No, it was her secret, she’d decided, no matter how much she wanted a shoulder to cry on. She didn’t want to involve her aunt any more than she wanted her new fiancé defending her honour. Despite rescuing her at the ball, Robert had made it clear that he wanted a business partner, not a damsel in distress, and he certainly wouldn’t want to become embroiled in her family’s sordid affairs. Besides, she was the one who’d gone to the castle alone and unchaperoned, something a sensible, respectable woman ought never to have dreamt of doing. As angry as he’d be at Sir Charles, he might not approve of her behaviour either, might use it as an excuse to call off the wedding.
Overall, she’d concluded, it was better for everyone that she stayed silent. Once she was married, she could put the whole nightmare behind her. Sir Charles would never dare to attack Mrs Felstone and then her dreams would finally stop. She could go back to being herself again—the new, respectable version of herself anyway... Just as long as Robert hadn’t changed his mind.
It had felt like the longest three months of her life.
‘You look troubled, dear.’ Aunt Sophoria patted her knee sympathetically. ‘Is there anything you’d like to ask me about?’
‘No!’ Ianthe answered hastily. Her aunt had already provided an embarrassing amount of detail about what to expect on her wedding night, making her doubly glad that it was only a business arrangement. She’d no desire to sit through that conversation again, though she was curious to know how her spinster aunt had come across quite so much detailed information.
‘I keep telling you, Aunt, it’s not like that.’
‘If you say so, dear.’
‘It’s not! It’s a business arrangement.’
‘And I’m not supposed to tell anyone. Yes, dear, I remember.’
Ianthe rolled her eyes in frustration. No matter how many times she told her aunt that it wasn’t a love match, she simply refused to believe it. Even Robert’s lengthy absence hadn’t dented her rose-tinted perspective. On the contrary, she’d taken the fact of their short engagement as evidence that he was eager to do more than just see her...
She glanced out of the window, relieved to find that they were already rolling into the station. At least that ought to stop her aunt from offering any more advice.
‘So we’re going straight to the ceremony?’ Aunt Sophoria reached into her reticule, pulling out a large frilly handkerchief.
‘Yes, Robert said he’d meet us under the clock with Kitty and Giles.’
‘Is that everyone?’
‘Yes, Aunt.’ They’d been over this before as well. ‘We wanted to keep it small. He doesn’t have any family and I’ve only got you.’
‘What about his business associates?’
‘This is the way we want it. It would look strange if he had lots of guests on his side.’
‘I suppose so.’ Her aunt sighed dramatically. ‘Though it’s such a shame Percy couldn’t be here.’
‘He said he couldn’t take any more time off work, but it’s all right, Giles is going to give me away.’
‘Well, in that case...’ Aunt Sophoria waved her handkerchief in the air. ‘I’d better keep this ready. Just the thought of a wedding makes me cry.’
‘There’s nothing to cry about! Honestly, Aunt, I just wish it were over.’
‘I wouldn’t let Mr Felstone hear you say that. What would he think?’
Ianthe grimaced. She’d no idea what her fiancé would think. Three months before, when they’d discussed terms in the ballroom, she’d thought that she had a reasonable sense of the man behind the stern, business-driven exterior. Now she felt as though she were on her way to marry a stranger.
‘I don’t care what he thinks.’ She pushed the carriage door open angrily, looking back over her shoulder for one final outburst. ‘And love has nothing to do with it!’
‘I’m pleased to see you again, too, Ianthe.’
She froze, turning her head slowly towards the sound of Robert’s deep, irony-laced voice. He was standing in the open doorway, regarding her with an impenetrable expression.
‘I didn’t mean...’ She felt her cheeks turn a vivid shade of scarlet. ‘That is... Good morning.’
‘G
ood morning.’ He lifted an eyebrow along with his top hat. ‘Are you ready?’
‘I... Yes.’ She caught her breath unsteadily. So much for pleasantries. He looked both heart-stoppingly handsome and sternly forbidding at the same time, dressed impeccably in a suit of black superfine cloth with a quilted silk waistcoat beneath.