Page 52 of Wedded to the Beastly Duke
“I’m flattered.”
“So I don’t think it’s too much to ask to be welcoming to Rickard. He’s a connection to your brother.”
“Nicholas didn’t know him,” Adam said shortly.
“Does Nicholas know everything?”
No, but Nicholas knew enough that the fact his friend hadn’t met Rickard before was suspicious, and she knew that. But she tugged at Adam’s hand.
“Forget about your vendetta against him. We’re at a ball. Think only of that, and of dancing, and of eating and drinking and seeing Society for the first time since our marriage. Unless you attended a ball when you last left for London?”
“You know I didn’t.” There was that feeling again, although this time it was a need to reassure her. “That was purely business. The reason I didn’t bring you along was because I thought you would prefer to stay in one place rather than being dragged from meeting to meeting.”
The dance came to an end. “Well,” she said archly, looking up at him with an expression he couldn’t identify but that made more frustrated want pound through his body, “just know that Ipreferto attend societal functions, with or without my husband. Consider that, and consider also that I will find a way of contriving my happiness. Now, I must speak with my mother and sister.”
Before he could formulate a reply, she curtsied and left him in the middle of the dance floor.
* * *
“Oh, my darling Emmeline,” her mother said as soon as they were within speaking distance. “My sweet girl! It has been so long since we last saw you.”
Emmeline extricated herself from her arms. “It has been a month, Mama. Hardly forever.”
“A month is more than long enough to be separated!” Her mother waved her handkerchief with a nervous gesture. “Aurelia has been beside herself every day.”
Emmeline turned to her sister, who, except for looking a little pale, was as beautiful as ever. “Tell me that isn’t true.”
“We have been a little worried,” Aurelia said carefully.
“I told you I would be fine!”
“You said you would return to us before long, and it has been a month—you said so yourself—with no indication that you will return back home.”
Emmeline thought of all the lengths she had gone to in order to persuade Adam to send her back home, and his stubborn refusal to do just that. At the time, she had been frustrated beyond reason, but now she saw the glint of humor in his eyes when he saw through her plans.
“Well, it didn’t happen precisely as I had hoped,” she allowed, “but I assure you I am perfectly well. Do I not look well?”
Aurelia gave her a critical look, then smiled. “That dress is magnificent on you.”
“Of course it is. And you may be sure that Adam does not control me the way you no doubt think, or else he would not have allowed me to wear something like this. Truly, Mama, Aurelia, he is not as bad as I thought he was.”
“Are you sure?” Aurelia asked doubtfully. “He seems to be particularly scowly.”
“I thought so too, at first, but it turns out he can smile, and when he does so, it makes him look entirely different. Charming, even.” Emmeline looped her arms through those of her mother and sister. “Believe me, I thought the same as you when I first met him, but he’s not as awful as he seems.”
“No?” Her mother seemed incredulous. “But, Emmy, he whisked you off to the countryside without so much as a by-your-leave.”
“That is hardly so unusual for a newly married couple, Mama.” Emmeline laughed. “Did Papa not do the same to you when you first married?”
“Speaking of your father, my dear, you must have words with him. I have been begging him for months to increase your darling Aurelia’s pin money so we can buy her new gowns, but he refuses, and nothing I do or say can persuade him. It’s putting me out of sorts!”
Considering her mother was rarelyinsorts, this wasn’t as surprising as it might have been, but Emmeline adopted a reassuring expression.
“That doesn’t sound so bad, Mama. Aurelia’s dress is beautiful, and anything she doesn’t wear, she makes up for it in beauty.”
“And he said he would not be in attendance tonight, no matter how much I asked him.”
“Well, gentlemen do not attend balls as often.”
