The Duke Before Christmas - Bianca Blythe Page 0,39
is important.”
“Naturally,” Vernon said in a soothing voice. He rose. “How lovely to see you again, Mr. Halstead.” He glanced at Sir Vincent. “And how nice to make your acquaintance.”
“You’ll see me tomorrow,” Sir Vincent barked.
“Not in the morning,” Charlotte said.
Sir Vincent scowled. A sense of ownership flitted over Sir Vincent’s red face, and Portia drew back, pressing her spine against the chair rails. Her breath quickened. She’d never seen that expression on her guardian’s face before.
“I don’t know what is on this woman’s mind, but I assure you it’s nothing good,” Sir Vincent said. “She’s not the sort of woman to marry a duke.”
And with that, he strolled from the room. Mr. Halstead and the servant followed.
For a moment, it seemed as if a temporary peace had been achieved. Banging continued to sound. It took Portia a few moments to realize it was the sound of her own frightened heart.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
SIR VINCENT WAS WORSE than Colin had thought. No wonder Portia had been eager to elope. To think the man had hidden such an important part of her father’s will from her. To think he’d pressured her to marry him. Colin grimaced at the sour taste that invaded his mouth.
“I’m terribly sorry for the disturbance.” Portia’s voice trembled, and Colin squeezed her hand, as if they were truly married and as if she really had no cause for concern.
He needed to make certain she married Mr. Andrews. A woman like her deserved the best man in the world. Portia had decided that person was Mr. Andrews, even though Colin was certain that he exceeded Mr. Andrews in material advantages. Other women would be happy for any excuse to marry Colin. Colin only wished Portia had chosen him, but clearly, luck was not infinite. Colin was lucky to be a duke, lucky to come from a nice family, and he couldn’t expect he would be lucky in everything else.
Helping Portia would have to be enough.
The footmen swept away people’s plates, and soon they placed a cake on the table. The sweet taste of sugary sponge did not compare with Portia’s overall sweetness. How could it?
Colin glanced at Portia thoughtfully from time to time, grateful when Portia gradually relaxed.
“You mustn’t worry about your guardian,” Charlotte said. “People are bound to be disgruntled when others elope. It was difficult when Vernon and I came back to London after we eloped.”
“It was difficult because you didn’t want to marry me,” Vernon said.
Charlotte’s cheeks pinkened, but she turned to Portia, and explained, “I—er—wanted the marriage to be annulled.”
“Is that possible?”
“Everything is possible.”
“With sufficient coin,” Georgiana’s husband said.
“Well, I’m glad it never came to that,” Vernon said.
Portia stared at her hosts. “You seem so happy.”
“We were always happy,” Vernon said staunchly, and Charlotte’s face pinkened again.
“My dear husband married me because he thought I was dying,” Charlotte said. “When I wasn’t—well, it didn’t seem right to hold him to the marriage.”
Vernon rolled his eyes, but he smiled.
“Well, if there’s a problem with your marriage license, you could always remarry,” Georgiana said.
“E-excuse me?” Portia coughed.
“If there’s a problem with the paperwork from the marriage,” Georgiana said. “I’m sure you don’t want the magistrate and your guardian continuing to worry needlessly.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Charlotte exclaimed. “Mr. Halstead is fussy. He’s the magistrate, and the island lacks crime. I’m afraid he’ll be very thorough.”
“We couldn’t marry again,” Portia said, perhaps scrambling for an excuse.
Colin and Portia couldn’t remarry. If they did, they would actually be married, and that was an impossibility.
“It shouldn’t take long,” Georgiana said brightly.
“My wife is a wonderful problem solver.” Georgiana’s husband stroked her hand.
Georgiana beamed. “The idea just came to me.”
“And it’s good.”
Colin cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should focus on enjoying Christmas Day tomorrow.”
“Yes, yes,” Vernon said. “Good plan.”
Colin nodded.
He despised that Portia had asked so many questions about annulment. Even though Portia and he weren’t married, she seemed eager to dissolve their marriage.
Finally, the dinner was over. The brandy had been sipped, then finished. The children had expressed their enthusiasm for Christmas, and they’d sung some songs over the yule log.
Then Colin and Portia followed the other couples upstairs. Colin tried to not linger on the manner in which Vernon and Charlotte held hands, or the way in which Hamish held Georgiana’s waist. Instead, he resisted the temptation to touch Portia, even if she did look lovely in her green gown. The fabric hugged her curves in a delicious manner.
They said goodnight to the others in the hallway, then entered the