The carriage rocked gently as we pulled away from Fairchild Manor. Beside me, Mother chatted excitedly about wedding preparations, but I barely heard her. My thoughts remained with Lucian, though not in the way a bride-to-be's should.
"You seemed rather eager to leave, Clara," Mother observed, interrupting my thoughts. "I would expect a woman in love to linger with her fiancé."
I forced a smile. "I simply didn't want to overstay our welcome. The Marquess is a busy man."
"Indeed. So reserved, so dignified." Mother preened, clearly pleased with the match she'd helped orchestrate. "To think my daughter will soon be a Marchioness!"
I turned to look out the window, hiding my true feelings behind practiced pleasantries. "Lucian is... everything I could hope for."
