The Duke and the Accidental Bride (Duchesses of Convenience #5)

Epilogue

I sabella was more nervous than she expected herself to be.

I should feel thrilled! Excited! Sprinting ahead because I cannot wait to start! But if Duncan asked me right now if I wished to go home, I might just take him up on that...

It made no sense. She had been looking forward to this moment her entire life. Never thinking it would come, dreaming of it, knowing that if it ever did that she would take the opportunity by both hands because it was what she was born to do.

Or so she had thought.

“How are you feeling?” Duncan asked her.

“Fine!” she shouted. “I mean...” She forced a smile and took a deep breath. “I feel fine, thank you.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Why would I not be?”

Duncan laughed. “Because your hands are sweating, and I can feel you shaking.” He was holding her right hand and he gave it a squeeze. “There is nothing wrong with being nervous.’

“I’m not nervous.”

“Or scared.”

“I’m not scared!”

Duncan smiled knowingly to himself. “I am so glad to hear that because I was hoping that I might be able to leave you early. I have a few errands to run and...” He pretended to pull his hand free and turn around as if to leave her.

“What! No!” She grabbed him with her other hand. “You can’t leave me! Please!”

“I was only joking, Isabella.” Duncan turned back to face her, still holding her hand as his other reached up and rested on the side of her face. “Don’t worry, I am not going anywhere.”

“You promise?”

“I mean, I do not think they will allow for me to join you inside. But I told you I would walk you to the front door and I meant it.”

She bit into her lip and looked ahead, able to see the door. It should have elicited a thrill inside of her. Again, she should have let go of Duncan’s hand and ran for it – eager to get inside. But the door was large and intimidating and seemed to speak to her directly as if to warn her away.

“I... I... I do not think that I can do this,” she said.

“Isabella...”

“I am sorry!” She looked at him pleadingly, praying that he would not argue with her, that he would accept her words and give in. “And I know how hard it was for you to organize this – the favors you called in. But... but... but...” She stammered as her tongue grew thick and heavy, her entire body seeming to rebel against her.

This wasn’t how today was supposed to be.

Even last night, Isabella had lain awake as she pictured this moment right now, albeit with less fear and far more eagerness than what she was currently feeling. It was not until she broke her fast and she and Duncan left that the fear began to creep up inside of her, as she began to wonder if this was all a horrible mistake, and she was hopeless out of her depth.

In the distance, the sound of a bell ringing echoed across the grounds. It had the people around them hurrying forward, some even running, because that bell signaled a beginning to the day.

To Isabella, it was the sound of her own doom.

“You really wish to go home?” Duncan asked.

“Yes!”

“And it is what you want? You are not going to regret it the moment we leave?”

“I want to go. Now!” She looked back in the direction of their carriage.

Duncan considered. He looked down at her, studying her, hopefully seeing the truth in her eyes. Knowing that it was better to agree with her than to fight about it. She needed him to be on her side here.

“Alright,” Duncan said with a smile, then he kissed the back of her hand. “If you insist...” Slowly, still holding her hand, he turned and started leading her away.

Isabella breathed a sigh of relief, and she felt better immediately.

This is for the best. I am in over my head, and I was a fool to think that I could do this. Even if it was my life’s dream. Even if it was everything I ever wanted. Even if...

Unable to stop herself from doing do, Isabella cast a glance back in the direction they had been heading. There it stood, the eastern wing of St. George’s University, London. Through the doors was located an auditorium which any second now would be host to an introductory course on the human anatomy.

Duncan had surprised her last week with the news. As he told it, he had reached out to a professor friend of his who taught there and asked a favor of him. That favor being, would Isabella be able to take some classes this summer. A seemingly simply request, even if it was anything but.

To look around, it was easy to see why Isabella was so nervous. Although there were plenty of woman hurrying across the campus, they were with men, and it was those men who were attending the lectures and seminars, not the women. Study was man’s business and few women, if any, were allowed to partake in such a prestigious vocation.

Yet Duncan had pulled those strings. He had applied pressure. He had used his title and name to force the heads of the university to accept Isabella as a student. At great personal cost to him also, not that he cared.

All he cared about was that finally, Isabella was living her dream. And here she was, about to spit in his face by turning it down.

She came to a stop. Still looking back at the eastern wing, she was caught in two worlds. On the one hand there was the fear and it would be so easy to give in to that fear and walk away. But on the other hand...

“Having second thoughts?” Duncan asked.

“What? No!”

“Can I let you in on a secret,” Duncan said, smiling at her as he turned and took her by both hands. “I know that you are scared.”

“I am not scared!”

“And that is normal. But look around...” He indicated to those who hurried past, many pf whom here paying them curious glances. “You might be scared of them and what they think but would you believe that they are even more terrified of you.”

She blew through her lips. “Doubtful.”

“Truly, they are. They see you here, with your books, attending classes that no lady should attend, and they can’t help but wonder. Who is she? Why is she here? And how fiercely brave she must be for doing what so few have dared to do. You are a lion among cubs, and they know it.”

She blushed furiously. “That is... ridiculous.”

“You are also the bravest and most stubborn person I know,” he continued. “So brave that the idea of walking into that auditorium as the only woman there excites you. And so stubborn that even if you were terrified --”

“Which I am not!”

“Which you are not,” he agreed. “But even if you were, it wouldn’t make a difference. In fact...” He grinned. “I can’t help but feel that all this --” He indicated to the two of them about to walk back to the carriage. “-- is just a ruse to make me think you changed your mind. Right?”

Isabella could have kissed him. She could have done a lot more than that!

She was scared, that was no lie. And yes, the idea of walking into that auditorium, surrounded by men judging her and snickering behind her back had her legs shaking. But that was always going to be the case. From the first day that she’d dreamed of doing this, she had known it would be her against the world, and she had known that if she wanted this as much as she did, it would not be easy, that she would have to fight for it, that she would have to be brave.

All she needed was a reminder.

She beamed, leaned up and kissed Duncan on the lips. “Thank you.”

“For what? I didn’t do anything.”

She felt tears welling in her eyes. “You’ll be here in an hour?”

“I’ll be right here,” he said. “I promise.”

“Good.” She let go of his hands and stood up straight. Then she made sure her dress was straight, and her hair wasn’t a mess. “How do I look?”

“Fiercely intelligent.”

She rolled her eyes. “Just you wait and see.”

Her stomach still turning, her legs still shaking, Isabella turned around and started across the park and toward the eastern wing of St. George’s University. She had been waiting her entire life for this and a little bit of last-minute resistance wasn’t going to change that.

Honestly, if I can tame Duncan the way I have, then I am capable of anything. Now it was time that she proved it.

The End?