Page 26 of The Runaway Duchess
Caroline’s palm itched with wanting to slap the smug look off of his face to remind him that she was the one doing him a favor.
“Then I now pronounce you man and wife. Take these vows as solemnly as you do your faith in Our Lord,” the priest said, closing the Bible in his hands.
With the ceremony done, Caroline stepped away from Damien and turned to the little boy who was there to witness their marriage: Damien’s ward, George. Damien had not been lying when he said the boy was small. She wagered he was around five or six, but he was thin and short, and could have been mistakenfor four. It was only the sharp intelligence in the boy’s dark eyes that told Caroline that he was older than that.
“Thank you for being our witness, Georgie,” Caroline said softly, giving him a kind smile.
The little boy did not smile, but he did nod once.
“I-I th-thought that we-wedding t-t-took p-place in ch-church,” he stuttered out, then took a long, confused look around the parlor of Damien’s London estate.
“Smart boy,” Caroline praised. “Usually, yes, they do. However, under special circumstances, they may take place in a person’s home. A church wedding would have been much lovelier, mind you. With flowers, music, and a proper ceremony. But some people were in far too much of a hurry for any of that.”
“You would have had a church wedding if you had bothered to show up the first time,” Damien muttered from behind her. She turned her head and shot him a narrowed look.
She did not wait for him to react before turning back to the boy, and as she did, she saw his eyes grow impossibly wide and fill with fear as he looked at Damien. Damien had not lied. It was obvious the boy was scared out of his wits when Damien was around. Not wanting him to feel so frightened, Caroline put a comforting hand on his thin shoulder and positioned herself squarely in front of him so he could no longer see Damien.
“I am very much looking forward to getting to know you better, George,” she said, keeping her voice soft and sweet. “And we shall do thatverysoon, I promise. You will not have to be afraid of that grumpy troll anymore, now that I am here.”
Caroline’s heart swelled as the smallest laugh left the boy’s lips, and he almost smiled.
“Now, see that cake over there? I want you to have the maid cut you out the largest slice possible, then take it up to your room. I shall expect you to have it eaten all up by the time I join you.”
Little George gave an aggressive nod, sending his shaggy, straw-colored hair swishing into his eyes.
“Good boy,” Caroline praised, then nodded her head toward the table.
Without a word, he hurried to the table laden with cake and other foods and did as he was told. Caroline watched him as she straightened her back and let out a weary sigh. They had only returned to London an hour ago, and it already felt like the day would never end. Damien had introduced her to the staff, had given her a hurried tour of his estate, and then had shown her where her rooms would be before the ceremony began.
Now that that was over, Damien and his solicitor stood side by side, watching her impatiently as they waited for her to finish with the boy. Caroline ignored the solicitor as she approached them and looked directly at Damien.
“What did you do to him?” she demanded, crossing her arms.
The skin around his amber eyes tightened as his left brow twitched.
“Ibegyour pardon?” he asked through clenched teeth.
“The boy,” Caroline specified. “He is far too thin and small for his age, and he has a stutter. Besides, he is terrified of you.”
A nerve in Damien’s jaw twinged, and with it came a rolling wave of anger that emanated from his large body.
“And you believeIam the cause of these things?” he asked.
“Are you?” Caroline countered. “He looks particularly terrified of you.”
Damien’s nostrils flared as his jaw ticked again, but he shook his head.
“That is how he came to me. I told you he was frightened of me, but even without my presence, the maids or nurse could not get him to eat much. That piece of cake he just carried off is no doubt the largest meal he has had since he has been here. Shame it is naught but sugar. I thought with your experience, you would know better than to give a child such treats.”
Caroline did not miss the condescension in his otherwise sharp tone.
“A meal is a meal at this point, you brute,” she whispered vehemently. “Do you have any idea how—”
“Ahem!” The solicitor cleared his throat, preventing Caroline from finishing her sentence. “I apologize for interrupting such a…pointedconversation, Your Graces. However, before you continue, should we perhaps sign the contract you have had me draft? As strange a marriage contract as it was,” he added, murmuring such a thing under his breath.
Caroline flicked her angry gaze to Damien, who seemed only far too happy to glare right back.
“Follow me to my study,” he commanded, then walked away without another word. His solicitor quickly followed, leaving Caroline standing alone. For a moment, she simply stayed still,starting to feel overwhelmed with all that had already happened before the clock even struck noon. However, she remembered that this marriage would only be how she wanted it to beifshe signed the contract, so she forced her feet to move and hurried to catch up to them.
