Page 24 of Married to the Forbidden Duke
Frederick raised his empty glass to his lips before remembering he had already drunk from it. Still, better he kept his wits about him for conversations like these.
“I had the honor of making the former Miss Ravenshire’s acquaintance that day,” he said. “It seems she mistook me for another gentleman. But after speaking with her, it was my honorto ask her to marry me, and I am delighted to say she consented to being my wife.”
Renshaw squinted at him. “So there isn’t a child hidden away somewhere?” he stated outright bluntly. “No one would think too much of it after a while, you know. These things happen, Langley.”
“There is mostcertainlynot a child,” Frederick muttered, his voice growing cold. “And I would thank you to not level such accusations at my wife.”
“Oh.” Renshaw picked up his jaw from where it had been, metaphorically speaking, on the floor. “Of course. Yes. Well. I’m sorry for causing offense, old boy. Never meant anything by it. Happens to us all. Misunderstanding.” He waved a hand and stumbled away. At these events, there was always someone who took the opportunity to make a mess.
Frederick finished making his way through the room, correcting those who assumed he and Alice had a past together—or at least, a past in a strictly sexual manner.
Their past was not about him having given her an illegitimate child to cope with. There would be no more surprises coming out from the woodwork. And at every juncture, he did his best to assert that the marriage was made on the grounds of mutual respect. Regardless of what went on behind locked doors, he would not allow their marriage to be tainted by people’s assumptions they were unhappy together.
He reached Alice’s side just as the clock struck one. She glanced up as though surprised to find him there. “My dear,” he chimed, taking her arm as though he had planned this all along. “Allow me to escort you to dinner.”
The gentlemen she had been conversing with glanced at him with curious expressions and side eyes, but they said nothing as she left with him. Not that she had much of a choice without making a scene. But it was important to him that they were seen together.
She wrinkled her nose as they led the way to the dining room. “I suppose I ought to thank you.”
“It would be polite, yes.”
“And yet it would be a lie.” Her words slurred, and he caught sight of the wine glass in her other hand. Now he was paying attention, he noticed her cheeks were somewhat flushed, and she did not move with her usual momentum.
“I think that is enough for one evening,” he said smoothly, plucking her glass from her other hand.
“I was enjoying that!”
“You wouldn’t enjoy it tomorrow,” he replied, taking her stick and handing it to her instead. Once she had it in hand, he led her to the head of the table, where he placed her at his side. Marriedcouples did not usually sit together, but he wanted the display of unity. That was what this evening was all about.
She turned her gaze to him. “I cannot dance. These people look at me with disdain, no matter how I present myself to them, and I have no love for my husband. What else is there for me to do?”
“I have seen you speaking to plenty of people.”More than I would like.
“Everyone is eager to make the acquaintance of the new Duchess to see how she holds up.” She gave a secretive little smile. “I suspect they are not pleased by what they see.”
“Not if you keep drinking like that.”
She pouted. “Would you truly stop me having fun?”
“That’s not what this is about and you know it.” As he handed her down into her chair, she hummed and leaned against him, her head lolling. Her eyes were green in this light, a spark in them that reminded him of how it had felt to kiss her.
“Do you wish I was Lady Penelope now?” she asked slyly, hiccupping as she reached for more wine, which he smoothly maneuvered away from her reach. He motioned for a footman to bring them some water instead.
“Is that what you’re hoping?” he asked under his breath, irritation thrumming through his veins. “That if you behave badly enough, I will wish you were Lady Penelope?”
“From our guests, I have heard she is perfection in a lady.”
Frederick almost smiled. “Jealous?”
She snorted. “Not jealous.”
His grip on her arm tightened. “I should take you to bed. You should lie down.”
“Do so at your own risk, husband dear.” She blinked, eyes clearing for a moment as she looked at him. “Then they truly would think you a tyrant.”
“And you a drunkard.”
“Happy families.” The grin that came to her mouth was fleeting, and although irritation eclipsed almost every other emotion, he felt a brief surge of desire. Not just for her sweet lips, but to see that smile cross them again.
