Page 28 of Wedded to the Forbidden Duke
That was no surprise; even such a terrible rake as her husband could not help but be kind to a girl as sweet as Nancy. Though, Cecilia realized, there was no flirtation in his voice, none of the customary rakish charm she had come to expect from him. Was he really taking his vows of fidelity seriously, then? “It is a delight, as always.”
“Thank you for hosting me,” Nancy said fervently. “I am most grateful. You have a truly beautiful home.”
“Yes, yes,” he said. “Somewhat busier, as of late.”
“Oh!” Nancy cried out. Her hand fluttered to her cheek. “I do hope I am not imposing.”
“Not at all,” Cecilia said firmly. She reached out and placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “I invited you, Nancy, don’t be silly. Besides, as our mothers say, it is always a blessing to have guests. Never an imposition. And, speaking of guests,” Cecilia said, nodding her head at the man who had entered with Ian. “Who is yours?”
“Ah. Yes. This is Mr. Pendleton,” Ian said, clapping the other man on the back. “My fencing instructor.”
The instructor bowed. “Your Grace. Miss Banfield.” They returned his greeting with a curtsy.
“I see.” Cecilia nodded. Then she turned back to face her husband. “May I inquire then as to why you are not fencing inside, husband, as is the usual custom?”
Ian tilted his head. “For starters,” he said, his calm and pleasant tone belied by the fire in his eyes, “this is my house. As such, I shall train wherever I please, as I have always done. And, secondly, on this particular day, I merely thought it prudent to take advantage of the weather. Same as you two are doing, I see. It has been a long time since tea has been held in this garden.”
Cecilia crossed her arms and stared him down. When he did not budge, she leaned back, raising her brows. “Well,” she replied, “the weather is excellent. And it isourhouse, after all. I shall have tea whereverIplease.”
She locked his gaze for another moment. The look in her eyes brought her back to a not-entirely-unwelcome memory of last night. How he had looked at her, just like that, with that same unbridled passion, before kissing her against the wall.
She cleared her throat, and shook her head, tearing her gaze away from him to look back at Nancy. “That said, I do believe we ought to finish our tea indoors, Nancy. Rather a sudden influx of bees and other pests, would not you agree?”
Nancy nodded, though hesitantly, eyes wide as she looked back and forth between the two.
“Whatever you would like,” Ian said, before nodding at Pendleton. “Shall we?”
As they parted ways with the men and began to walk back inside, Nancy turned to Cecilia with a hushed voice. “Goodness, Cecilia, forget forgiving your brother. If anything, I should think you ought to thank him. You could do much worse than to be married to a man like that.”
“I have not the faintest idea of what you could be referring to,” Cecilia replied, trying to keep her tone even.
“I mean only to say that…well. You must admit, he is quite pleasing to look at, is he not?”
“Why, Nancy!” Cecilia said, grateful to have a moment to tease her best friend. “Do not tell meyoureye has been taken by the duke! Whatever shall I tell my brother?”
Nancy giggled. “Oh, don’t make fun, Cecilia.”
“You make it so easy!”
“You must admit you are a well-matched pair,” Nancy said.
“I will admit no such thing,” Cecilia replied firmly.
They walked into the parlor, which, though it lacked the clement weather of the outdoors, still at least afforded them a lovely view of the garden.
“However,” Cecilia finally continued as they sat down, “I will say that I at least appreciate your continued attempts to search forsomesilver lining to my situation.”
As they walked further into the room, Nancy gasped, clapping her hands together beneath her chin. “Oh!” she exclaimed.
Cecilia followed her gaze to the instrument in the corner of the room.
“Cecilia, that must be the most beautiful pianoforte I have ever seen,” Nancy said, her voice bubbling with excitement.
“Yes.” Cecilia smiled at her friend’s enthusiasm. “It is in tune, I believe, though I have not touched it much. How have your lessons been coming along?”
Nancy’s face fell slightly, and she shrugged dejectedly. “I have not had much time for them, I am afraid,” she confessed. “All of the excitement lately has not left any time for it.”
As they continued to chat, Cecilia found her gaze continuing to drift outside the window.
