Always the Rival (Never the Bride #7) - Emily E K Murdoch Page 0,4
Lloyd, it is so good to see you!”
Charles said nothing but bowed.
Miss Lloyd curtseyed. “Good afternoon, Your Grace.”
“Oh, I think we can dispense with those formalities, do you not think?” The dowager beamed at her future daughter-in-law. “What a delight that you were invited, too. I wish I had known, we could have sat together in the church!”
“And how are you, Miss Lloyd?” Charles asked politely. He knew his place and would not forget it.
“She is absolutely blooming,” the dowager said cheerfully.
Miss Lloyd glanced at her and said quietly, “And how are you, Your Grace?”
Charles opened his mouth to say something inane and harmless but was immediately interrupted by his mother.
“Oh, he is moping about for the lack of you, Miss Lloyd, but it will not be long before you two are never parted!”
He caught Miss Lloyd’s eye and exchanged a knowing smile. Throughout their six-month engagement, it had been impossible for them to converse properly without one of their parents present.
Not that it really mattered. Miss Lloyd was the Honorable Miss Frances Lloyd, daughter of Viscount Lloyd, who was himself the younger brother of an earl. She was nobility, as was he. They knew what was expected of them – had been bred for it.
Still, Charles thought ruefully. If only his mother did not continuously trip over herself to fawn on Miss Lloyd, it might have been possible to become acquainted with her a little. Perhaps even grow to like her.
As it was, that was impossible. Like his father and his father before him, and God knew how many others before that, he would have to wait until he was married before he discovered anything meaningful about his wife’s temperament.
None of these thoughts were ones he could voice. Charles watched as his mother barraged Miss Lloyd with a thousand and one questions about the upcoming nuptials, Miss Lloyd’s eyes glazing over.
This was the rest of his life. He would be a fool to think his mother would gracefully cease offering advice when they were married – as it was, he had not yet been brave enough to broach the topic of whether she would finally move to the dowager cottage.
Charles swallowed and tried to focus on the conversation before him. It did not matter that he was desperate to escape his fate. He never would.
Duty required this of him, and an Orrinshire never shirked duty.
Chapter Two
Priscilla fought the urge to lean back in the hard chair as she watched a young lady who could only be Miss Frances Lloyd simper at the Dowager Duchess of Orrinshire.
Hidden from their view by a large potted plant, Priscilla nevertheless could feel her heart thunder at the sensation. It was not like she was eavesdropping. They were at a wedding, everyone could see, and she was not close enough to hear what they were saying.
Still. She could see as she smoothed down the folds of her gown, that neither Charles, his mother, or Miss Lloyd for that matter, looked particularly happy.
A small frown creased her forehead as she beheld them. Charles, in his best and most loathed cravat, the dowager in all the diamonds from the family vaults, and Miss Lloyd, looking slightly stunned at the rate at which the dowager was speaking.
Priscilla brought her hands together in her lap, her frustration overpowering her will as she started to pick at the skin around her nails. How was it possible that this had occurred? Charles, engaged?
She had laughed when he had first told her, months ago now. It had seemed utterly ridiculous, the idea of an arranged marriage in this day and age. He had not even met Miss Lloyd. They had giggled together, guessing whether she would be tall, bookish, speak French, embroider…
That was a lifetime ago. The weeks had slipped by, weeks without Charles because he had to attend to wedding preparations.
Wedding preparations! Priscilla smiled wryly as she sat alone, quite content in her own thoughts. A few months ago, Miss Lloyd and Charles had never met. Now they would spend the rest of their lives together. Miss Ashbrooke, the matchmaker, had worked another wonder.
It was madness! Who would marry someone they barely knew?
The instant the thought crossed her mind, Charles spoke, and Miss Lloyd laughed.
Bile rose in Priscilla’s throat, but she forced it down. This was not the time to permit her emotions to overwhelm her.
“Ah, I thought Charles would be here.”
Priscilla jumped. Her mother had returned from some gossiping with her acquaintances, but Priscilla had been so enrapt in