Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

"Married? To the Duke of Amherst?" Cassie gaped at me for half a minute. We were strolling in the garden of the townhouse my father had rented for our stay in London. The roses giving us a natural barricade against the intrusion of Mrs. White.

"Yes, it all happened this morning." I could scarcely believe it myself, though saying it aloud made it seem more real.

"Married? To the Duke of Amherst?" Cassie repeated as though she was in a trance. I couldn't blame her, I felt much the same way myself.

"Yes, it is quite extraordinary," I said.

"I hurried over here as quickly as I could," Cassie said, finally out of her stupor. "After the scene at the Puffingtons' home last night, I feared you would be on your way back to America before I got a chance to say good-bye." She shook her head slowly from side to side. "Instead, you are to be a duchess."

"I expected the same as well, but the Duke refused Father's offer to take me back to America and asked me to marry him." I did not mention the pleasure of sitting on his lap and feeling his lips kissing mine. That was my own sweet experience to savor.

"A duchess." Poor Cassie really was gobsmacked by the whole thing.

"I can hardly get my mind around it myself," I said. "I do not even know what it means to be a duchess."

"I am sure it will be wonderful," Cassie said, dreamily. "The Duke of Amherst is an exceptionally handsome man. And I understand that he is vastly wealthy."

Cassie and I sat on a bench in the garden and were silent for a moment during which time the full weight of my betrothal settled over my shoulders. Married. To the Duke of Amherst.

Forever.

"Oh, Cassie," I whispered. "What have I gotten myself into?"

She shifted on the bench and took both my hands in hers. "You have gotten yourself into a brilliant match with a man who obviously cares about you. Otherwise, he would have sent you packing to America. A duke is not prone to do things he does not wish to do. If the Duke of Amherst has asked you to marry him, then that is what he wishes to do."

"I hope that is the case," I said.

"Did he really sp-spank you?" Cassie asked in a whisper, her face turning red.

"Yes, he did. The first time we met. I overheard him insulting Americans and I could not allow him to go unchallenged. I had no idea who he was."

"No!" Cassie gasped.

"Yes, he took me to the garden and turned me over his knee."

Cassie's eyes went wide and her hands released mine and flew to her mouth. She looked from side to side, lowered her hands and then leaned toward me. "I believe that Lord Winchester sometimes spanks Lady Katherine," she said. "One morning when I went to Lady Katherine's dressing room, I was about to knock on the door when I heard her squeal and then I am certain I heard the sounds of a hand slapping flesh."

"No!" I stared at her. "Lady Katherine? Are you certain?"

"I did not want to believe it myself," she said. "But then Lord Winchester said, ‘Do you know why you are being punished?' I nearly fainted." She drew in a breath before continuing. "I know I ought to have left, but my feet were frozen in place."

"What happened?" I asked, shifting to sit on the edge of the bench.

"She said that she was sorry for being contrary but she did not believe she deserved to be punished. But Lord Winchester disagreed and kept swatting her."

Speechless, I simply stared at her.

"The most stunning thing was that later in the day when I saw them, they were more loving to each other than usual."

"Lady Katherine? And Lord Winchester?" I was still in shock.

"They are the most happily married couple I have even observed. So I think that if the Duke of Amherst wishes to spank you, then that bodes well for your happiness."

It was the most insane logic I had ever heard, but then I thought about the feeling of being over Jeffrey's knee. Though I had been furious at the time, in retrospect, that incident had set my life on the current path and I found I could not be disappointed.

After our chat in the garden, Cassie and I went to the home of the Winchesters in order to select a gown for her to wear as my bridesmaid.

"I have never been a bridesmaid before," Cassie said, excitement in her voice. She twirled in a circle, showing off a very pretty pink dress. "What do you think of this one?"

"It is perfect," I said and Cassie smiled brightly.

"I understand congratulations are in order, Miss Hancock." Lady Katherine entered the room, a big smile on her face.

"Thank you," I said, gazing at the elegant lady. As much as I tried not to, all I could think about was what Cassie had shared about the sorts of things Lady Katherine and her husband engaged in.

"I am going to be Sarah's bridesmaid," Cassie said.

"How wonderful," Lady Katherine said.

"It is going to be a small wedding," I said, "but I h-hope you and Lord Winchester will attend."

"I would not miss it," Lady Katherine said. Then she leaned down and whispered in my ear. "Husbands who are willing to take their wife over their knee are the very best. I'm sure you will be very happy."

Just as quickly as she entered the room, she exited.

And I picked my jaw up off the floor.

Cassie and I exchanged a glance. "Did you hear what she said to me?" I asked.

Cassie blushed and nodded her head. "Yes," she said, then squeezed my arm. "I am sure it is yet another sign that you will be blissfully happy in your marriage." Then she sighed dreamily.

"You are a good friend, Cassie. I hope you will have a blissfully happy marriage as well."

Cassie shrugged. "I am beginning to feel discouraged," she said. "You and Tallie both married off and here I am, still on the shelf."

"I noticed that Lord Puffington called upon you recently."

She blushed. "Yes he did. He is a most kind man and his family lineage is impeccable. It's simply that…"

"He is a bit on the dull side?" I added.

"Maybe I am being foolish," Cassie said. "But I want excitement. Tallie eloped to South America and was married by a ship's captain. You are marrying a duke and though I know it's not the traditional way of making a match, do you not feel that it was fate that brought you together at the Waterfords' Ball? The Duke of Amherst has been raised to be in control of his emotions, yet somehow you stirred something up in him that caused him to… spank you?"

"I have wondered at the way things have come to pass in my life since arriving in London," I said. "Nothing has gone to plan, that is for certain." I paused for a moment. "But what of Lord and Lady Winchester? They are obviously very happy together and they live a rather normal life."

"But it was a scandal that forced them to marry," Cassie said. "Perhaps I shall have a scandal of my own someday."