Page 427 of From Rakes to Riches

When their carriage eventually pulled into line behind dozens of others, Victoria peered out the glass window. Down the streets, she saw a palace, not simply a town house. She stared wide-eyed at her husband.

He smiled. “You can see Sutterly Court?”

She nodded solemnly.

“Heisa duke,” David said with a shrug.

When she allowed David to help her from the carriage, several other couples were disembarking before and behindthem. Then the greetings started, names called out back and forth, some she’d heard, some she hadn’t.

David smoothly answered any greetings sent their way, then led her up the stairs to the ground floor. Inside, a massive hall rose four floors through the center of the building, ending in an immense dome at the ceiling. A marble staircase split and wound its way up through the town house, and dozens of couples followed it up.

Victoria’s nerves were manageable, though still present. She was a viscountess now; she had to act the part.

No wonder David had said he could act. So much of his life seemed about doing that very thing, and now it was her turn.

At the entrance to the ballroom, there was a receiving line with the duke and his duchess. Victoria and David waited for their turn behind several couples.

David leaned down to her. “Are you well?”

Only weeks ago, she would have wanted to retreat to her house and be the kind of wife David had wanted.

The kind of wife he’dthoughthe wanted.

“I’ll be fine,” she said serenely. “What about you?”

He cocked his head. “Do I look nervous?”

“No, but you’re a born performer.”

He laughed. “Youarea wonder, Victoria.”

As she smiled up at him, a booming voice said, “Ah, newlyweds. You’ve managed to leave Banstead House, I see, Thurlow.”

It was the duke, and he was smiling at them.

She swept into a deep curtsy, knowing so many people were watching. “It is good to see you again, Your Grace,” she said, before rising.

After several pleasantries that David handled, they entered a crush of people. It was hot and loud, and she felt a drip of wax land on her shoulder from an elaborate chandelier overhead.

David smiled and brushed it off. “Let me know when you want to leave.”

“We just arrived,” she said, as someone bumped into her from behind. “And besides, I haven’t yet begun to make you proud of me.”

20

David stared down at Victoria, her determined eyes reflecting the light of thousands of candles. He knew that there had been a time in her life when this would have frightened her to death.

Not anymore. Now she intended to make him proud of her. For a moment he felt a lump in his throat, a feeling of tenderness for her that startled him with its intensity.

Regardless of who was watching, he trailed his gloved fingers down the side of her face, imagined the softness of her skin.

“I’m already proud of you,” he whispered. “Can you be proud of me?”

“Oh, David, maybe we each have to be proud of ourselves first.”

She looked at him as if anything was possible. He gave her a brisk smile and stepped back.

“Are you ready?”

---