Brandon turned back, extending out his hands. He held a dress of fine blue wool. “How did you manage that?” she said with a smile.
He chuckled. “With a bit of difficulty.” He set another parcel on the table. “To attend to your other needs.”
Then he carefully unfolded the gown and began helping her into the garment.
His hands skimmed her body, as he completed the terribly personal act of helping her dress. She’d known that he’d done the same last night, but she’d been so tired, she’d hardly been aware. Now, her body hummed with the intimacy.
When he was done, she had the distinct feeling of being too hot, and she shifted away. “When…” she looked away. “When do we wed?”
“If you’ll have me, in the next hour.”
She turned back to him then, cold replacing the heat. “An hour? This is to be my wedding dress then?”
He reached for her hand. “No. Well yes. This is our ceremony of necessity. You can consider the next one the marriage of romance.”
She gave a stiff nod. “Are we to go into town?”
He shook his head. “I don’t have the license for that. The captain will perform the ceremony once we’re out to sea. The next ceremony will be the one recognized by church and state.”
“Then why have this one at all?” she asked. Nervous butterflies danced in her stomach. Was it just nerves? It wasn’t every day a woman woke to find she was marrying a duke. But even after all their talking, she still didn’t feel like she understood Brandon.
He’d said that he cared. But there was a distance in his gaze. One she couldn’t name, and she didn’t understand.
Perhaps, despite his assertion that he cared, he wanted control of the business? Had he lied?
She sighed. Questions like this were only muddying the waters.
“You’re very quiet.” He reached out and pulled her close.
“I’m questioning myself,” she replied honestly. “My head doesn’t know which way to go.”
“Then perhaps you should listen to your heart. What does it want?”
That made her soften…everywhere. She knew what she wanted. Always had.
Yes, she wished to be in charge of her life, but she also wanted him. Had from the first moment. “You.”
His arms were around her then, his lips covering hers.
She lost herself in that kiss.
He gathered her close, his arms supporting her weight as their bodies came together.
And here in his arms, it all felt so right.
An hour later, Brandon stood on the deck as Caroline, or Aunt Mildred, walked Emily to his side.
He tried not to grimace. Even he knew how wrong this was. Her dress fit her fine, but it was tight in the chest and loose in the waist. The woman he’d purchased it from clearly wasn’t as endowed as Emily.
Nor did it feel right to have no one they cared about in attendance.
He should have told her about his past before this. It wasn’t right that she married him without knowing.
Her pretty mouth was set in a frown as she approached, which only added to his feelings of guilt.
The ceremony took all of five minutes with the captain quickly asking each of them if they consented to the match.
He agreed and held his breath as Emily was asked the same question. She gave a tentative nod and then a whispered yes.
And then it was done.
He captured her mouth in a brief kiss, sweeping her back to her cabin…well, his cabin. Their cabin now.
A small meal was being delivered and then…
Then they’d have to talk.
He could not consummate the match without sharing what he’d done. It was that simple. She wanted control and it was time he gave it to her.
This time she managed her way down the shipman’s ladder on her own and then slipped her hand into his as they made their way back into the cabin. “Not very far to travel,” she murmured, a slight smile lightening the mood.
He chuckled. “I suppose we’re actually travelling a great distance when you consider we’ve embarked on a sea journey.”
“Do you think my sisters are all right?” She stopped in the middle of the room, worrying her lip.
Another stab of guilt. He knew her kind heart must be worried sick about her sisters. But they had plenty of men to keep them safe. She was his concern. “I think they’re fine,” he answered, taking her hand again. “While in Harwich, I sent another communication back to Bash and we’ll hear from him shortly after we arrive, I’m certain. I told him our destination and—”
“Which is?” she asked, her brows rising.
“Hull,” he replied. “It’s the one property I kept.”
She gave a quick nod and then crossed the room to sit on the bed. “Do you have any siblings?”
“No. Why?” he asked as he deliberately crossed to join her. He slid next to her as she gave him a long look.
“Why? I don’t know a thing about you. That’s why. You’ve known my father for years. You know my sisters, my brothers-in-law. You’ve been to my home.”
Brandon leaned back against the wall as he closed his eyes. She was right.
“You told me to listen to my heart. Well, I’ll be honest. My heart says you’re hiding something.”
Right again.
“Well.” He cleared his throat. “I have no memory of my mother. And my father didn’t see fit to remarry as he had his heir. I’ve got one aunt, but I haven’t seen her in two decades at least.”
“That makes two of us.”
Now was the time. He drew in a sharp breath. “Your Aunt Mildred didn’t just abandon you. She’s unwell. Forgetful to the point of not functioning.”
“And how do you know this?”
He swallowed. “The Scot you’ve seen me with.” He looked over at her. “That is your cousin, Ewan.”
She gasped in a breath as she scrambled to her knees. “He’s in London?”
“He is,” Brandon answered. “He came to attend you girls.” Brandon grimaced. This time, Brandon had truly wanted to protect them, but he’d intercepted Ewan to stop him from
