Page 44 of A Duke, a Virgin and a Baby
“I am ready. We may leave.”
It wasn’t until they had entered the carriage that Julian realized that his plan to ignore her feelings about his departure was going to be difficult because there was a reminder of his cold abandonment everywhere. Riding in the carriage to the dwelling of their host was a strangely tense affair that reminded him of their wedding day, how he had kept his eyes trained out of the window in an effort to ignore the beautiful woman he had to marry to keep both their lives from being ruined.
Tonight though, it seemed both of them were preoccupied with other thoughts and Julian was willing to let her sort hers out for a chance to understand the depths of his.
When they arrived at the Earl of Langston’s manor, Julian disembarked quickly and held a hand out to help her do the same, needing to feel the warmth of her hand in his. After she had found stable footing on the ground next to him, he draped her hand over his arm and them into the venue, mumbling softly
“Stay close.”
Anna nodded, her eyes subtly darting around her to take in the sights of the manor and the ball.
As far as balls go, it was not the most extravagant Julian had ever attended, but it was still impressive, with a plethora of guests that almost all turned their attention to the duke and duchess of Morland the moment their entrance was announced by the master of ceremonies.
They were bombarded almost immediately, curious onlookers and those whose curiosities had control over their tongues, and Julian fought the urge to wrap his arms around Anna and shield her from their gossip fueled questions.
“Your Grace! What a delight it is to see you! We feared you had fallen ill!”
“Or worse! It is truly wonderful to witness you hale and hearty – and with your wife, no less!”
“Your marriage was so sudden; it led us to suspect – but no matter. You are here now. Both of you! Tell us, how has marital bliss been? That must be why you have shunned society, was it not? Because you were so focused on each other?”
“I did not realize that public, noble events had turned into a common attraction where people milled about aimless, trying to ask the displays questions. We did not leave the comfort of our home to be bombarded by pointless invasive questions that disrespect us and our marriage,” Julian snapped, pulling Anna closer to him.
The people cleared their throats and exchanged uncertain glances before wandering off, although Julian knew that wasn’t the last, he had heard of those animals for the evening.
“Are you all right?” he mumbled, peering down at Anna.
“Y-Yes. Just… flustered. I did not expect them to be so… forward with their interest.” She said quietly.
“They are simply bored. And eager. We have not been seen together since our wedding day. It is likely they wish to investigate if our marriage was real or not, if we’d had an annulment or a child in the time we were yet to make a public appearance. Expect more of this tomfoolery for the rest of the evening, but do not let it dampen your mood.”
Anna nodded, looking a little distant for a moment, then she spotted someone across the room and smiled.
“My sister is here. I would like to go and greet her.”
Julian followed the direction of her gaze and gave his assent.
“Very well.”
She started to leave his side, then hesitated, before turning back to ask him.
“Would you like to come along? You’ve met both my parents – though I cannot imagine those count as pleasant meetings. Leah is the only family I have that hasn’t hurt or scorned me greatly. And I would like to properly introduce you both.”
Julian started to nod, but then he spotted Lysander talking with his wife eagerly and he looked down at his own.
“Perhaps later,” he said to her gently. “There is a slight matter that I would like to attend to.”
Anna seemed reluctant to leave his side but she did anyway, casting backward glances at him until she was close enough to hug her sister.
Julian watched them exchange pleasantries for a moment, before he moved to his friend, Lysander’s expression turning mischievous as he spotted Julian.
“As I live and breathe,” Lysander grinned when Julian stood in front of them. “Look who is finally out of his self-imposed exile and back in society’s bosom. Did you miss it?”
“Frankly, no. I simply thought that because I had returned to my house for the time being, there was no harm in making my rounds among social events and taking my wife along.” Julian shrugged, unable to keep his gaze from slipping back to where he knew Anna was.
She looked ethereal, even from afar. It was growing into an unfair challenge, trying not to look at her because his very existence wanted to revolve around her. He wanted to stare, to admire, to worship and it was getting on his last nerve how difficult it was to be discreet about it.
“I do not blame you. But any excuse I’ll get to see my wife dazzle the public and gloat over knowing that out of all these gents, she chose to be with me always provides me with immense joy.” Lysander said, smirking at his wife.
