Page 43 of The Duke's Jilted Bride

The ladies simpered at his arrival. “Lord Halston, we were just welcoming Her Grace to society.”

“And doing a marvelous job, I’m sure.” Lord Halston winked at Selina before turning his charm on the trio. “Lady Tremblay, I must tell you about the most astonishing horse race I witnessed yesterday. You’re a connoisseur of fine horses, are you not?”

With practiced ease, the marquess guided the ladies away from the refreshment table, sending Selina a quick, reassuring glance over his shoulder.

“Why are people speculating you’re with child?”

Selina startled at Rowan’s voice directly behind her. She turned to find him looking thunderous.

“I have no idea,” she whispered, mindful of nearby guests. “Those women just implied that you married me because you compromised me during your absence, which is patently absurd.”

“Marlow just congratulated me on impending fatherhood,” Rowan replied, keeping his voice low. “Where is this rumor coming from?”

“I was seen buying baby clothes,” Selina explained, her cheeks warming. “They were for Isabella’s new daughter, but Lady Tremblay seems determined to believe otherwise.”

Rowan’s jaw clenched. “This goes beyond idle gossip. Someone is deliberately spreading lies about our marriage.”

“Why would anyone do that?”

Before Rowan could answer, Lord Halston rejoined them. “You two might want to stop looking like you’re plotting murder,” he murmured. “Half the party is watching.”

Selina forced her lips into a smile. “Thank you for your timely rescue, Lord Halston.”

“My pleasure, Your Grace.” Lord Halston turned to Rowan. “Offer your wife your arm, you dolt. Present a united front.”

Rowan scowled but extended his arm. As Selina placed her hand upon it, she felt the tension in his muscles, the careful space he maintained between them.

“Lady Endicott is approaching with reinforcements,” Lord Halston warned them. “Brace yourselves.”

A formidable matron bore down on them, trailing several younger ladies like ducklings.

“Your Grace, we are all positively dying to hear how you two met,” Lady Endicott declared, her lorgnette trained on Selina. “Such a mysterious courtship.”

“There was nothing mysterious about it,” Rowan answered stiffly.

“We were introduced through mutual acquaintances,” Selina improvised quickly. “A correspondence developed, and we discovered many shared interests.”

“How fascinating.” Lady Endicott looked skeptical. “And what interests might those be?”

Selina glanced at Rowan, suddenly realizing she knew almost nothing about his personal preferences. “Literature,” she ventured. “The Duke has excellent taste in poetry.”

Rowan’s eyebrows rose fractionally. “And the Duchess has a remarkable understanding of estate management,” he added.

Lord Halston coughed to disguise a laugh.

“How… practical,” Lady Endicott said. “And Your Grace, we’re all curious about your unexpected disappearance last year. So many rumors circulated.”

Rowan’s expression darkened perceptibly. Selina felt him tense beneath her hand.

“My husband’s absence last year was most unfortunate,” Selina explained with calm dignity, “but entirely unavoidable. His Grace was called away on pressing family business abroad. Matters of great consequence and delicacy involving hisshipping estates. The dreadful weather made all correspondence impossible, and, regrettably, we were unable to communicate in time to formally cancel the wedding.”

She smiled gently, brushing an imaginary speck from Rowan’s lapel, her fingers lingering just so. “After that long and trying separation, His Grace returned with the most honorable intentions. Though I confess, the year apart was an agony I bore with great fortitude. But it only deepened my affection for him.”

Rowan looked startled at first, but he soon inclined his head slightly, “Nothing could have kept me away willingly. My absence was a torment, but I was bound by duty. Now, united at last, we look forward to our future together with great happiness.”

Lady Endicott seemed disappointed by this mundane explanation. “Well, it must have been quite the reunion.”

“Indeed,” Selina replied, emboldened by desperation. She stroked Rowan’s cheek lightly, a gesture both intimate and possessive. “Some things are worth waiting for.”

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