Page 35 of Duke of the Sun

Before Cordelia could make the mention about their intentions being accomplished rather easily, she noticed a small posse heading their way. There was an older gentleman, dressed similarly to the Duke but without any added color. His wispy grey hair was pulled into a short tail above his neck. On his arm was a lovely presenting lady, her pale colored dress holding onto her figure in a gentle way. Her blonde curls rested on the top of her hair with an assortment of pins. There were a pair of girls behind them, looking like it was their first ball of the Season.

“Your Grace,” the gentleman said as he bowed. “This is an awfully pleasant surprise!”

The Duke nodded, reaching forward to shake the man’s hand. “How are you, Lord Crake?” He turned towards Cordelia. “Lord Crake worked alongside my father for quite some time. They had intertwining businesses.” The Duke reached, his hand pressing against the small of her back and guiding her forward. “This is my wife, Cordelia.”

She stepped towards the gentleman, letting out a sigh as the wordwifesunk into her. The feeling of The Duke’s hand behind her made her head foggy and uncollected, as if she was burdened with a fever. She smiled the best she could, giving her full attention to the Lord and pretending like she wasn’t at all oddly distracted by his touch.

“I have heard much about you, your Grace, from the Duke of Darkenhill,” Lord Crake said, giving her a cheeky wink.

Cordelia smiled curiously. “You know my brother?”

“In business terms only,” he replied. “But he is a great Duke, a brilliant successor of your late father.”

“Those are kind words, my Lord.”

Lord Crake led his own wife and family forward. “Your Grace, might I introduce Lady Crake, and my beautiful daughters, Loretta and Arietta?”

The daughters curtsied at the same time, their sweet smiles and delicately brown hair almost identical.

“Your Grace,” Lord Crake continued, “I am very pleased to see you, very much indeed. There was something from our correspondence I wanted to discuss in person.”

The Duke pressed his lips together. “What is it?”

A hand tugged at Cordelia’s dress. She turned to see the pair of daughters watching her, their heads tilted in opposite directions. “Hello,” she said with a raised brow. “How old are you two?”

“She’s sixteen,” Loretta replied.

Arietta followed: “And she’s seventeen.”

“Not twins?”

They both shook their heads.

Cordelia held back her laugh. “Are you two enjoying yourselves?”

“I didn’t believe them,” Loretta blurted. “Not one of them.”

Arietta nodded. “Neither did I. We never did.”

“Believed what?”

“The rumors, silly,” Loretta teased. “It’s been the talk of London for ages. Arietta didn’t think you would come out this Season, but I never doubted you for a second.”

Arietta pinched her sister. “I didn’t doubt her, Loretta!” She turned, giving Cordelia a darling smile. “I only thought you both needed your time away from the city. Isn’t that right, your Grace?”

Cordelia glanced between them with wide eyes. Their identical doe eyes and eager expressions brought panic to her in the matter of seconds. She never prepared for anyone to outrightly speak about the rumors, or even the details of her marriage. Was that evenpolite? Cordelia sighed. The Ton had no issues discussing the workers going in and out of the estate - there wasn’t any room for surprise anymore.

“You two are curious, aren’t you?” Cordelia asked.

Loretta nodded. “Along with the rest of London, your Grace!”

“Whatever for?” She shrugged. “If you don’t believe the rumors, then -”

“Of course we don’t believe the rumors,” Arietta interjected, giving her sister a very obvious sideways glance. “But wouldn’t it be relieving to put the past gossip aside through revealing the true origin of your love story?”

Cordelia gaped. “Love story?”

“Any couple who stays away from the London Season for as long as you have are either in the unlimited throws of love, or deep in unmistakable scandal,” Arietta replied, her smile bright and cherry. “We know which one, of course, but we believe you ought to silence them with how you came to be wed. Not a soul knows!”

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