Page 29 of Stolen By the Duke of Ice
The food was delicious, the talk easy. On his other side was the wife of Dahlia’s older cousin, Katherine, who, at first, mostly talked about her husband and children but soon proved to be an entertaining conversationalist.
“Of course, I met my Randolph during my first season. Papa had not yet wanted to accept his offer; he wanted me to wait another year, just so I could be sure, he said.”
“That was wise of your father,” Peter said.
“Our feelings proved to be constant though; we married after my second season.”
“My belated best wishes, Madam.”
“Thank you, Your Grace. It was the most natural thing in the world for Randolph and me to be together. But then again, I’m sure you’ve noticed that love matches seem to be the natural thing in this family.”
“It is impossible not to notice.”
“When I married into this family, I could hardly believe the love stories they told me. Your Grace will not believe them as well.”
“Are they so improbable then?”
“The word is romantic. Truly, they are. I hesitate to tell you for fear that you will think me a fanciful female or worse—that I made them up.”
Despite himself, Peter found himself curious.
“Tell me the most extravagant one if you please, Madam.”
“So long as it is you who asked, Your Grace.” Katherine continued to tell a story of pirates and kidnapping and of the lady riding horseback to meet the gentleman whom she had thought was dead. “They married as soon as they reached London.”
Peter scoffed in disbelief.
“I warned you, Your Grace.”
“That cannot possibly be true.”
“Are you telling His Grace of the Pirate Love Story?” Dahlia inquired, amused when she overheard Peter’s reaction.
“He will not believe me. And I had not expected him to truly.”
“Who would believe that that story is not a work of fiction?” Peter said almost laughing.
“Well, we tell you, it is true!” Dahlia said. “The kidnapping and the rescue were in the newspapers. The family still has a copy of it somewhere.”
Peter frowned.
“No.” he said but not with the same conviction as a few moments ago.
“Show His Grace after dinner, Dahlia.”
“I think I shall, thank you, Cousin Katherine.” She grinned.
They sat to what, in Peter’s opinion, was the most interesting meal of his life. He observed everything. People indeed sat wherever they wanted, some called to others to join them, some moved places so often that Peter had to wonder how they ever got to finishing the meal. He felt like he was in another time, in another place. This dynamic confused him even as it amazed him.
“The married couples sit next to each other,” he noted.
Dahlia nodded in reply.
Now that he thought about it, throughout the evening, they had stayed close to their spouses as well.
During the start of dessert, one of Dahlia’s aunts and uncles, he forgot the couple’s names, had become so amorous towards each other that Dahlia’s face turned red. She engaged him in mindless conversation that ended only when the couple had stopped.
They are a family that marry for love.
