Page 64 of A Bride for the Forbidden Duke
“And what a beautiful host we have,” Judith said, beaming at Lady Lindbury. “It is an honor to meet you both.”
“And you, Lady Grantham,” Lady Sheridan curtsied. “It is an honor to meet you. Under normal circumstances, I would have enjoyed meeting you at my nephew’s wedding to your daughter, but that man is truly hopeless when it comes to what society expects.”
Lady Lindbury giggled as though they were gossiping young woman. Veronica’s mother looked stricken for a moment, as if unsure of whether she was right to laugh along with them. She gave a nervous chuckle.
“In truth, this is my first dinner party in a while,” Judith admitted to the women.
The two older women nodded sympathetically. “It does not matter, for you are joining in with us now, and we are delighted for your attendance.”
Then the two women gathered Judith into their circle and began to take her for a turn around the room to make more introductions. Within moments, Veronica noticed that the three women were chatting like old friends. Smiling, she turned to find her husband’s eyes already on her from across the ballroom. He stood next to a couple Veronica had not yet met. The moment their gazes met, Veronica felt that slowly familiar heat go through her.
She ignored that spark. It would do her no good.
He beckoned her over with a raised brow, and Veronica found herself wanting to smile, as if they might share an inside joke, a game they played of obedience. But they did not, and the Duke always found more ways to create distance between them. Veronica longed for such a strange thing: an inside joke, something intimate between them.
As she approached the Duke, she realized all over again that she would never find a love match within him.
Ignoring the ache in her chest, she returned to his side.
“I would like to introduce you to the Duke and Duchess of Harwick,” her husband said. “Your Graces, this is my wife, the Duchess of Westley.”
Veronica bowed at the couple, noting that the Duchess of Harwick was heavily pregnant, holding her stomach with one hand. Her face glowed with a smile, and she was petite, pretty, and Veronica smiled right back.
“It is an honor,” she said. The Duke of Harwick bowed to her.
“We are currently staying in our countryside residence until Cecilia gives birth,” he said, “and we thought that we would take the opportunity to attend tonight. We are sure it is the last event we can attend before Cecilia is unable to travel.”
“Then I hope we shall make it memorable,” Veronica said. Her gaze flicked to the Duke of Westley.
“I am sure we will,” he murmured, and for a brief moment, it was as though the rest of the room faded away.
In the dining hall, more light spilled into the room, catching off jewelry and glinting off glasses as they were raised in various toasts throughout dinner.
“I think we should raise a toast to the Duchess of Westley,” someone announced, whom Veronica recognized as Lord Simon, the son of a marquess.
She was sure she had seen him at the Fernwell ball. She had found him rather charming, but he was a man who had turned away from her when she had glanced around the room, hopeful for a dance partner.
And now, he was toasting her being a duchess.
The irony was not lost on her.
“I agree,” another lord spoke up.
She could not recall his name, but her cheeks flushed as some of the other lords began to pay attention.
“To the Duchess of Westley,” Lord Simon announced, lifting his glass.
A chorus that echoed him went up, and sitting opposite her, the Duke’s glare flared. But it was not as though she had asked for the attention.
Still, to see what she thought was jealousy flash through his eyes was… exhilarating, she thought.
This is another way I could tease him.
“Your Grace, how are you finding your new home in the countryside?” Lord Simon asked, continuing his attention towards her.
He smiled at her with no mind to the imposing glower her husband was giving the room. Conversation flowed around them, and Veronica heard her mother talking to Lady Sheridan more about Robert’s disappearance, desperate to correct any gossip.
“It is beautiful,” she said. “The gardens are very expansive, and being away from the noise of Dalton Square has been strange but wonderful.”
