Page 80 of Wedded to the Duke of Seduction

Across the way, Noah approached the ladies with his customary swagger. “Ladies, your expressions bespeak grave matters. Surely this fine afternoon merits pleasanter topics than hospitals and widows.”

“Like your encounter with Lady Tomlinson at the Rutherfords’ ball?” Marina countered with a delicate arch of her eyebrow. “I understand she emptied her champagne glass over your head.”

Noah pressed a hand to his chest in feigned injury while Seraphina laughed behind her fan. “A mere misunderstanding, I assure you. The glass was but half full.”

“Next time you might wish to fix your gaze upon a lady’s eyes when offering compliments,” Marina replied, her lips curving into a smile.

As Noah attempted his defense, Leo marveled at the transformation. She was no longer the reserved widow he had married for convenience nor merely the passionate woman who had yielded to his touch. This was Marina in full flower—intelligent, compassionate, and confident in her place within society.

And he had been keeping her at arm’s length.

The realization left Leo unsettled for the rest of the evening and throughout the following day.

By the time they departed for Alice and Dorian’s dinner party that evening, his determination to repair the distance between them had solidified into resolution.

Marina had chosen another new gown for the occasion—a deep emerald silk that complemented her coloring beautifully without the deliberate provocation of the previous night’s crimson. As they entered the Irondale townhouse, Leo placed his hand at the small of her back, a gesture both possessive and supportive.

“You look lovely,” he murmured close to her ear. “Green suits you almost as well as red.”

Marina glanced up at him, surprise and a hint of wariness in her eyes. “Thank you.”

Before he could say more, they were greeted by their hosts.

“Marina, that gown is exquisite,” Alice exclaimed, embracing her warmly. “You must tell me where you found that shade of green. I have been searching for something similar for ages.”

As the women fell into conversation about fashion, Dorian drew Leo aside. “Ambassador Kessler has been asking about your shipping ventures. Something about potential investments in the Baltic region.”

The next hour passed in a blur of greetings and pre-dinner conversations.

Leo found himself constantly aware of Marina’s location in the room even as he discussed business with Dorian’s political connections or exchanged pleasantries with their mutual friends.

From her animated expression and the genuine laughter she shared with Alice and Seraphina, it was clear she had found genuine friendship within their circle. This development pleased him more than he had expected.

When dinner was announced, Leo offered Marina his arm and guided her into the formal dining room where place cards showed their assigned seats.

To his irritation, he discovered that while Marina was seated to Dorian’s right, as befitted her rank, he had been placed at the opposite end of the table near Alice.

Worse still, directly across from Marina sat Viscount Durching, the man whose literary conversation had so annoyed Leo at the Pembroke ball.

Throughout the first course, Leo found his attention continually drawn to Marina and Durching’s animated discussion. Even from his distant position, he could see the Viscount leaning forward with an expression of exaggerated interest as Marina spoke.

“The ambassador was quite impressed by your knowledge of Baltic shipping routes,” Alice remarked, drawing Leo’s attention back to his immediate companions. “He mentioned his government might be interested in establishing a regular trade agreement.”

“I will have my secretary send him the relevant figures,” Leo replied automatically, his gaze drifting back to Marina, who was laughing at something Durching had said.

Alice followed his gaze. “Viscount Durching fancies himself a great literary patron. I believe he’s discussing the new exhibit of illuminated manuscripts at the British Museum.”

“Is he?” Leo’s tone was sharper than he intended. “How fascinating.”

“Marina seems to find it so,” Alice observed innocently. “Although perhaps not as fascinating as you find their conversation.”

Leo met her amused gaze with a rueful smile. “Am I being that obvious?”

“Only to those who know you well,” Alice assured him. “Your fixation on Viscount Durching’s conversation with your wife suggests a rather more personal interest than simple concern for her entertainment.”

Leo had no response to this uncomfortably accurate observation. As the second course was served, he found himself increasingly irritated by Durching’s attentive manner and Marina’s apparent enjoyment of his company.

The Viscount was pleasant enough, he supposed. Reasonably handsome, well-spoken with the sort of bland charm that seemed designed to appeal to ladies of their social class.

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