Page 78 of Wedded to the Deviant Duke

“You wish me to act the suitor properly this time,” Gabriel teased.

“I wish you the chance to…” Thalia hesitated.

“To…?”

Once more, her eyes met his. Once more, they were but a hair’s breadth away. But the spell broke with a loud swinging of a carriage’s door, and Gabriel turned to find Charlotte’s head poking out, impatience fully on display.

“You two are awful, do you know that?” she whined, cheeks puffed and arms crossed against her chest. “Were you going to have me wait for hours on end?”

Gabriel’s laughter rang out this time, and he—regrettably—pulled away from their close proximity. “Suppose we shouldn’t keep them waiting.”

“Suppose we shouldn’t,” Thalia agreed.

* * *

Madeline’s event took place amidst her garden space, and Thalia found it even more whimsical than the home’s interior. It became strikingly obvious where Charlotte had gained inspiration for Stonewell’s own layout, with mossy stones and ivy-covered lantern posts acting as a border for their walkway to the garden proper.

Low-hanging trees created the illusion of secretive hideaways, with a wide assortment of flowers and produce that tempted passersby to partake in.

At the center of the party sat the crown jewel of the garden; a beautifully-crafted pond, featuring a small waterfall and thrumming with the gentle sounds of crickets and frogs hidden between the shadowy spaces. A few candles had seemingly melted on top of the stones that kept the pond in place, and the lights followed the twist and bends of a small stream that cut through the rest of the garden.

“Organized chaos,” Thalia mused aloud.

The trio turned eyes the moment they entered, and Thalia was tempted to hide herself behind Gabriel’s intimidating frame. But the duke would have no part, purposefully adjusting himself so Thalia was on full display. She thought, at first, the guest list would be quite small, as Madeline had seemed the type not to engage in the endless climb of society’s ladder.

But much to Thalia’s surprise (and, perhaps, embarrassment), the garden was quite the lively affair, and she spotted a number of well-known members of the Ton in attendance.

“I told you,” Charlotte whispered, arm wrapped around Robin’s. “The absolute envy of all.”

The soft thrill of stringed instruments grew louder as the trio moved throughout the party, eventually finding themselves amidst a number of clothed, circular tables decorated with individual tea trays for guests to enjoy. This particular spot of the garden had been neatly trimmed and filed down for ease of travel, and many couples had already taken advantage of the space with a flurry of activity from dancing.

And there, across the way and amidst the largest table, sat the woman of the hour herself, politely engaged in small conversation with whatever guest happened to place themselves before her. Thalia immediately recognized the older gentleman sitting beside her as Mr. Beaumont, who seemed just as rigid when it came to socially interacting with guests.

“The two of them truly are related,” Gabriel commented lightly.

“I’m sure they’d much rather be having a quiet night in the library together,” Charlotte giggled.

Thalia shot both Hardings a chiding look. “Gracious, but I could say the same for you two. The Harding family; well known for speaking whatever happens to cross their minds.”

Both Charlotte and Gabriel suddenly found the scenery more interesting to look at. Robin chuckled, clearly glad to not be on the receiving end for once, and Thalia sighed lightly, leading Gabriel by the arm towards their gracious hosts.

“Good evening, Mr. Beaumont. And thank you again for your gracious invitation, Madeline; your garden is a sight to behold.”

Madeline’s blush was outshined by her father’s beaming pride.

“She was born with her mother’s green thumb, that’s for certain. And it’s a delight to see you once more, Miss Sutton! As well as your entourage,” he added, rising to give Gabriel a shake of the hand.

“Good evening to you, Mr. Beaumont,” Gabriel said.

“And this is my brother, Robin,” Thalia introduced, stepping aside to allow Charlotte to pull him reluctantly forward.

Mr. Beaumont’s smile brightened, and he shook Robin’s hand with great interest. “Charmed, my boy! I see you have your sister’s eye for detail; you’ve been staring nonstop at this ring of mine, yes?”

Thalia made a slight face, Robin only able to offer a weak smile in reply. “It’s…real gold, right? But the gem’s not quite right for diamond… maybe moissanite? A bit over a carat in weight?”

Mr. Beaumont’s brow rose. “Impressive! Thalia, your family proves to be more fascinating by the second. We’ll have to talk later, Mr. Sutton; I’m very interested in your opinion on a few pieces I have inside the house.”

“Madeline, you look like an angel!” Charlotte immediately rounded to table to embrace her friend, and Thalia found herself in agreement. While it was common for the debutante to wear white at her Seasonal event, Madeline’s open robe was especially well-made.

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