“Are you resigned to your fate and the fact we are going to marry?” he asked, then downed the contents of his drink.
Was she? Part of her still wanted to go home and be her own woman. Emma wanted to live her life as she saw fit…and not be dictated to by a guardian or husband. The other part of her wanted to be married to Thomas more than anything, to share his life and bear his children.
Little things about that picture bothered her, though. Most important was her writing. Since arriving in England she had barely written a word. It had been her constant companion at finishing school. Why did she find it difficult to put quill to parchment here? Other than these reservations, Emma spoke the truth from the bottom of her heart.
“I’m looking forward to our marriage.”
***
Those words took Thomas by surprise. He had expected an argument and was prepared for one. He wondered what had changed since they had last seen each other. “I’m glad to hear that, as I’m looking forward to our married life as well.”
Did she blush, or was it his imagination? Stepping closer to her, he tilted her chin so he could look at her lovely face, and his breath caught at her beauty and her scent. Though he’d promised himself he’d be controlled with Emma, his heart took off, sending his blood pumping wildly throughout his veins. Thomas did not think he would ever tire of looking at her. Especially when she looked at him like she did now, her features soft, her liquid blue eyes smoldering, her delicious pink lips slightly parted. Emma was perfection in his eyes. And his blood boiled.
“Emma,” he whispered as he brushed his lips across hers. Though he wanted to ravish her right there and then, he would not give more than this light kiss. If he did, he would end up making her his before their wedding night. Call him old-fashioned, but he wanted their first time together to be as husband and wife, duke and duchess.
Thomas pulled her into his arms, however, resting his chin upon the top of her head, breathing in the jasmine scent of her. Closing his eyes, he stood still, holding her body close. He felt her heart beat in little patters against his chest.
His hands caressed Emma’s back, and he heard a moan escape her lips as she snuggled deeper into his arms, closer, more intimately, more temptingly.
He did not trust himself any longer, so he stepped back and immediately regretted the loss. His stomach pained, and he gritted his teeth to keep from groaning.
“I need to speak with my mother,” he told her curtly. “Please excuse me.” He paused in the doorway and glanced back at Emma who waited, face flushed, a dumbfounded expression on her face.
Well, bloody hell, she had the same effect on him. Now she knew how he felt. One minute he was drawn to her, and the next he wanted to run away. Was this how the rest of their life would be?
***
The morning of his wedding found Thomas bent over the chamber pot, emptying his stomach of its contents from the previous night. Thank God his mother had opted out of the traditional wedding breakfast. Food would not be possible this morning. As he tried taking shallow breaths, the pain radiating from his right side refused to let up. He made his way to the nearest chair and sank down, hissing in agony.
“All right, Thomas Seabrook,” he groaned, “you need to pull yourself together. Today is the day. Tonight is the night Emma becomes yours for all time.” Bending at the waist, he hissed between short breaths. “You can do this. You need to do this.”
The guests had arrived yesterday. To Wentworth’s surprise his mother had only invited her sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Wilmington and their two daughters, Victoria and Vanessa, and one son, William. His mother explained she wanted this to be a family affair. She would not tolerate any gossip on the day of her son’s nuptials.
The story about him and Emma played out over and over again in the gossip rags for days after the Boonevilles’ soirée. Thomas had personally gone to Whitehall to invite the prince to his wedding. The Prince Regent had expressed his disappointment in his choice of bride. He’d had high hopes Thomas would wed the Earl of Lennon’s daughter. Nonetheless, he agreed to attend. However, word arrived earlier this morning of his inability to attend due to illness.
“Ahhh,” Thomas sighed with regret. Sebastian was not present either. His mother had not mentioned Thomas’s brother, but he knew she was thinking about him, missing him.
And it was his fault his brother was in America.
Giles entered the duke’s bedchamber and shoved open the drapes, letting the warm sunshine seep in through the glass. Thomas watched the dust motes dance around and hoped he would be able to dance with his bride later in the day.