Page 16 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

“What of it...” Aurelia’s tugged awkwardly at her dress, not at all liking the way that Rosalind was gaping. And that wasn’t to mention the other guests at the party she had noticed doing the same.

“If you had it this whole time, why did you bother asking me to borrow one?”

“I simply forgot about it, is all,” Aurelia lied.

“I don’t see how. And I can’t remember having ever seen you wearing it before.”

“Yes, well, if I had then I likely would have remembered.”

“It is quite beautiful,” Rosalind said with sincerity. “Truly, I am simply stunned, Aurelia. Stunned!”

Aurelia blushed furiously. Where she appreciated the compliment, again she was not used to such things. “Thank you,” she said quietly, not willing to be so open about how much she liked the dress also, as she had still not come to terms with how she had acquired it and she feared that to show too much interest would be to admit how grateful she was.And how good I know it looks on me...

It was a dark green number, because indeed the green went well with her alabaster skin and darker hair and eyes. It was also simple, no frills or thrills or flair of any kind. Slimming in a way, for it hugged her body, it was not tight, nor was it suggestive. Rather, it was straight cut, with a sash tied around the waist which pulled it under her bosom and accentuated her curves in a more appropriate manner. And yes, it was sleeveless. And yes, its neckline was rather low. But somehow it worked. Truly, she had never felt so beautiful before.

Of course, she could not tell Rosalind where it had come from, having to lie, which she hated doing. She had even considered not wearing it, surprised in fact when it had arrived at her home two days prior. But to no wear it would have been seen as an afront to the duke, which would have caused a whole host of problems not worth the hassle.

“Your mother is busy,” Rosalind said with a knowing smirk. “I take it that she liked the dress also.”

Aurelia scoffed. “A little too much – it might have been the first time ever that she did not comment on my weight.”

“As does Lord Littlefield, I think...” Rosalind was still smirking as she nodded across the garden, toward Aurelia’s mother. “He has not been able to take his eyes off you.”

“Do not remind me.”

“He is handsome,” she said.

“Is that all which matters?”

Rosalind shrugged. “It is better than nothing. If you are to be forced to marry, better that it be to a man who is nice to look at. No?”

Aurelia pressed her lips together in a showing of dismissal, even if she could not help but agree.At the very least a handsome husband will make it easier for me to hide my disapproval of the marriage, which can only be seen as a positive.

Aurelia had tried her best not to take note of her mother today, for she found it better to ignore her entirely as if she did not know what her mother was up to. But she found herself glancing across the garden, through the crowd which populated it, until she found her mother and Lord Littlefield.

The Malsbury garden was teeming with guests, steadily growing busier as the day wore on. Most conjugated in small groups, drinking and laughing together. Others wondered to and fro, introducing themselves, making their faces known; Aurelia spied more than a few fathers leading their daughters about in a bid to find them a male suitor. Others played games. Some were already dancing. It was a hive of activity, which Aurelia was happy to stand apart from.

Her mother was among them, currently engaged with Lord Littlefield, a baron who was ten years Aurelia’s senior, short but muscular, balding but by no means unattractive. With Aurelia’s known desire to find a suitor, her mother was doing everything she could to nominate a potential candidate, and from the way she spoke with Lord Littlefield, constantly drawing his attention toward Aurelia, Aurelia guessed she had found one.

It should have thrilled her to see, saving her the effort of the approach as she did not care who she married, so long as he could help her family with their debts. And yet...

The duke was still on her mind, as he had been all week. She did not want him there. She did not want to think of him at all! But wearing his dress, their last interaction still fresh in her mind, more than once Aurelia found herself thinking about him, his hands on her, his eyes looking right through her. And whenever she did, she found her body flushing warm and her legs tingling...

“Gerald,” Rosalind said suddenly.

“What!” Aurelia’s eyes widened with fear, thinking at first that her friend was able to read her mind.

“Good afternoon,” His Grace said with a friendly smile as he approached the two ladies. “How are we enjoying the festivities?”

“Let me guess,” Rosalind sighed. “You have some friends you wish for me to meet.”

The duke chuckled. “Do not sound so excited about it.”

Rosalind curled her lip. “I thought you said I could have fun today. No expectations.”

“Did I say that?”

“Yes!”

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