Page 33 of The Duke's Return
“Does that endear me enough to enjoy some champagne?”
Lady Elena’s lips curled into a grin. She gave a theatrical glance about before nodding. “Yes, but do slip slowly and don’t you dare tell your mother. She wouldn’t even have let you leave the nursery if your father hadn’t insisted on your coming out this year.”
Nodding eagerly, Miss Alice helped herself to a glass as Lady Elena focused back on Genevieve.
“I had heard you married, of course,” she said. “How fortunate for you, Your Grace. I always knew you would be wed before long.”
Julian interjected as he supplied them with fresh glasses of champagne. “It was a close fight, I can tell you. I fought off at least ten men just for a chance with my dear Genevieve. Fortunately, I have a quick smile.”
“Oh, is it the smile you think that won me?” Genevieve asked him lightly, taking a small sip. “Not your upper cross?”
He winked. “We’re with company, dear, I thought you wanted me to be appropriate.”
As Genevieve snorted up bubbles in surprise, the other two in their party laughed in good nature. Miss Alice was a doll and just happy to be included. As for Lady Elena, Genevieve could remember there had been some social disaster that she was tied to. It had happened in the first part of the season, and then she was ushered away to the countryside to never return.
I cannot recall for the life of me what happened. Was there a man included? A lord, perhaps? Rings, and mayhap a horse… Something at the Serpentine? But it hardly matters, and I wouldn’t dare ask her to bring it up. It seems she is happy enough here, especially with her niece not much younger than herself for company. Though London might consider her tainted, especially as she is on the shelf now and unmarried, but the country is different. It seems as though she could use a friend, as could I.
“What a lovely pair you make,” Lady Elena remarked. “I was surprised to hear of the house being opened again. And I’m so very glad of it.”
Genevieve nodded. “As am I. You must call on me soon. Both of you, if you please.”
“We would be happy to welcome you any time we are home,” Julian added cheerfully while he took her empty glass from her. She didn’t remember drinking it, nor the first one. Or was this the first? Perhaps the third. She gasped lightly when she felt a steadying hand on her back. “However, if you don’t mind, Iwould love to show my wife to the refreshments. Until next time, my good friends?”
Lady Elena chuckled and lifted her glass to them. “Until next time, Your Graces.”
The moment they turned away from the two young women, Genevieve fanned herself. “It’s rather warm today. But I’m not that hungry.”
“Ah, but you are,” he reassured her.
“I am, am I?”
“I think you’ve drunk enough bubbles you’ll begin to float if we’re not careful,” Julian remarked breezily. He glanced down at her with that impossibly dashing smile. The one with a single dimple and the sparkling eyes. Her stomach twisted in a dangerous way. “We had best find you something hearty to keep you down to earth. I can’t go losing my pretty wife now that I have you in hand.”
He called me pretty.
Dimly realizing she had assuredly enjoyed too much champagne, Genevieve let herself be led about. The bonnet on her head helped somewhat to keep the worst of the brightness from her gaze, but the sunlight was still bright, and she was rather light-headed.
“Careful, my dear,” Julian said when they started up the terrace steps to the shaded canopied where the tables of food resided. He sneaked his arm all the way around her waist and held her close to his side. “How light you are on your feet.”
“Too light,” she muttered to herself. “You shouldn’t have given me that other glass.”
Reaching the top of the stairs, they paused to glance around at their options. Three tables of food were set up in the shade. She could smell everything and how delicious it would be.
But it was hard to think about food when her husband leaned in close, so close that his nose brushed the side of her neck. Genevieve had to steady herself with a hand on the railing. She didn’t dare breathe as she felt his warm breath on her bare skin.
“You little liar,” he crooned gently. “You do love champagne, don’t you?”
She squeezed her eyes shut, telling herself he was being rude. Obnoxious. Obstinate. Cruel. Annoying. Anything but charming or darling or romantic. Anything that wouldn’t make her blush like this, to feel warmth flood every pore of her body from her head to her toes.
It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t matter. None of this matters. Get a hold of yourself, Genevieve! You are not a child any longer, caught in fancies.
She really shouldn’t have taken a single sip, she realized, having started to let her shields down. It took a moment for Genevieve to find something beyond her husband to cling to.
Her pride. Julian didn’t mean anything he said. His smiles weren’t true. Just because his whispers alone could make her knees weak didn’t mean that he would pick her up should she fall. Because he would leave again, and when that happened, she would not fall apart. She could not be affected. She would have her life and her freedom and her peace.
Looking for the word to tell him this, Genevieve twisted her head to meet his. He moved back just enough to look her in the eye.Still, they were close, and she noted the way his gaze shifted from her nose to her lips and finally back up to her eyes.
They were standing much too near one another.
