Fairest of Them All (Marriage by Fairytale Book 4)

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  “Your sister’s right,” Maud told Joanna and Pamela. “She’s not his master. She’s going to be his wife.”

  “It seems silly to me to stay in the dark,” Joanna replied. “At least, Viola could suggest he wear a mask.”

  “I’ll do no such thing,” Viola said. “If he wants to be in the dark, then it’s his right. I don’t want either of you,” she glanced between Joanna and Pamela, “to mention anything about this when you see him.”

  “But I thought we weren’t going to see him,” Pamela replied, eyes wide. “Will we be able to since we aren’t marrying him?” Her sisters turned their hopeful expressions in Viola’s direction, and she added, “If we see him, we’ll tell you if he’s ugly.”

  Viola didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh in exasperation.

  Her aunt saved her the trouble by chuckling. “Oh my dears, I assume this wedding will take place in the dark. I read His Grace’s missive, and he’s determined that Viola won’t ever see his face. It stands to reason that none of us will, either.”

  Joanna didn’t hide her disappointment. “It’s a shame. I want to see what he looks like.”

  Her aunt glanced at Viola and shrugged. “It can’t be helped. He’s a mystery. It’s natural that they’re curious about him.” Then she turned her gaze back to them. “You are to be on your best behavior. You will not try to get a glimpse of his face, and you won’t mention any of this when we’re at his townhouse.”

  “All right,” Pamela agreed. “I’m not sure I’d want to see someone who’s ugly anyway. Lord Tumbledore still gives me nightmares.”

  Viola couldn’t blame her sister for saying that. To a child, he was a scary figure. He had the misfortune of being born with a nose too big for his face, eyes that seemed to have trouble focusing on any one thing at a time, teeth that jutted out, a birthmark that covered a fourth of his face, and an Adam’s apple that bobbed up and down whenever he spoke or swallowed. Though his back made him stoop forward, his height still made him taller than most gentlemen. Despite all of that, he did have a sweet temperament, and Viola often felt sorry for him. It wasn’t his fault he’d been born the way he was.

  “Lord Tumbledore was a good acquaintance of Oliver’s,” Viola said. “He happens to be an intelligent gentleman.” If Oliver had listened to him more, he might have done better with his investments.

  Pamela shivered and whispered to Joanna, “He’s probably intelligent enough to sneak into children’s bedchambers so he can whisk them off to his secret lair where he can eat them.”

  Viola and her aunt gasped. “We both heard that,” Viola said. “And that’s a terrible thing to say. How could you make that up?”

  “I didn’t make it up,” Pamela replied, her tone indignant. “Maisy said she saw him floating out of a window in the middle of the night with a young lad who was trying to get away from him.”

  “She had a bad dream,” Viola insisted. “She didn’t actually see him doing such a thing. Why, the fact that he was floating out of a window should tell you she’s not telling the truth.” The carriage came to a stop, so she added, “I don’t want to hear anything else about this. Don’t spread any rumors about him. He’s a kind gentleman.”

  “If he’s so great, why are you marrying the Duke of Sutherton instead of him?” Pamela asked.

  “Viola’s shy around gentlemen,” her aunt spoke up for her. “She never knows what to say.”

  “You just go up to a gentleman and ask him how the weather is or if the ball is lovely,” Joanna spoke up. “There’s nothing to be shy about.”

  “Well, maybe you two will do better than me when it comes time for you to enter your Seasons,” Viola replied as the carriage door opened. She took a deep breath then released it. One good thing about their conversation, as horrible as it’d been to have to listen to such lies about Lord Tumbledore, was that it’d taken her mind off of the impending wedding. “You two do as Aunt Maud said. Be on your best behavior.”

  “We will,” the two promised.

  Sensing their sincerity, she relaxed and left the carriage.

  To Viola’s surprise, the butler came out of the Duke of Sutherton’s townhouse and hurried down the steps to greet them. “The vicar is here,” he told her and her family. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to His Grace.”

  “Does that mean we’ll get to see him?” Joanna asked.

  Viola and her aunt shook their heads, silently admonishing Joanna for not showing better manners.

  The butler, however, didn’t seem upset by her boldness. Perhaps it was his young age or perhaps it was his position that prompted him to overlook Joanna’s lack of manners, but he replied, “Unfortunately, no. The ceremony will be conducted in the dark.”

  Viola ignored the disappointed expression on Joanna’s face and joined her aunt and the butler in climbing up the steps. She glanced back once to make sure her sisters were following, and Joanna whispered something to Pamela. Pamela put her hand up to her mouth and gave a light chuckle. She then glanced at Viola. Viola shot her a reprimanding look, so she quickly grew serious.

  Viola thought fifteen-year-old girls would behave better than this, even if the circumstances were strange. She hoped they didn’t show any of this behavior when they were in the duke’s presence.

  Come to think of it, maybe it was for the best that the ceremony would take place in a dark room. Then he wouldn’t see the things they were doing.

  They entered the townhouse, and the butler turned to the footman and told him Viola’s trunk was with the carriage. “I would get it myself,” he explained to Viola, “but I’m to bring you to His Grace as soon as possible. He doesn’t wish to keep the vicar waiting.”

  “That must be because the vicar’s a busy person,” her aunt told her.

  Viola nodded. That might be the reason, though she wondered if it was because standing around in a dark room while waiting to perform a wedding made for an awkward situation. She felt awkward about it, and she wasn’t even in the room yet.

  Regardless of how she felt, she was determined to go through with this. The duke had already given her family three hundred pounds. She was bound by her word to go through with the wedding.

  Not that she had any intention of turning back on her word. She didn’t. But she did experience a slight chill of uncertainty as she continued up the steps. Even if she didn’t believe in things like a curse, she did think it was odd that three ladies had all died within a year of marrying the duke. There had to be a reason for it. It couldn’t be a coincidence, but she had no way of explaining it.

  She glanced at her aunt and sisters. She was doing this for them. She’d come here to make sure they were going to be provided for. Whatever happened to her, she had the comfort of knowing they would be fine. Renewed by the reminder, she lifted the hem of her gown and continued up the stairs.

  The butler reached the top of the stairs and gestured to the hallway. “The bedchambers are down there.” He proceeded to go up another flight of stairs. “We will be going to the attic.”

  Viola felt her steps slow. She should have expected this. There would be too much light in the drawing room this time of day, even with the drapes closed. The den might be a better location, though she couldn’t be sure even that would be dark enough. She supposed a bedchamber was too personal, and again, who knew if it would be completely dark. The servants would have their rooms, but that was no place for the master of the house to have a wedding.

  The attic was the logical choice. It would be the easiest room to keep dark since it had the least amount of windows in it. Joanna made a good point in him wearing a mask. If he did that, he wouldn’t need to take everyone up to the attic. But it wasn’t her place to suggest such a thing, so she continued to follow the butler up the stairs.

  They reached another floor, and the butler led them to a door. She expected it to open to the attic, but when he opened it, there was yet another flight of stairs. These steps ascended into complete darkness. Despite the fac
t that she was surrounded by her family, she felt a shiver crawl up her spine. This would be a terrible place to go to if one was all alone. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who felt that way since her aunt and sisters glanced at her with a wary look in their eyes.

  The butler broke the silence. “I have to go in last. There can’t be a shred of light along the stairs.”

  Viola followed his gaze, noting that though the hallway was dim, it wasn’t dark enough. Well, it was up to her to lead the way since she had agreed to marry the duke. She lifted the hem of her gown again and took the first step on the staircase. She held onto the rail and took the next step.

  She tried not to think of how fast her heart was beating. This wasn’t an ordinary wedding. This wasn’t going to be an ordinary marriage. She’d known that going in, but it was only now occurring to her just how odd everything was going to be from this moment forward in her life.

  She heard someone follow up behind her on the stairs and looked back at her aunt. Her aunt was probably trying to decide if she should try to talk her out of marrying the duke. But the answer would be no. Her course was set. There was no changing it. She gave a slight shake of her head, and her aunt, being an astute observer, relented.

  Viola directed her attention back to the top of the stairs and proceeded forward. By the time she was about halfway up the stairs, the door shut behind her. She gasped and stilled.

  “It was only me,” the butler called out. “When you reach the top, knock on the door four times. That will let His Grace know it’s you.”

  All right. The instructions were simple enough. Renewing her grasp on the rail, Viola continued up the steps. She reached out with her free hand, waiting for the moment her fingers touched a door. In doing this, she almost stepped on her gown and fell forward. At the last minute, she caught her balance. Since no one could see her, she picked up the bottom of her gown and draped it over her arm in the most unladylike manner. She’d die of embarrassment if anyone saw her so indisposed. But in the darkness, no one could tell what she’d done.

  When she felt the coarse wooden structure of the door, she brought her hand to the right and lowered it until she touched the doorknob. She didn’t know why the fact that it was cool to the touch should startle her, but it did.

  Pushing the feeling aside, she released her gown and knocked on the door four times, as the butler had instructed.

  After a moment, she heard footsteps echoing off the floor on the other side of the door. She released the doorknob just in time to avoid the door swinging away from her.

  “Miss Keane?” a deep masculine voice asked.

  Her heartbeat picked up even faster than it’d been going before. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Yes. I’m her.”

  “She came with her aunt and two younger sisters,” the butler called out from behind her.

  She jerked. The gentleman in front of her had almost spoken in a whisper, but the butler’s voice had been louder.

  “Thank you for coming,” the gentleman said.

  She tried to make out his silhouette, but everything was covered in too much darkness. She couldn’t even make out her hand that was right in front of her.

  “Tabitha, my step-daughter, is sorry she couldn’t make it. I’m sure you two will meet soon enough,” the gentleman continued. “If you’ll take my hand, I’ll lead you inside the room.”

  She was about to ask him where his hand was when his fingers brushed her arm and then traveled down to her hand. She was sure it wasn’t intentional, but the contact sent an unexpected thrill through her. She clasped her hand around his, and after letting the hem of her gown fall back at her ankles, she stepped into the room.

  “I’ll bring the rest of you in as soon as I get Miss Keane in front of the vicar,” he told her aunt and sisters.

  She thought her sisters might have a comment to make, but they were completely silent.

  The duke placed his other hand on the small of her back and guided her further into the room. Her skin warm, she obeyed his leading. If nothing else, she was assured he was a gentle person.

  “Vicar Roskin is in front of you,” he told her then released her.

  At once, she missed his touch, something she was sure wasn’t proper. She’d never missed the touch of any of the gentlemen who’d danced with her or who’d escorted her to dinners in the past. It had to be the darkness that was responsible for this strange new sensation. Without her sight, every other sense was amplified. Even so, she cleared her throat and self-consciously brushed her hair behind her ear.

  “The ceremony won’t be long,” the vicar said as the duke said something to her aunt. “These things usually take almost an hour, but I don’t expect anyone to stay up here for that length of time.”

  That was good because she didn’t care much for being in this room as it was. It was difficult to be in a place where she couldn’t even make out shadows around her. It was a deeper level of darkness than she’d ever been exposed to before. Just how did the duke get it to be this way? And, more importantly, how could he tolerate it?

  She heard him and her family as they came closer to her. Her aunt was commenting that she hoped she didn’t trip on something, and the duke assured her that there was nothing on the floor in front of her. She thought she heard Joanna whisper to Pamela, but she couldn’t be sure since Joanna was being careful to not be overheard.

  Viola closed her eyes and willed herself to go through with this wedding. At least, she thought she closed her eyes. It was impossible to tell for sure.

  “How do you manage in such darkness?” her aunt asked, and that was when she realized her aunt was standing a foot from her on the right.

  “After a while, you get used to it,” the duke replied from behind Viola.

  Viola jerked. She hadn’t realized he was walking behind her. She felt someone touch her left arm, and the familiar tingle notified her that the duke was now standing on her other side.

  “I know where all the furniture is,” the duke continued and his fingers traced the length of her arm. Once more, he was holding her hand. “I know exactly how many steps it takes to get to any point in the room. It’s second nature to me by now. I do, however, understand how unsettling this must be for the rest of you, and that is why I asked Vicar Roskin to shorten the ceremony. I don’t wish anyone to be more uncomfortable than they already are.”

  His thumb caressed hers, and her body couldn’t help but respond to him. If simply touching him was having this effect on her, then what might kissing him be like?

  Viola pushed the question aside. She didn’t think this was going to be an ordinary marriage. Nothing in her correspondence with him had led her to believe they would be like other married couples. Her purpose was to help his step-daughter find a husband. The marriage was only the means in which she could be a chaperone.

  The vicar broke the silence that hovered in the air for a few seconds, and Viola was glad for it. She didn’t know if someone had expected her to say anything or not. She had nothing she could add to the conversation. And she wasn’t about to tell anyone the strange thoughts and feelings pulsating through her like electric currents.

  Soon, very soon, she’d be married to the duke. Her position would elevate to a duchess, and she’d be a mistress of her own townhouse. She supposed Tabitha would be her step-daughter. She wasn’t sure how that dynamic was going to work since Tabitha was a young lady who was ready to marry. Viola couldn’t treat her like a daughter. Maybe she would be more of a friend to her.

  The duke’s thumb brushed hers again, and at once, her mind went back to him. More than anything, she wondered what this change in her life would mean, especially since she was just beginning to understand how pleasant being around a gentleman could be.

  Chapter Four

  “That was the oddest thing I’ve ever been through,” Joanna said during the meal after the wedding was over. “I’m glad I’m not the one who married him.”

  Viola glanced up from the poache
d egg she was eating. The only people sitting at the dining table were her, her aunt, and her sisters. Her aunt sat next to her, and her sisters were across from her. Her new husband had chosen to remain in the attic, which didn’t surprise her. She had, however, hoped to meet Tabitha, but apparently, she was going to have to wait.

  “He must be terrifying to look at,” Pamela said. “There’s nothing else to explain why it was so dark. A mask probably wouldn’t even help a face like the one he has.”

  “That’s not appropriate to say,” Viola spoke up before her aunt could admonish them. “We’re in his townhouse. You need to give him the respect due to him.”

  Ignoring the comment, Joanna asked, “Aren’t you afraid of him?”

  Viola shook her head. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

  “I was with you in the attic,” Joanna replied. “It’s scary.”

  “The darkness in the attic was scary,” Viola allowed, “but it wasn’t a reflection of him.”

  “Of course, it was,” Pamela argued. “He wouldn’t be in such a scary place if he wasn’t scary himself.”

  Viola let out a frustrated groan, so her aunt intervened with, “I thought he was a polite gentleman. As Viola said, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Now, you two mind your manners and eat the meal he has so nicely provided for us.”

  Viola gave her aunt a quick thank you before picking up her milk and taking a sip. The duke had the loveliest dishes and glasses she’d ever seen. These were expensive. Even someone of nobility had to be doing significantly well to afford them. And there was an abundance of food. He had seen to it that the menu included something for even the pickiest of eaters. He wasn’t only wealthy, but he seemed to be generous as well.

  Then she considered how bright and cheery the dining room was. Much like the drawing room, the drapes were open, letting in plenty of sunlight. And the furniture was a light shade of blue, and plants had been placed in various corners of the room. These all spoke of cheerfulness and life. What a startling contrast this was to the room they’d just been in a half hour ago.