Four Nights With the Duke by Eloisa James Page A

of whom loved Vander—which was nice for him—but reminded her that she had no one who cared for her, other than Charlie. “Your Grace, surely you don’t want to make this occasion more emotional that it already is?”
    “ O, stay and hear, your true love’s coming ,” Chuffy sang. “‘Coming’? Did you hear that? People think ol’ Shakespeare was stodgy but we know different, aye?” He staggered to his feet and upended his bottle over Mia’s glass, but nothing came out.
    He swiveled and glared at Vander. “It’s a poor house that doesn’t have a drop of champagne for a bride on her wedding day.”
    “Someone must have drunk it,” Vander said.
    “ Coming after wedding , you see,” Chuffy cooed.
    “Miss Carrington, you’re biting your lip again.” Vander bent closer. “It turns your lips a very appealing color. Some women would do it for that very reason.”
    She scowled at him.
    “I gather you weren’t trying to entice your soon-to-be spouse,” he said wryly, turning to his guests. “Shall we adjourn to the chapel? The bride is eager to be married.”
    Eager to be married? That did it. It topped the humiliation of her poetry, of being jilted, of being disdained by Vander’s friends.
    Welcome, Mia thought grimly, to the Twelfth Circle of Hell.

Chapter Eight
     
    NOTES ON B EQUEST
     
     
Count Frederic wealthy beyond wildest dreams—begs Flora to give up Mr. Mortimer’s bequest. “Buy a nosegay for my buttonhole, my darling. No man except myself shall give you aught. Not even from beyond the grave!”
     
     
~ Flora fears to trust him. (avoid ‘Flora fears’)
     
     
“If you have no confidence in me, we are not destined to wed,” Frederic exclaimed, his blue eyes bright with betrayal. “How can I take a woman as my countess who trusts loves me not?”
Then he jilts her—after making her give up her inheritance. (Perfidious! Devilish! I like it! )
    T he vicar was clearly unhappy, likely for any number of reasons. “Who stands for this woman?” he demanded.
    Vander was proud to see that Mia didn’t flinch. She regarded the vicar steadily, folded her hands, and said, “My closest living relative is eight years old.”
    Chuffy tottered forward. “She has me. I’m it. I mean, I’ll be her kinsman and walk her where she has to go. Up the aisle, is it?”
    The vicar regarded him with distaste. “Sir Cuthbert, how come you with this lethargy so early in the day?”
    “Is it early?” Chuffy asked, with perfect surprise.
    “I believe we should begin the ceremony,” Vander stated.
    They waited while the vicar fussed about with his missal, and Vander started thinking about the way his father used to rant. His mother would listen, or pretend to, but then she turned to another man whenever she could.
    Thinking about his parents’ wretched union, he looked down at Mia with a genuine smile. Her head was bent, and morning sunlight streaming through the chapel’s east window turned her hair to honey and gold.
    A few days earlier he never would have imagined it, but he was coming to understand that this marriage really was the best of all worlds: She was desperately in love and wouldn’t turn aside from him. He was emotionally untouched and need not be concerned about becoming besotted by a woman.
    As if sensing his gaze, Mia looked up at him. True, he had promised her only four nights a year together. But he might not mind giving her more.
    His eyes drifted lower, to the way her breasts swelled against the tired fabric of her gown. Sheneeded better clothing; she had to dress like a duchess, rather than a governess.
    Then India’s gown caught his attention. Her breasts were on display, albeit in a fashionable manner, and he wouldn’t care for Mia’s to be exposed.
    “Why are you smiling?” his wife-to-be whispered.
    Surprised, he dropped the smile. “Perhaps I’m happy to be getting married.”
    “There’s no need to mock me!”
    Chuffy bustled up. “You stand over there,