A knock sounded on the door. “His lordship is waiting downstairs, Lady George,” Burton called. “The carriage has arrived.”

“Coming.” Sue settled the domino around her and George pulled it close so that not an inch of dress was visible.

Right, this was it. She was off to marry the duke. An hour from now she’d be his duchess. Or not.

She hurried down the stairs. Cal was pacing back and forth in the hallway. “Cutting it fine, George. Emm and the ladies have gone ahead—” He broke off, staring at her. “Good God! What the devil are you up to? You’re not wearing black to your wedding, George. Not even you—”

“Of course I’m not wearing black. It’s chilly outside, that’s all.”

His frown didn’t shift. “There are any number of cloaks in this house that are better suited to a wedding.”

“I didn’t have time to find one, and anyway I’ll take it off before I get out of the carriage. Now, come on, I don’t want to be late.”

Cal glanced at the clock in the hallway. “Hell, no.” He hurried her into the carriage, oblivious of the various servants who’d gathered in the hallway to wish her well.

George waved to them as the carriage set off. Cal sat opposite her, his arms folded and his face grim. “What kind of mischief are you up to, young George—and don’t give me that innocent look. I know mischief when I see it.”

“Mischief?” She grinned.

“You won’t be able to play your tricks on the duke, you know. He’s a very serious fellow.”

She quirked her lips and gave a careless shrug.

“Every man is a bundle of nerves on his wedding day,” Cal continued, “and Everingham will be more on edge than most, given what happened with Rose.”

“He’s the one who forced this wedding on me,” she said lightly.

“He tried,” Cal agreed. “But you weren’t forced. You agreed of your own free will.”

She had. And truth to tell she was ridiculously nervous. The closer to the church they got, the more her courage seemed likely to drain away. But she was determined to start as she meant to go on.

The carriage pulled up in Hanover Square at the foot of the steps leading up to St. George’s church. George took a deep breath and shrugged the domino off. With a whisper of silk, it pooled softly around her.

Cal, who had exited first to help her down, turned to assist her and froze. “Good God, George, what the hell do you think you’re wearing?”

She tossed her head. “It’s a new fashion.”

He snorted in patent disbelief and shook his head. “Everingham has no idea what he’s taken on, does he?”