Chapter 11

CHAPTER11

All in all, it had not been the most pitiful, miserable wedding in the history of weddings. After the dancing had begun, it had not ended for several hours, the mood of the small party becoming so cheery that Nancy had almost forgotten the reason behind it all. She had danced with Adam and Harry and her father and Edwin and Marina, for there was no one to cast judgment on the peculiarity of the pairings. Indeed, though she did not dare to admit it, she had rather enjoyed herself.

That was until it came time for everyone to retire.

Eliza had already been escorted to her chambers by her lady’s maid, Fanny and Nicholas could not hide their yawns any longer, and Joanna had fallen asleep on Edwin’s shoulder as he continued to play the pianoforte for the remaining party’s revels.

“I shall stay awake with you if you wish it,” Marina whispered as the two young women took some fresh air on the terrace.

The hour was late, and an owl hooted somewhere in the distance, like a command for Nancy to retire to her bed.

Nancy puffed out a breath. “He will not pursue me. I do not think.”

She thought back to her earlier conversation with her husband, and his insistence that he was exhausted. It had seemed like an odd thing to say, especially from a gentleman who was famed for spending all night in the gambling halls and gentlemen’s clubs and music halls and who knew where else. Though she was not entirely sure, it had seemed like a comforting assertion that she was safe from him.

“Dear wife,” his voice called from the doorway to the terrace.

Nancy turned, her heart leaping into her throat at the sound of that term of endearment. Despite herself, despite him, it thrilled her. And standing there, silhouetted by the glowing lights of the drawing room, his hair mussed by the evening’s dancing, his eyes warm and his lips curved into a sweet smile, he had never looked more handsome. Too handsome. Unfairly so. A man like that should have had the nobility of character to complement his beauty.

“At least you responded,” he teased, his laughter like the first sunny day after a brutal winter.

Nancy gave her head a small shake, trying to dislodge any fanciful thoughts about the rake she had just married. “An accident, I assure you.”

“Ah, well, I am certain you shall grow accustomed to it.”

His laughter faded, and she wondered if he meant himself, too—that she would grow accustomed to him, in time.

Nancy straightened up. “Did you want to speak with me?”

“I just wanted to inform you that I mean to retire, and while I understand that it is customary for us to retire together on the first night of the rest of our lives”—he flashed a more mischievous grin—“I shall leave it at your discretion. I believe there is an adjoining door between our chambers. Knock if you are bored.”

Nancy’s throat tightened. “I doubt I shall be bored, Your Grace.”

“No, that will not do.” His voice sharpened slightly. “I cannot have you refer to me like that. I do not make demands often, but this is one that I must make. Either call me husband, the apple of my eye, my beloved, my exquisite darling, or plain Adam will suffice.”

Nancy snorted, struggling to hide her amusement. “Sleep well, Adam,” she said, finding the name ungainly on her tongue. “I shall not disturb you with any knocking.”

“A pity.” He heaved a dramatic sigh. “Sleep well, my exquisite darling.”

She rolled her eyes, folding her arms across her chest. “You cannot call me that!”

“Then what should I call you?” He leaned against the doorframe, the curve of his body prompting every seam to strain against his athletic physique.

Now that they were married, Nancy thought it might be wise to find a new tailor for him, for the way his garments clung to every muscle and contour was far too distracting.

She cleared her throat, forcing herself to stare only into his eyes. “Nancy.”

“Not my cherub or my little pamplemousse or something sweeter?” He bit his lower lip, drawing her attention to his mouth.

She could not explain it, but there was something about that seemingly innocent bite that made her stomach tighten and her heart race.

“I shall be as sour as a little grapefruit if you call me anything but my name,” Nancy replied, her breath hitching.

In truth, being called someone’s little pamplemousse sounded rather charming, indeed, but not if that someone called a thousand other women by such a nickname.

Adam shrugged. “As you wish, my dearest Nancy.”

“No!” she gasped, breathless. “Just Nancy. No additions.”

“Very well, just Nancy. I shall retire, and though you say you will not knock, I shall wait anyway,” he told her, pushing off the doorframe. “I can never sleep when I am away from my own residences.”

Nancy held her nerve. “You mean, you do not sleep when you are away from home. That is a very different thing.”

“Perhaps.” Adam sighed. “Before I depart, I should gently remind you of one thing. This is as new to me as it is to you. I like to think that I have offered you nothing but respect and courtesy, except the debacle that brought us here in the first place, of course. So, maybe you might find it within you to offer me the same grace.”

He walked away before she could respond, leaving her open-mouthed and astonished as she watched his broad shoulders and straight back and shapely buttocks and muscular thighs retreat to the drawing room door, where he promptly disappeared.

“The… the… the gall of him!” Nancy rasped, outraged and confused in equal measure.

Somehow, despite everything he had done, he had made herfeel guilty.

Marina made a noise of disgruntled agreement. “Does he expect you to be grateful?”

“I do not know what he expects.” Nancy fumed. “I have been civil, have I not? If I had not been, I would not have gone to the church, or I would have caused a commotion, at the very least! I even danced with the wretch, though I would have been within my rights to refuse. Goodness, who does he think he is? Does he not realize that he has stolen every possible happiness from me? Does he not understand that I am not grateful?”

Marina put a hand on Nancy’s shoulder, but before she could utter a word, Joanna appeared in the terrace doorway.

“I think it is a trick,” Joanna said. “A means to lower your guard.”

Nancy frowned at her sister. “What do you mean?”

“If he makes you feel guilty enough, he probably thinks you will knock on his door to apologize, and if you do that, then who knows what other tricks he might use from his repertoire of seduction,” Joanna replied, covering her mouth as she yawned loudly. “When a gentleman treats a lady unkindly, some ladies will increase their efforts to gain that man’s affection. Do not let him think you are that sort of lady.”

“I am not that sort of lady,” Nancy confirmed. “I am… furious! If he were still standing there, I would smack him for his audacity.”

Joanna’s expression relaxed, her hand pressing to her heart. “Keep that fire of fury burning, my dear sister. I fear it is the only way you will be able to protect yourself from him, for I now entirely understand his success with the fairer sex. He is absurdly charming, endlessly amusing, an expert at lightening the mood, and he looks… well, he looks like that.”

“It is most… unjust,” Nancy replied, her skin tingling with heat as she recalled the intensity of his eyes when they had danced together.

It had been nothing short of magic, for while he had gazed at her, it had felt like they were the only two people in the room. The man was a sorcerer, he had to be.

Marina nodded. “As girls, we are told that the most handsome princes are always the kindest, most generous, most noble gentlemen. I have half a mind to hunt down the authors of those stories and punish them for their lies.”

“Alas, most of them are dead, but we could all curse their names together so they can have no peace in their eternal rest,” Joanna quipped, smiling. “Now, everyone here is retiring for the night. Shall Marina and I escort you to your chambers?”

“I should like that,” Nancy replied, for though she did not believe that Adam would be waiting for her, she knew she would feel stronger with her sister and her cousin by her side.