Page 118 of The Duke's Indecent Match
Yet, she would not have imagined herself engaging in such acts, either.
The proof that her husband had not been guiding her away from her parents appeared in front of her face a few moments later when she saw the circle of people Nathanial had aimed them toward.A completely genuine smile bloomed on her lips.
Her parents were there, with Ashwin, who was standing beside Rupert Blackstone.The two young men had pulled themselves slightly apart from the others.Lady Astrid stood beside Kalina’s mother, with Mei and her grandmother on her other side.Seeing them approach, Delilah stepped back to give Nathanial and Kalina space to join them between herself and Lady Hu.
The matchmaker brightened when she saw them coming, her dark eyes dancing.She leaned lightly on an ornate cane, the brown and gold going very nicely with her outfit.Beside her, Mei wore green and gold, possibly the same outfit she had worn at the house party, or at least one very similar to it.She smiled widely at Kalina and Nathanial as well.
“I am very happy to see you together,” Lady Hu said after greetings had been exchanged, nodding firmly.She gave Nathanial a look.“Mei informed me of your wishes, but I think that you ended up with the right match.”
Kalina pursed her lips together at the reminder that Nathanial had not initially wanted to marry her.But there was no denying facts.And he had certainly come around since then.
It did not hurt to have a matchmaker confirm that they were good together.Her father beamed at Lady Hu’s comment, but was wise enough to look away, his gaze directed at the dance floor as if he was smiling at what he saw there rather than the matchmaker’s assessment.
“Thank you, Lady Hu.”Nathanial’s tone was caught somewhere between amusement and resignation.“That does seem to be the general consensus.”
“Well, some things are obvious.Others will require a more delicate touch.”Lady Hu lifted her gaze to the stairs where the Duke of Grafton had just been announced, along with his mother, the Duchess of Grafton, his uncle, the Marquess of Selter, Lady Annabelle Walsh, and her parents.
Delilah had stiffened, her chin lifting slightly, though she kept her back firmly to the staircase, not bothering to look at her former lover as he escorted the woman Society expected him to marry.Zachary’s gaze flitted around the room, coming to rest on the back of Delilah’s head.
If the young lady on his arm noticed, she did not show it.Wearing a pale white dress with very pale blue trim, she clung to his arm.On his opposite shoulder, Monkey Sinclair sat, the saffron colored ribbon around his neck matching Zachary’s waistcoat exactly.Kalina could not help but wonder how many ribbons Zachary had bought for his pet.The effect was entirely adorable, even though her stomach tightened at the sight of them, knowing how his presence would affect Delilah, though she pretended otherwise.
She could not help but think that Zachary did not look happy, either.However, his mother looked elated, beaming at the couple in front of her as she was escorted down the stairs by Zachary’s uncle, the Marquess of Selter.The Walshes followed behind them, positively preening.
With such a united familial display, there was no doubt that an offer of marriage was in the wind.Kalina’s heart ached for Delilah.Even a little for Zachary, though part of it was his own fault for letting his mother dictate his future.He looked like he was marching toward his doom, not a marriage he desired.On the other hand, even she had heard about his mother’s deep grief after the death of his father, although there was no sign of it on her face.
Kalina knew something about life-altering decisions to make a parent happy.
But knowing what she knew now of love… she was so grateful to have it.She could not imagine losing it.And Zachary knew exactly what he was losing by letting Delilah go and marrying Lady Annabelle instead.
So, she did feel a bit sorry for him.
Just a bit.
“Well,” Lady Astrid said brightly, also ignoring the group headed down the stairs.“Has anyone seen the new exhibit at the museum?I heard it’s quite stunning.”
Determined to follow her lead, everyone rallied, as if Delilah’s heartbreak was not walking past.The conversation about the new exhibit lasted until the quivering sound of a bow being run over violin strings alerted everyone to the musicians readying themselves.
Nathanial immediately turned to Kalina.
“My lady.May I have this dance?”
“You may,” she replied, laughing at the twinkle in his eye.She was very aware of her parents watching them and the way her father was beaming.It seemed as though her mother was softening toward him, now that she could see how happy Kalina was.
Which made her glad.She did not want her parents at odds with each other.Especially because of her.
Smiling up at her husband, she followed his lead toward the dance floor—and nearly stumbled when he came to a sudden halt.He’d gone stiff again, just like he had on the stairs, and now that she could see his expression, there was a cold hauteur that she had only seen in the first days of the marriage.
But it was not directed at her; it was directed at two men in front of them.One was older, wrinkled, with grey hair, and leaning heavily on a cane.The other… the other looked an awful lot like her father.Several years older than her father, but close enough in appearance that it was obvious they were related.Looking back at the older one, she realized he was very much what her father might look like in another twenty or so years.
She had never actually seen them up close like this before.Though she knew they’d been at several previous events she and her family had also attended, they’d stayed well away.Mostly, she’d seen their backs when her father had watched them with longing but did not attempt to approach.
Kalina’s stomach flipped over.
“Your Graces.”The Marquess of Stilton’s wrinkles looked to be from frowning a great deal, and his eyes might be the same color as her father’s, but they held none of the warmth her father’s did.Neither did her uncle’s.Both of them were stiff as pokers as they bowed.“I thought it time to… congratulate you on your marriage.”
If anything, Nathanial somehow stiffened even further.Kalina had no idea what to say, so she bit her tongue.
She’d never really thought about what would happen when she was faced with her grandfather.She certainly would not have expected a ballroom confrontation with every eye turning in their direction.If she’d pictured anything at all, it would have been a more intimate gathering.One with apologies and acceptance.Not slyness and a contemptuous undertone.
