Page 24 of His Arranged Duchess
Frances wondered whichGracehe was asking forgiveness from: her or Lucien?
In no time at all, it seemed, three chairs were arranged neatly in a circle. Mrs. Black was playing a halting tune on the pianoforte, and her companion, Miss Tupps, had scuttled over to join her. Both women appeared to want to sink into the ground withmortification. That, of course, made Frances wonder why they felt so guilty.
“Now,” Mr. Holton said, sinking down into a seat with a sigh. “Shall we all get to know each other?”
CHAPTER 10
“Come, come, your Grace! Youmustdance with me,” Mrs. Black repeated coyly. She actually reached out, taking Lucien’s hand, trying to pull him to his feet.
“Go on, Lucien, dance with the poor woman!” Benjamin laughed, his arms around Miss Tabbs. Or Tupps, orsomethingalong those lines. Lucien had not met the women before and had already forgotten their names.
Footsteps echoed along the hallway. Before anybody had time to react, Frances came bursting into the room, red-faced and furious.
The silence was sharp enough to cut oneself. The next few minutes passed in a painful rush. Lucien introduced his guests, and Frances glared at them all in turn.
Benjamin, as usual, took charge. He ordered the ladies around, deftly sending them both to the other end of the ballroom and,therefore, hopefully out of sight and out of mind. The women seemed happy enough to go.
They’d been cheerful enough before, but now that Frances had arrived and been introduced as a duchess and Lucien’s wife, their spirits had deserted them entirely. He imagined that they would make their excuses and prepare to leave sooner rather than later.
Another few minutes, and Benjamin had chairs set out for the three of them, angled towards each other as though they were sitting in a drawing room. Lucien wished that they were, but it seemed as though he could not suggest otherwise now. Benjamin had that effect on people, making them feel as though they did not have agency in their own homes.
It had always been very amusing when they were younger, but not so much now.
He felt eyes on him and glanced over to find Frances looking at him, a frown scrunching up her brow. She looked away at once, and he could not help but feel that he haddisappointedher, somehow.
No, that is foolish. I was extremely clear this morning that ours was a marriage of convenience. She’s not a fool. She knows what that means.
So why did he feel as though there was a stone sitting in his gut, weighing him down?
Gray came shuffling in, bearing a laden tea tray that was undoubtedly too heavy for him. Without thinking twice, Lucien got to his feet and took it from him, setting it down on a low table. Benjamin watched him, lips pursing.
“So, your Grace,” Benjamin began, leaning forward with a particularly charming smile which had all the women fluttering and falling over themselves in Paris. “I wasn’t able to celebrate your wedding. I was most disappointed, I must say. One always hopes to attend the weddings of one’s friends, eh?”
“So, you are friends, then?” Frances managed, a trifle dubiously. She glanced between Lucien and Benjamin, probably trying to read their expressions.
She was wasting her time. Lucien had played enough card games to know that he could keep a smooth and composed face if he chose to hide his feelings. After all, hadn’t he and Benjamin played countless card games with the aim of earning enough to pay for their lodgings? And hadn’t itworked?
Benjamin was just as impenetrable. That cheery smile of his never gave one any indication of his real feelings. Perhaps that was why they’d gotten on so well.
“Yes, we shared lodgings for years when Lucien was abroad,” Benjamin responded smoothly. “But we have been friends since we were small, eh? We knew each other at Eton and beyond. We used to be inseparable, did we not?”
Frances leaned back in her seat a little. There was still wariness in her eyes.
Does she understand how easy she is to read? Really, it’s adorable.
No, this is not the time. Concentrate.
Benjamin certainly had some sort of plan here, and Lucien was determined to keep ahead of him.
As if they were sharing a joke, Benjamin threw an amused glance at Lucien.
“The wedding took place rather quickly, didn’t it?” Benjamin continued, carefully pouring out three cups of tea. “I’m hearing some rather terrible rumors. But fear not, Your Grace, I shall pay them no heed.”
Frances stiffened again. She took a teacup when Benjamin handed it to her, but made no move to drink from it.
“That’s enough, Benjamin,” Lucien spoke up sharply. “I won’t have you teasing my new wife. And make no mention of any ridiculousrumors,if you please.”
Benjamin lifted his eyebrows in a challenging manner and said nothing.
