Page 69 of The Duke's Jilted Bride

“I’d wager the letter will arrive before you reach home,” Georgiana predicted. “Matthew is nothing if not prompt when properly motivated.”

As they chatted with Miss Thornton a bit longer, discovering she was indeed the same girl from the park, Selina felt a now-familiar pang. Young love, so sweet and uncomplicated. No arranged marriages, no abandoned weddings, no mysterious absences. Just a shy viscount and a kind young lady bonding over the stars.

After Miss Thornton departed with her maid, Georgiana linked arms with Selina. “That went rather well, don’t you think?”

“Brilliantly. Did you see how he lit up when she mentioned astronomy?”

“Like a lamp being turned up. And she seemed genuinely interested, not merely being polite.”

They strolled through the bookshop, Georgiana occasionally pulling volumes from the shelves. “It’s satisfying, playing matchmaker. Perhaps we should make a profession of it.”

“I think we’d better see Matthew safely married first,” Selina laughed. “He still has to survive dinner with her parents. And knowing Matthew, he’ll likely spill soup on someone important.”

“True. Remember the Hendersons’ musicale? When he knocked over the harp trying to turn pages for Miss Henderson?”

“The poor man was mortified. Though Miss Henderson was rather unkind about it.”

“Well, she was hoping to snare the Earl of Westford. A mere viscount breaking her instrument was adding insult to injury.” Georgiana selected another book. “Speaking of marriages, how are things with your duke?”

Selina kept her expression neutral. “Much the same. He’s away on business again.”

“Again? Didn’t he just return from the last trip?”

“Three days ago. This time he took Lord Halston with him.”

Georgiana frowned. “That’s rather odd. Men don’t usually take friends on business trips unless there’s sport involved. Is he hunting?”

“I have no idea.” Selina tried to keep the hurt from her voice. “He tells me very little about his affairs.”

“Hmm.” Georgiana didn’t look convinced. “And how long will he be gone this time?”

“He didn’t say.”

They reached the counter, where Georgiana paid for her selections. As they emerged onto the busy street, she turned to Selina with determination.

“This won’t do. You’re his wife, not his housekeeper. You deserve to know where he goes and why.”

“It’s not that simple,” Selina protested. “Our arrangement…”

“Hang your arrangement,” Georgiana said with uncharacteristic vehemence. “You deserve better, my friend.”

“I… I know that. But he’s my husband. The only way is if I discover why he keeps pushing me away.”

“That is a good place to start. But just so you know, men push us away because they are idiots,” Georgiana declared. “Robert was the same when we first married. Convinced he was protecting me by keeping his business troubles to himself. It took me threatening to return to my mother before he finally opened up.”

Selina smiled despite herself. “Somehow I can’t see you threatening anything. You’re far too sweet.”

“Sweet, perhaps, but also stubborn. A trait I believe you share.” Georgiana hailed a passing hackney. “Now, let’s stop by Gunther’s for ices. All this matchmaking has given me an appetite.”

As they settled into the carriage, Selina allowed herself a moment of hope. If shy, bumbling Matthew could find happiness with a few nudges in the right direction, perhaps her own marriage wasn’t beyond salvation. She just needed to figure out how to nudge a stubborn duke who seemed determined to maintain his distance.

The thought of confronting Rowan about his secrets made her stomach flutter with nervousness, but Georgiana was right. She couldn’t continue living as a stranger in her own marriage. When he returned from this latest mysterious journey, she would demand answers.

Whether he would give them remained to be seen.

They spent the rest of the afternoon shopping, with Georgiana determinedly taking Selina’s mind off her absent husband. By the time they parted ways, Selina felt more cheerful than she had in days.

As her carriage rolled toward home, she thought about Matthew and Miss Thornton, probably both penning letters at this very moment. Young love, so fresh and hopeful. Had she ever been that innocent? Her courtship with her first husband had been purely practical, and her correspondence with Rowan had been formal to the point of sterility.

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