Page 30 of Matters of a Duke's Heart
They rode on to the Marquess and Marchioness of Barrendon’s estate, the journey feeling endless in the silence that lingered. When they arrived, they immediately joined the greeting line, making their way up to their hosts.
The couple was older, with all of their children grown and married off, so they tended to remain in their country estate for most of the Season.
Felicity had informed him of all these things, of course, and Spencer had listened adequately, committing each thing she told him to memory.
As they entered, she pointed out different gentry to him.
“That is Lady Withersham,” she said. “She became widowed last year, and word has it she already went back on the hunt for a new husband barely two months into her mourning period. How scandalous. Oh, and that is Lord Bracken who is known to be a most terrible rake, but I heard from one of Daphne’s friends that he is actually quite a sweetheart once alone.”
Spencer nodded, but all the names slid from memory the more she added to her list. Although she pointed out other people to him, he kept his eyes on her, fascinated. He had not realized just how many people his wife knew. Of course she was well-educated and well-liked by everyone; she had been top of Rupert’s list for him, after all.
But seeing it in action had him clamming up, feeling impressed without knowing how to vocalize it.
In the end, he settled on, “I did not know your social life was so limitless.”
Felicity laughed softly. “Oh, my sister and I were terrible, nosy ladies. My mother inspired us to watch other ladies, to learn their ways and lives in order to best present ourselves to the most likely match.”
She spoke so casually as she continued looking around the entrance hall where other guests milled around. They moved closer to their hosts, and Spencer wondered just what else the night would bring.
The Marquess of Barrendon greeted him with a firm handshake, bowing deeply.
“Your Grace,” he said cheerfully. “How lovely of you to make the journey out here. And Duchess, it is good to see you again. Married life in Bluebell Manor seems to be suiting you.”
Spencer felt a prickle of insecurity. Widows and widowers often remarried, and far sooner than he had, but there was a strike of guilt through him at the thought of replacing his late wife.
But he had a duty to fulfill, and introductions to continue, so he smiled, gesturing to his wife. “Indeed. We are very happy, Lord Barrendon, thank you.”
He glanced at Felicity, finding her own mask in place, fixed over any emotion she truly felt at his claim. Spencer’s guilt deepened.
“Well, do enjoy yourselves. I am certain there will be many people attempting to pull you into conversations today. Do stay alert.” Lord Barrendon gave Felicity a quick wink, and Spencer’s stomach tightened, as did his hold on her arm. He released it as soon as he realized how tightly he held on.
“Thank you,” he said again quickly. “Enjoy your ball, Lord Barrendon, Lady Barrendon.”
He bowed quickly before leading his wife into the ballroom. Heavens, after a week of relative peace—aside from Felicity’sincessant teasing—he had almost forgotten how positively big groups of the ton could be.
He stared down at the ballroom, finding a sea of faces already turning toward them. Gentlemen looked up first, leaning toward one another to nod at the new duchess. And Spencer was once again reminded of her popularity prior to their marriage.
But just how popular had she been?
Next to him, Felicity showed no effect from the attention. Save for a muscle in her cheek fluttering.
It was the only tell he had come to notice throughout their first week together. Why he even took it upon himself to think about worrying about noticing such things he did not know. Or, rather, he did not want to look at too closely.
“Do you miss it?” he asked, keeping his focus on the ballroom, the people who found a reason to float past them, bowing their heads in respect. “All of this. The balls, the suitors, the fuss of it all.”
Felicity didn’t answer him for a minute but then replied. “I am uncertain. Yes and no, I suppose. Do I miss the… the predictability of it? Perhaps. The knowing of my place, as much as that hurt at times. But do I miss the way the disappointment of yet another failed Season crushed me? No, I do not miss that.” After a moment, she pulled her gaze back to him, and shesounded almost breathless. “It is nice to be so settled, even if we are not…”
Spencer’s breath caught at the way she trailed off, and he realized how much he waited for her to continue with what she was going to say. But she did not continue, and moments later they were interrupted by a gentleman who met Spencer’s wife with a grin.
“Lord Graham,” Felicity greeted, much to Spencer’s surprise.
He realized the magnitude of what the night would actually bring—the fact that he really would face how popular his wife had been prior to their marriage. So why had she not married any of them? He kept his questions to himself.
“Lady Felicity.” Spencer could not help eyeing up Lord Graham, a younger man with eyes that shone brightly, and a smile that appeared far too easily. As easily as Felicity had smiled that day in the drawing room upon her renovations. “It is good to see you. Or, well, I should say ‘Your Grace’ now, I suppose.”
Felicity only gave a dismissive smile as if to comfort him not to worry. Spencer cleared his throat, and his wife finally introduced him.
Annoyance flared when he saw other men making their way over to greet her. She looked so happy—and yet he could not stopwondering. How could she be so happy? Had she never pursued any of these gentlemen??
