Page 95 of The Duke's Jilted Bride

His chuckle rumbled against her back. “I would have done worse than that. Probably challenged them to a duel for such wild speculation.”

“And now?”

“Now I would merely agree that they were unusually perceptive.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “Though I still find it difficult to believe my good fortune.”

“As do I.” Selina turned in his arms, straightening his already-perfect cravat. “You know, I’ve been thinking about you and those months you were at sea.”

His expression grew serious. “What about them?”

“You spoke of the stillness of the ocean on calm nights, the way the stars seemed close enough to touch. There was almost a poetry to it, despite the horror.”

“There were moments,” he admitted. “Brief respites when the beauty of it struck me. And the strange camaraderie that developed between men who had no choice to endure together. We were all broken in our own ways, but we survived.”

“Just as I survived my first marriage,” Selina said. “Lord Galerton treated me with distant courtesy, but never love. After he died, his family’s legal maneuverings left me with a fraction of what should have been my widow’s portion. The humiliation of near poverty, the constant worry about how long my meager funds might last…”

Rowan’s arms tightened around her. “We’ve both endured more than our fair share of hardship, haven’t we?”

“But look where it’s brought us,” she said, smiling up at him. “Our hasty marriage has become something real. Are you certain you need to go to your club this afternoon? The Merediths’ garden party is at three.”

“I’ll meet you there,” he promised. “Felix has some business matter he insists requires my attention, but it shouldn’t take long.”

She tried to hide her disappointment. Their time apart had grown increasingly rare, making even a few hours’ separation feel longer than it should. “Very well. Don’t let him keep you too late.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Rowan’s smile held a warmth reserved solely for her. “Not when the alternative is watching you charm half of London society.”

The Merediths’ townhouse was known for having one of the largest private gardens in the city. Manicured lawns, rose-covered arbors, and shaded paths made it the perfect setting for their annual summer gathering. As Selina’s carriage pulled up, she spotted Rowan waiting near the entrance with Felix beside him. The sight made her smile, a quiet sense of satisfaction settling over her.

“You see?” he said as he handed her down. “I wouldn’t miss a moment of your company.”

Felix rolled his eyes. “He’s become insufferable, Your Grace. If I’d known marriage would transform him into such a lovesick swain, I might have arranged a match for him years ago.”

“Then I’m grateful for your oversight, Lord Halston,” Selina replied with a smile. “As I might have missed my chance.”

The garden was already filled with fashionable Londoners, ladies in summer finery strolling beneath parasols while gentlemen gathered in conversational groups around tables laden with refreshments.

Selina noted with satisfaction how many heads turned as they entered, the Duke and Duchess of Aldermere having become something of a sensation since their unexpected transformation from scandal to love match.

They spent the first hour circulating among acquaintances, accepting congratulations on their evident happiness with matching composure. Rowan kept Selina’s hand tucked in the crook of his arm, his touch a constant reassurance as they navigated potentially awkward social waters.

“Your Grace.” Lady Winsley’s voice slipped into the lull in conversation like a blade wrapped in silk. “How lovely to see you again. And looking so… content.”

Selina turned to find Annette approaching, dressed in lavender silk that flattered her figure with careful precision. Though she addressed Selina, her eyes never left Rowan, and the intensity in her gaze was unmistakable.

“Lady Winsley,” Selina said with a polite nod. “A perfect afternoon for a garden party, wouldn’t you say?”

“Quite. Almost as enjoyable as watching the ton’s most unlikely love story unfold. The abandoned bride and the prodigal groom, brought together at last. It does have the ring of a fairy tale.”

Rowan’s arm tightened slightly around Selina’s waist.

“I like to think of it as fate setting things right,” he said with calm ease. “I count myself a lucky man.”

“So it appears.” Annette tilted her head, still studying them with that sharp, assessing look. “Of course, fortune has a way ofturning. What feels like bliss one day can become bitterness the next.”

“Not for us,” Selina said, more firmly than she’d expected.

“Such conviction.” Annette sipped her champagne, her tone smooth as ever. “I remember feeling just as certain once, about a man who promised me forever. Your father was especially gifted at such things, Rowan. Perhaps it runs in the family.”

The remark landed like a stone. Selina felt Rowan tense beside her, saw the flash of anger in his eyes before he masked it.

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