Page 88 of Married to the Cruel Duke

She shook her head. “But could you take them through to the sitting room. I need a moment.”

“Of course, but are you sure you don’t want me to sit with you?”

“I should be all right. I just want a moment to take in everything that happened.”

He hesitated. “Very well, if you’re sure,but please remember that if you say the word then I will do whatever I can to help.”

“As long as you know that. We’ll be in the parlor when you’re ready.”

“Thank you,” she said just because he stood.

“All right everyone,” William said, turning to their dinner guests. “That concludes the meal. If you would all follow me through to the parlor.”

As they moved to go, Penelope and Lady Sutton hesitated be her for a moment before slipping from the room.

Alone for a moment, she took a shaky breath. She could hardly believe she had said any of that.

She was almost dizzy with the excitement of it all. A laugh bubbled in her chest.

She was never going to see them again.

It had finally happened.

She was truly free.

A short time later, Rebecca enters the sitting room. The second she stepped through the doors, all eyes turn to her.

For a moment, she thought it was going to be a topic of conversation, but she should have known Penelpoe would never let something like that happen.

Her friend immediately approached her with a bright smile on her face. “I just wanted to make sure my mother and I told you just how good dinner was.”

Rebecca returned the smile. “That’s kind of you to say, thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“It was splendid. I can’t wait until your next one.”

Once the tension was broken, the rest of the evening could not have been more pleasant.

Everyone had a good time talking, playing games and getting to know one another.

It turned out Patrick’s wife was a wonderful and witty woman when she wasn’t worried about adding fule to the fire like she was at the dinner table.

They stayed up well into the night, talking, playing games and having an all around wonderful time.

Eventually thought, everyone had to go home for the night and William and Rebecca were left alone once more.

He moved to sit beside her, a tender smile on his face. “That went well. How are you feeling?”

She nodded. “Free.”

“Good, you deserve to be free. You did a great job with everything this evening, the dinner, how you handled them. You should be proud.”

“I am, but it meanes even more to hear you say that. I was so worried about doing right by the Danton name.”

“I think you did amazing by it.”

She didn’t give herself a moment to think. Rebecca had been bold that night, there was no reason not to keep it up.

She leaned forward, pressing her lips to William’s in a short tender kiss.

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