Page 76 of Trapped with the Forbidden Duke
“Your Grace,” Lord Fairfax said, bowing. “I hear it is your first ball as the Duchess. We are honored that it is ours.”
“And what a lively affair it seems to be,” Edwina remarked, before turning to Lady Fairfax. “Lady Fairfax, congratulations on your marriage.”
“And to you too, Your Grace. Perhaps we may mingle later?”
“I shall welcome it.”
After hiding away in Montgomery Manor for so long, Edwina was ready to make new friendships, but there was one particular friend who she knew would be present tonight.
As Lucien led her away from their hosts, she began her search for Diana.
They entered the ballroom, they were announced, and all eyes swiveled to them.
Edwina shivered beneath the attention. After avoiding the ton for so long, she felt as though every gaze that bored into her was one of harsh assessment.
She felt as though one glance at her would uncover every family secret she had buried beneath her carefully crafted facade.
They would know of her parents’ harshness, her floundering in Society, and Nicholas’s addiction.
They would know of her stolen kisses with Lucien before he married her and?—
“Are you all right?” Lucien asked.
Edwina had not realized they had already walked deeper into the crowd, having been dazed.
“Quite,” she managed. “I forgot how overwhelming these events can be.”
He nodded once. “Indeed. See over there—that is the Duke and Duchess of Silverton. They went through their own ordeal not too long ago, with the Duchess’s late husband, the Earl of Kinsfeld. It was a rather nasty business.”
“They seem rather happy,” Edwina noted, taking in the woman with the confident posture and swollen stomach.
“They are, from what I hear at the gentlemen’s club I sometimes go to. The couple are expecting their first child in several months. Do you see how the Duke barely moves from his Duchess’s side? They say marriage and expecting their child has changed him dramatically.”
Edwina could not help but ask, “Would you be changed by such a situation?”
Lucien stiffened beside her, and his gaze fell on her once more after they had assessed the couple.
Before he could answer her, Diana appeared behind Lucien’s shoulder, and Edwina cried out, rushing to her friend.
“Diana!” she squealed. She reminded herself to be proper, but still, she embraced her friend tightly. “Goodness, it has been too long.”
“Fartoo long! I have been waiting for my invitation.”
Edwina glanced at Lucien. “We have… taken some time to settle in. But soon, I assure you. You may visit us soon enough.”
“Or you can travel to London, should you wish,” Lucien suggested, giving her a sharp glare that said enough—he did not entertain many visitors.
Diana looked between the two of them, amused.
“Excuse me, I see an old acquaintance of mine…” Lucien trailed off, already striding away.
Edwina knew that it had less to do with her friend’s arrival than it did with her question about marriage and having a child.
Why had she brought up such a topic? They had broached the subject only once but never since. She had been careful not to.
“That looks interesting,” Diana noted, looping her arm through Edwina’s. “How fares your marriage? The Marquess of Tulley is here, and he says that your marriage, so far, seems rather perfect. Many are doubting it, as they, of course, did not see you two meet before your wedding. Everybody ismostintrigued.”
“You have spoken with Jasper?”
