Page 56 of A Deal with her Forbidden Duke
“Truly?” Madeleine asked, surprised. “You are Cupid, then?”
“Something of the sort,” he joked. “Her father is not happy. Their courtship hangs in the balance.”
“How do you know? Are you friends with Lord Banbury, or is he another acquaintance?”
Something like surprise crossed Alexander’s face before he shut down. “I simply know.”
She could not help but know where Alexander knew such information from when he barely ever left Silverton.
“You intrigue me a great deal,” she laughed, feeling the weight of the room’s attention lift for a moment.
He cocked his head at her. “You intrigue me constantly.”
That silenced her.
Moments later, a flash of red hair filled her vision, a spring-green dress twirling around, and then Tessa was there, embracing her.
“I did not think I would see you tonight!” Tessa said happily. “I am so glad you came.” She curtsied to Alexander, her expression guarded. “Your Grace. I do hope you are taking care of my friend.”
Her tone was light but Madeleine remembered Tessa’s warning for her wedding.
“He has done nothing else,” she promised.
Colin stood forward and clapped Alexander on the shoulder. “Your Grace! We had such a good chat during the last ball. Come, I see the Duke of Kingswell over there, parading himself around. Let me witness the battle of the dukes.”
He gave a short laugh at his own joke before leading Alexander away.
Madeleine was fixed with one last long look by her husband, and she had the sense that Colin was leaving Tessa and her to talk in private, as he had during the last ball.
“Shall we take a turn around the room?” Tessa asked. “Come, let us do so, as we did in our debutante days.”
Madeleine managed a small laugh. “We are far from those days.”
“Indeed. You are twice married.”
“I do not need so stark a reminder.” She tried to joke but her voice was too sharp. She winced. “I only mean?—”
“I know, and I am sorry.” They began to walk around the ballroom. “How have you been, Madeleine, truly?”
“I… I have been well enough but this gossiping, Donald’s death, and my quick remarriage… it weighs on my soul. I cannot endure it for much longer. Alexander truly is protecting me, though, Tessa. He makes me feel braver than I am.”
“You do not need a man to remind you of that.”
“No, but lately my own courage alone has not been enough, and I am grateful for his support.”
Tessa nodded but said nothing.
“How have you been?” Madeleine asked her friend.
“Very well,” she answered. “Colin and I have been discussing expanding his businesses. He is not sure of the direction he wishes to go in but…”
Madeleine could not focus on the rest of her friend’s information, for she noticed the whispers gathering around her.
With Alexander gone from her side, she was as vulnerable as she ever had been.
“I cannot believe she would show her face,” one lady muttered, a judging scowl thrown in Madeleine’s direction.
“Lady Josephine!” the lady’s friend admonished. “She is the Duchess of Silverton.”
