Page 59 of The Duke's Return
Several performers played through the evening. There was poetry, songs, and acting. Not all of it was good, but it was enjoyable for the sparse moments where she could focus.
Baskets were sent around for people to put in their funds. Genevieve brought out her dress, and Julian only chuckled when he saw the amount she had supplied with her.
“That must have been every pound in the house,” he whispered in her ear.
She tried to breathe. It took a minute to find her voice. “Perhaps. Perhaps not. It’s to help with the motherless children across England, however, so I couldn’t think of a better place for it to go.”
The man was so close to her. Their bodies weren’t touching, and yet she could feel his warmth. Could she feel his heartbeat or had she gone mad? His hand brushed against her arm from elbow to fingertips. For a moment, she dared to wish they weren’t wearing gloves so she could feel his skin against hers.
There was such tension in the moment she could only look at Julian. As he met her gaze, pulling back just enough to look back at her, she could have sworn he glanced at her lips. She wondered if he felt this as well.
And what would he do if he did feel this?
“Well said,” he murmured.
They slowly turned back to the rest of the room. As the performances came to an end, there was a small auction set up as well of local goods made from the village just for the evening. Julian entered a playful battle to win Genevieve a pair of new kid gloves lined with ermine. The room cheered when he won and bowed before Genevieve to bestow the gift on her.
There was little time for private conversation between them. When they had a moment, he surprised her by asking, “You wish to protect the dignity of my family's name so it reflects well on your family, isn’t that right?”
“Yes, because of my sisters.”
“All but the youngest are out.” She nodded, surprised he knew this fact. “And the next, Marianne, is likely to be engaged before the year is out.”
Warmth filled her cheeks as she remembered her sister’s cheer. “Married, too.”
“Perhaps we should have brought them with us? The household says you don’t visit as often as I might have expected,” he added with a slight smile.
He was trying to be kind, she realized. Generous. Her heart pattered over the tenderness even as she forced a smile that felt much too brittle for her to breathe.
“I would love for them to visit, but perhaps another time. My mother prefers them close to her in London.”
“But not you?”
She couldn’t keep the smile up any longer and looked away as she confessed, “I was never one of her favorites. I was only ever good enough for her to have married off for the younger girls. It must have been difficult, raising four daughters in a world like this one.”
Shaking his head slowly, Julian had leaned in close so she could smell his cologne. Inhaling it gave her a heady feeling. “You deserved better, Genevieve.”
“I know. Thank you. Having my own home has taught me much,” she admitted. “I’ve realized I do deserve better. And I enjoy being a duchess.”
For some reason, that had made him smile. He took her hand in his, brushing his lips across her knuckles in such a romantic gesture she didn’t think she would ever stop blushing. When he straightened up, he changed the subject and they carried on in lighter spirits.
A lovely evening it had become, one she had not expected. Julian doted on her with drinks and sweets. He was always at her side, complimenting her and boasting about her to everyone they talked to tonight.
It feels like a true marriage. An honest union. Oh, to be cared for by Julian is a sweeter dream than I could have imagined.
“What a sweet sorrow it is to part this evening,” he sighed to their hostesses in the grand entry late that night. He bowed overeach of the hands. “Fortunately, I believe we will have the honor of seeing you all again.”
“It was a such a lovely soiree,” Genevieve promised them. “Thank you for the invitation. We could not have been more impressed.”
Lady Penbury beamed. “You are too honorable. It was such a treat to host our duke and duchess. And your generosity was such a treat. We’ll do much for the orphans in the homes, so much good.”
Nodding along, Mr. Wilson murmured a farewell alongside them as they took their leave. Everyone waved even while Julian helped her into the carriage as they were one of the last to go.
“Thank you. Good night!” Genevieve called before the door closed.
Every part of her body ached from putting on a performance. Especially her cheeks from smiling so brightly. And yet the evening had been a success, she noted, and she felt warm all over with pleasure.
“Tonight was everything it could have been,” she said as the carriage started rolling. Julian was still situating himself on his bench. “Everyone was watching us and whispering. The performances were quite enjoyable, don’t you think? And I…”
