Page 58 of Duke of Silver
“Breathe, darling. I am right here,” Alexander murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. The warmth of his lips against her skin sent a wave of reassurance through her, and something warm and tender squeezed at her heart as she met his gaze.
Was this all part of the happy, contented facade they had to present to society tonight? The thought brought an odd pang of disappointment. She wanted this to be real, not just a performance. She wanted to mean something to him—more than just a partner in their carefully constructed life.
As they entered the ballroom on his arm, whispers followed them like a shadow, and Elizabeth felt the weight of countlesscurious eyes tracking their every step. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation, the collective gaze of society practically buzzing with intrigue as they made their way to greet their hosts.
“Why don’t you open the dance floor for us tonight, Sterlin?” their host suggested, a smile playing on his lips. Alexander nodded in agreement, and before Elizabeth could fully process it, he was leading her towards the center of the room.
The music swelled, and soon, Elizabeth found herself lost in the graceful rhythm of their dance. Alexander’s guidance was sure and steady, and she let herself be carried by the flow of the music, the elegant sweep of his movements. For a moment, the world around them blurred, and it felt as though they were the only two people in the room.
“They cannot take their eyes off you. They’re positively smitten, Liz,” Alexander said softly.
Elizabeth glanced up at him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Are those your words you’re putting in society’s mouth, Your Grace?” she teased, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“So what if they are?” he returned, a wicked smile crossing his face as he suddenly pulled her closer. The unexpected closeness sent a rush of heat to her cheeks, and she felt her heart skip a beat.
He must have noticed her flustered reaction, because he chuckled, the sound rich and warm, sending a pleasant vibrationthrough his body and into hers. Elizabeth felt the warmth in her cheeks deepen, and for a moment, she forgot about the prying eyes, the whispers, the weight of expectation. All that mattered was the man in front of her, and the way he made her feel.
Too soon, their dance came to an end, and the spell was broken as they were pulled back into the reality of the bustling ballroom.
“Your Grace,” a familiar voice called out, drawing Elizabeth’s attention. She turned, her eyes lighting up with surprise and delight as she recognized the speaker.
“Lady Compton!” she exclaimed, a genuine smile spreading across her face. “I didn’t realize you were in town. What a pleasant surprise.”
“Oh, I haven’t graced London in quite some time,” the Viscountess confessed with a laugh. “But after you left, I thought it best to follow you and partake in the rest of the Season together.”
“Why, I feel honored then,” Elizabeth replied, her voice warm with affection.
“Oh, you’re too kind,” Lady Compton dismissed with a pleasant wave of her hand before she introduced her husband to Alexander.
Viscount Compton was a rather scrawny, bespectacled man in his sixties, his demeanor pleasant but subdued in comparison tohis vivacious wife. He immediately launched into conversation with Alexander, the two gentlemen quickly finding common ground in their discussion.
“While the gentlemen are distracted, allow me to introduce you to a childhood friend of mine, Your Grace,” Lady Compton said eagerly, practically dragging Elizabeth away from the gathering. “The Marchioness of Delle. She is French, you see. We went to the same finishing school in Paris.”
Elizabeth allowed herself to be led, her curiosity piqued as they approached the Marchioness. The woman was as pleasant as Lady Compton had promised, she had a prominent French accent that added a charming touch to her already elegant demeanor.
“I have heard a great deal about you from Lady Compton,” the Marchioness said, her gaze warm as she took Elizabeth’s hand.
“Hopefully good stories,” Elizabeth replied with a light chuckle, trying to mask her nervousness.
“Oh, only the most marvelous ones,” the Marchioness reassured her with a smile.
“News of the new Duchess of Sterlin hardly ever hides,” came another woman’s voice as she joined their party.
They turned to the sight of none other than the Countess of Winston.
CHAPTER 26
“Countess of Winston,” Georgianna announced herself to the French Marchioness with a haughty air, not bothering to wait for Lady Compton to make the introduction. Elizabeth noticed the slight narrowing of Lady Compton’s eyes, a telltale sign that she was less than pleased with Georgianna’s forwardness. Yet, ever the practiced hostess, Lady Compton masked her displeasure with a courteous smile.
“Why, I wasn’t expecting you back in Town so soon, Your Grace,” Georgianna turned her attention to Elizabeth, her lips curling into a smirk that did little to hide the snark behind her words.
“Neither was I expecting you back so soon, Lady Winston,” Elizabeth replied smoothly, matching Georgianna’s tone with one of her own.
“Oh, I got bored of the country,” Georgianna waved off the comment with a careless flick of her wrist before adding, “That was a rather short honeymoon, I must say.”
Elizabeth felt a flare of irritation but kept her composure. “I wanted to make my official appearance in society as the Duchess of Sterlin. I couldn’t wait until next season, you see,” she responded, her voice pleasant but firm.
“I see. But a properly observed honeymoon lays a good foundation in a marriage, don’t you think?” Georgianna pressed on, her green eyes glittering with a challenge as she held Elizabeth’s gaze. “But then again, considering the circumstances of your union in the first place, I suppose a honeymoon cut short wouldn’t be utterly shocking,” she added, her tone dripping with faux innocence before Elizabeth could respond.
