew her out of her thoughts.

Right. The ones referred to as the menace. Great.

"I'm sure they're lovely and I'm eager to meet them," she replied. This wasn't a sarcastic statement. Jane truly wanted to see for herself why these kids were considered what they were.

"Lovely?" He raised his brows in disbelief. "That's one way to describe them." There was a hint of irony in his statement.

His fingers fixed back the button of his left sleeve that had loosened a bit. "Surely, my grandmother didn't use that term when she told you about them." Colin jerked his head to look at her.

"You're right," Jane replied. "She did not."

Colin was quiet but his eyes never left her for a moment.

Jane felt awkward at the way he was staring at her but a part of her loved it all the same.

"Do I have something on my face?" she asked, politely.

"Can't a man appreciate the beauty of his new wife?" His lips quirked into a smirk.

Jane put down her head to hide her blush.

She was his wife now and her name had ceased to be Jane Audrey Dowding. She was now Jane Audrey Grove, wife of duke Colin Grove. She was a duchess now and everything had happened so fast. However, Jane was glad that she met Colin when she did, he was much better than that greedy Graham Lewis. She was willing to face anything with Colin starting with his nieces.

The carriage came to a halt and she heard the horses neigh for a moment.

"We're here," Colin declared softly as he stepped out of the vehicle and stretched out a hand.

Jane took it and he helped her descend to the fine interlocked ground. She looked up to behold the grandeur of the duke's estate: an imposing yet elegant manor house with ivy-clad stone walls, tall arched windows, and intricately carved details.

The carriage had halted by a fountain and an expansive manicured garden stretched across the vast land, framing the estate with natural beauty.

With her hand in his elbow, they walked to the entrance and the uniformed sentries stationed there parted the doors with a slight bow.

Her heels clicked against the fine and well-polished floor, so polished that she could see her reflection beneath her. The surface was quite slippery, hence the need to tread with caution.

The foyer was very welcoming. Lights from the chandelier hanging from the high ceilings reflected against the polished marble floors gleaming beneath her feet.

From an elegant staircase with a wrought iron balustrade that swept vertically to the floors upwards, two little girls rushed down.

They ran around the space not minding how slippery the floor was. The two girls glided over the floor, playing and laughing hard. One of them lost control and ran into a silver armor by a wall. The other one laughed at her.

Jane didn't have to be a witch to know who they were.

The menace.

For little girls their age, these two were a little too rough and now she was starting to understand why Prudence had warned her beforehand.

She was still in her thoughts when one of them yelled;

"Look, Louisa! It's the bride!"

Oh no!

They raced each other to come meet her but before she could bend over to pick the first one up, the girl circled her so swiftly. The other one did the same, stomping on the train of her gown with a sort of laughter that was both cute and infuriating.

She tried to move but lost her balance in the process. Jane tripped and almost fell, her arms flailing weightlessly in the air. And the next she knew, she was bending backwards with one leg in the air.

The sounds of the kids laughing angered her, reminding her of what they were. She opened her eyes and met Colin's eyes watching her face. It was then that she realized that he had caught her and that she was in his arms.

They stared at each other in that moment and all she could think about was how handsome he looked. He was obviously staring at her as well given that his eyes were fixed on her. She felt awkward and wondered why; he was her husband now. But she clearly needed some time to get used to that fact.

He cleared his throat and helped her back to her feet.

"Still thinking they're ‘lovely'?" He smirked, reminding her of the term she had used to describe them.

"You know what, I take it back." She didn't even realize when she said it out loud.

He walked to the girls who immediately stood still before him.

"Do you think that was funny?" He frowned at them.

One was quiet, probably feeling a bit remorseful but the other snickered silently with stolen glances at Jane.

"We just wanted to meet the new duchess and say my greetings."

"Is this how to say greetings, hmm, Louisa?"

Jane figured that Louisa was the calmer one, and maybe the one with an ounce of respect in her.

"It's not our fault that she almost fell— although it would have been a very great sight to behold. Aww!" The exclamation came when Louisa pinched her arm without looking at her.

"Margaret!" Colin scolded her instantly.

"What? It was probably her fault for losing her balance," Margaret replied arrogantly.

Jane laughed at how the kids were evidently such a headache to Colin. He glanced back at her with a frown.

"You see, even she gets it," Margaret added amidst chuckles, pointing in Jane's direction.

"Okay, that's it; you're done!" He snapped. "To your rooms, immediately!"

"But…" Louisa tried to protest.

"No ‘buts', you are to remain there until you are called upon— do you understand?"

They hesitated with dropped shoulders and reluctantly agreed.

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now go," he commanded, a hand pointing at the staircase.

Jane watched them grumble as they headed up the steps with their tails between their legs.

Colin exhaled sharply, combing his fingers through his hair in a frustrated manner.

"They really were just playing around, you know. You didn't have to speak to them the way that you did," Jane said to him. In a fraction of a second, she had flashed back to the times her dad used to yell at her and Sarah, although he used to be a lot worse. "No matter how they act, they're still children."

Colin scoffed, massaging his eyeballs.

"You might not see it, but you're treating them like soldiers, forgetting that they're little girls," she added.

"You've seen for yourself how they can misbehave," he replied. "The reason you're here is to educate them properly, so I'm going to need you to start working on that."

Jane could not believe her ears. She blinked rapidly, trying to comprehend what she just heard.

"I'm not a governess, you should have hired one if that's what you wanted," the words burst out of her without second thoughts.

He frowned at her tone, displeased by it as he took gentle steps forward. Jane knew that she had crossed one of his lines and she probably should not have said what she said.

The closer he came, the further away she moved backwards until she ended up against a wall. He halted before her and used the back of his finger to dress her hair while looking blankly into her eyes.

Colin placed a hand on the wall and leaned forward.

"I am your duke and your husband. You will learn to speak to me as such. You will be more respectful," he whispered into her ears.

She knew she had to work on herself and learn to speak less, however, she couldn't if she tried.

Looking right into his eyes, she replied with the same tone, dead serious.

"Well, if you wanted an obedient wife, then you chose the wrong woman."

She could tell that he was furious but even in his anger, he knew that she was right. He stepped away from her and called out with a loud voice.

"Martha!"

Swiftly, Martha appeared before him in the attire of a staff. Jane knew immediately that she was the housekeeper.

"Your Grace," Martha said with a slight bow.

"Take my wife to her room and do well to explain her duties to her."

"Yes, Your Grace." She walked up to Jane with a smile.

Colin took one last look at his wife and walked away without a word.

Jane was rather disappointed that he would just hand her over to the housekeeper like she was a purchased merchandise. She was mad but she knew better than to react now.