Page 62 of The Duke's Forbidden Bride
“Well, if you will not publicly compliment her, somebody ought to.” Lord Avington gave her a sly wink, but it did not make her feel uncomfortable.
If anything, she felt a strange allyship in this man, who seemed to enjoy teasing her husband.
“I do hope I will see the two of you dance tonight.”
“I believe so?—”
“I do not dance,” Spencer cut in. “And there, you have met my wife, so now you may leave us be.”
Lord Avington scowled at him, not budging an inch. “I did not wait all this time to meet such a lovely woman only to be dismissed within moments, Spencer. I want to hear the story, the sweeping romance.”
His sparkling blue eyes flicked to Eleanor, and a boyish grin danced on his lips.
“Spencer would not know gossip if it hit him square in the face. I, however, am an avid reader and listener of gossip. Thetonis abuzz about your marriage and how swift it was. I say it is a whirlwind romance, but His Grace is being tight-lipped about it.”
“Oh, well, there is a reason for that,” Eleanor said, raising her voice.
She had a part to play, and the last time she had done so, she had gotten under her husband’s skin in a way that delighted her—only for him to play her game right back and fluster her by giving in to her tricks.
Memories flashed through her mind, of his mouth dipping to the honey bun she had offered teasingly, of the moment she realized she wanted to feel his tongue against her skin, perhaps licking the honey?—
“Your Grace?” Lord Avington prompted, and she realized she had fallen silent. “Heavens, you are rather flushed.”
“I certain I am not,” she said quickly. “But—ah, yes, the reason he is so tight-lipped is simply because he does not wish people to know that behind closed doors, he is a rather doting husband. Quite the romantic, in fact.”
“Really?” Lord Avington grinned at Spencer. “How riveting. Do tell me more.”
“His Grace is very tender and caring,” Eleanor elaborated, feeling her husband’s burning gaze on her. “Only days after we were wed, he allowed me to claim my own part of the gardens and plant many flowers. And then he bought me a jasmine bloom to add to my collection after he found out it was my favorite.”
“Rebirth flowers,” Spencer commented.
Eleanor hesitated, turning to him in surprise.
“Sorry?” Lord Avington frowned.
But Spencer’s gaze did not leave Eleanor’s. “The flowers you planted—the lilies and lotuses—signify rebirth.”
“You…” Eleanor’s voice faltered for a moment. “You knew?”
“Of course I did.”
That small admission, the fact that he knew what rebirth meant to her and why she had chosen those flowers to begin her new life…
Her stomach dipped, her heart racing.
She was aware of Lord Avington looking between them, but she couldn’t tear her gaze from the soft look on Spencer’s face.
His manner didn’t seem like part of their act, yet she couldn’t understand why he would regard her with such softness when he was usually so brusque. It reminded her of the night he had tended to her wounds at the inn. His touch had been soft and his tone softer, so at odds with the sharp tongue he had wielded at first.
She only looked away when Lord Avington murmured, “Have any of you read the tale of Thisbe and Pyramus? They were separated by a wall, too.”
Spencer’s voice was rough when he answered, “I have heard what thetonare saying about us, Theodore. There is no wall. Do not be foolish.”
“Hmm. Well, from the way you look at one another, there is hardly any reason to question the affection here. But why do you choose to keep it so concealed? Let your affection for one another bloom like the flowers you mentioned—whatever they mean to you both. Let thetonsee what you are building and squash the ridiculous rumors.”
Eleanor blinked at the suggestion that they looked at one another with affection.
Lord Avington smirked at Spencer. “Do not be shy, Everdawn. Show your wife the attention she deserves if you are so soft of heart. Now, do excuse me. I must mingle, for I see Lady Hannah there; she promised me some of her time when I found her dance card full at the Trawleys’ ball. Your Grace, it was lovely to meet you, and I hope I will see you again.”
