Page 23 of The Jilted Duchess
"I daenae hear ye arguing with me logic, wife," he said, a grin blooming on his face as he watched her refusing to look at him, a bright red flush darkening on her cheeks. "I think I cannae be told nae to hold me own wife in me own house by any sort of polite rules or nonsense."
She tsked and refused to answer, which was definitely a win for him. As he led her out to the carriage, he could swear he could also see a small smile dancing on her lips.
This was different from attending a ball with her sisters or her father. Alexandra was used to slipping into a ball, standing on the sidelines thoroughly invisible, and then returning home having successfully avoided too much attention from gentlemen.
She had never really been announced before. She had always been 'and party' when attending with one of her sisters after they were wed. People were not supposed to know her name.
Yet this time, as soon as Hector led her to the doors into the ballroom, the footman announced them to the whole party as 'the Duke and Duchess of Murray' and every head turned to look at them as though they were important guests.
Theywereimportant guests.
Hector ignored the staring and the slow ripple of murmuring voices as he took her down the steps and into the crowd. His face was serene in a way she couldn't understand. There was so much about him, in fact, that she didn't understand. He didn't storm or shout or throw a tantrum, he didn't control or order her about. He -
He smiled a lot. He laughed.
It was frightening in a way. She never knew what he would do next. If she had been asked to make a guess as to what Hector would do when put in a room with staring gentry, she would have said that he would be annoyed and huff over society and rules. But he didn't. He ignored them so thoroughly that she had to double-check that they were really there.
"That must be the girl that his brother was meant to -"
Alexandra glanced in the direction of the whisper, tightening her grip on Hector's arm. It immediately died away. She could not pick out who amongst the sea of watching faces might have said it.
"So humiliating, left at the altar like -"
She glanced around again, heartbeat quickening. They were talking about them, things that were cruel and cold and humiliating. Not loud enough to really be heard, there was a sense of wariness to the crowd like they were intimidated by something - or someone. She clung a little harder to her husband, his large looming figure lending her a sense of a sort of protection against the scorn and fascination all around them.
"Your Grace!" a man said brightly, moving towards them and bowing. "Welcome to my home. And your lovely wife, it is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace."
Hector smiled, Alexandra could hear it in his voice. "It was our pleasure to be invited, Phillips. Thank you for the welcome."
Alexandra murmured her own thanks, her cheeks burning and her head swimming a little. It felt as though she could feel the eyes on her skin like dozens of pins being stuck into her. She didn't care what they were saying, she didn't! She just - wanted them to stop saying it.
"Come, let me introduce you to Lady Phillips," Lord Phillips said cheerfully. He was a little bit like a merry terrier, energetic and good-natured as he swept them over to his wife and madeintroductions. Alexandra made herself go through the right movements, letting the warmth of the conversation soothe her as she tried to bring herself back to normal.
Was this what it was always like for Hector? Was this her life now?
"Ah! Your Grace!" a man called out.
Alexandra looked up from her third glass of punch, surprised that someone other than the host was approaching them. Hector had taken her on a circuit of the room, but it was clear that though everyone was quite frightened of outright offending her husband, they did not particularly want to socialize with him beyond the barest of good manners.
And yet this gentleman was searching him out, tailed by two ladies in gold and silver gowns with what were likely to be smiles hidden behind their open fans.
"Harkworth," Hector said calmly. "I did not know you would be attending Lord Phillips' ball."
"I did not expect Your Grace to be present either," the gentleman said. "May I introduce my daughters, the Honorable Misses Agnes and Edith Harkworth. This is His Grace the Duke of Murray."
Hector nodded to the girls, who curtseyed merrily. "Lord Hawksworth, Miss Harkworth and Miss Edith, my wife the Duchess of Murray."
Alexandra was a little surprised. He knew the appropriate pattern to introductions which she had not expected. Perhaps that was foolish of her, after all a successful businessman would have had to know how not to offend any gentlemen who dealt with him.
She nodded as well, noting the eager curiosity in the eyes of the young ladies and the absolute disinterest of the gentleman. If she had cared at all for his opinion she might have been offended.
"May I speak to Your Grace regarding the project we were discussing?"
Hector hummed and turned to Alexandra. "Is that agreeable to you, my dear?"
Alexandra was startled for a moment, surprised to be asked. Then she saw the gleam in his eye and realized that he was intentionally ensuring that Lord Harkworth respected her. "Quite agreeable, Your Grace."
"Very well," he said, squeezing her hand briefly. "I shall return shortly."
