Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Damn, she’d not even thought about Keely, only Bryn.
Swinging her gaze to her brother, she took in the bruising on his face, the cut above his eyes and his split lips. She had no sympathy for him, and she reverted her gaze back to the man who played a part in her being alive.
“Would you like me to get ready with you here or are you leaving the room so I can dress alone?”
They glared but stomped out. She exhaled slowly and swung her legs over. Still a bit sore from the last night with boxing and Bryn, she moved gingerly. After a brief and cold washing, she stood in front of her meager closet, staring at the clothing contained within.
Three dresses from Lady Heartstone hung off to the left and she touched them reverently. However, today wasn’t the place for brightly colored dresses. She turned to the other side of the closet, a space that used to overflow with dresses, to find one of plain black.
Sadness filled her as she donned the dress, smoothing her hands down the soft material once it sat draped over her curves. Ones Bryn had said he loved.
The first tear snuck free and she shook her head, stealing a look toward the dingy ceiling. Flicking it away with the back of her hand, she took care of her footwear and pulled out her one nice coat. It wouldn’t do to show anything less than being put together in front of the rest of the ton. And this event of the duke’s death would bring out everyone who wanted to be seen.
Disgusting. The need to cock and preen before other members of society while pretending to give a damn about the family who had just lost one of their own. She hated every single second of it.
Yet I’ll go merely for the chance to see him once more.
Telling him goodbye had gutted her, and she wished she had been strong enough to withstand the rejection he’d have doubtless given had she asked him to save her. Obviously, she hadn’t had the strength to ask so she left and now she had to face this man and his family with her family. And that fact embarrassed her.
It didn’t help she was to meet the lech she was being married off to the following day. Part of her wondered how he would react to her no longer being a virgin. A smile turned up her lips as she recalled her time with Bryn in the gaming hell. His tender yet over-the-top possessive touch. The way he’d had her calling out his name. How he’d murmured her name and her nickname in her neck as he’d reached his own completion. Then last night in his house.
A full-body shiver overtook her and she walked to the door. Memories. That’s what she would have for the rest of her life, and nothing more. But they would have to suffice.
Chin lifted, she made her way carefully down to the first floor and found the rest of the people whom she shared a name with getting ready. Bradford glanced at her before giving a nod, possibly of approval?
She didn’t know nor did she care. No words were spoken as they all climbed in the family carriage, the fit tight and her sisters making disparaging remarks about her and her weight. She tuned them out and thought about Bryn.
Again.
The ride took a while, one, because of all the other carriages heading in that direction and two, because the manor was in a wealthy section of town. Made her wonder what his country seat was like. Probably huge with immense space to wander and just be surrounded by nature.
The criticisms stopped as they rolled to a halt and the door opened. While her family was horrible, they knew how to behave in times like this. She gave a small nod of thanks to the man who helped her down, dressed in the duke’s colors and yet more black. Then again, she’d not met the Duke of Stokley other than the one time at the opera.
She trailed behind the rest of her family as they walked into the grand entrance of the manor and gave over their coats to the waiting servants. So many valets and ladies’ maids rushed around. Even though the doors were open, the interior remained warm, the fires at full blaze.
A solemn man met them and bowed low before saying something to the head of her household.
For now. Soon it will be another man as the head of mine.
Like the dutiful daughter she knew to act like, she trailed them down an immaculate hallway, their boots echoing on the marble floor. Two men dressed in the same manner as the others she’d seen so far opened the large double doors to allow them entrance into a massive ballroom.