Page 61 of Her Tiger of a Duke
She giggled as he pulled her close again.
“It does not help that I have not attended a ball alone before,” she explained. “When I debuted, I had my friends, and then as they were all married off, I met Lady Helena, and then I was not alone again.”
“And yet, you are still not alone,” he replied, “for I am here.”
“Indeed,” she whispered. “You are here, and I cannot believe how fortunate I am for that.”
He believed her, but he wondered all the same just what she could have done if she had not been forced to marry him. Had she let his marriage to Lady Helena go ahead, everything would have been completely different, and he would be marriedto a lady that had a secret life. At the time, he believed that arrangement would satisfy him, yet now the mere idea made him recoil.
He was meant to marry the lady in front of him, and he loved that she had dared to cause it. He appreciated that she was willing to do what was necessary to protect those she loved.
He was beginning, he feared, to love her, too.
CHAPTER 25
Beatrice never would have thought that she could be so content.
She had known happiness, many times, but it was always fleeting. Whether it was a laugh between her friends, or those few occasions where she had thought she looked presentable, or when she was proud of something she had made, it faded.
But it was different when she was with Owen. Instead of her life being difficult with some moments of joy, there was a constant feeling of happiness inside of her, interspersed with fear and confusion instead of it being how she felt most of the time. It was the best way to live, she decided, and as they danced together she knew that she had made the right decision.
When the music came to an end, she curtseyed and he bowed, and they returned to the edge of the dance floor. A small circle of people had gathered to watch them, and when they returned, they each came to speak to them.
“You looked gorgeous together,” one sighed wistfully. “Congratulations.”
“Such a beautiful couple,” an older lady agreed. “It is such a lovely thing to see.”
“Thank you,” Beatrice beamed. “My husband and I are most grateful.”
“And will you be hosting soon?”
“We plan to, once things are settled. I am still adapting to my new role, after all.”
“Yes,” a voice came, “and what a surprise that was.”
They all turned to see Lady Pembroke, standing with her glass in hand and a smile on her face. She joined the circle, and those around them quietened. In an instant, the comfort she had felt disappeared, and all that was needed was her host to reappear with a sharper tone.
“A talented dancer,” Lady Pembroke continued. “That tends to be how a lady finds a husband, but you did not do that. I had assumed it was because you did not know how to dance, but given that you so clearly can, it would seem that you ruined that wedding for the thrill of it!”
Beatrice laughed along nervously, and the others joined in. Frankly, she did not feel any shame about what she had doneanymore. Everything had ended in the best way for all involved, and one snide remark was not enough to change that.
“There was nothing keeping the two of us apart,” she agreed. “I could not help myself, I suppose, but it has all gone well for us.”
“And what of that poor girl? I heard that she had to leave London.”
“She has chosen to, so that she can find true love instead. Truly, it was best for all of us.”
“And that is so easy to say as the one who married the Duke,” she smirked, taking a sip of her drink.
It was not a friendly barb, but a challenge, and though Beatrice did not know what had changed, she was not going to allow it to continue. She would not be guilted into feeling shame for something she had done as an act of kindness.
“It was perhaps misguided,” she confessed, “but Lady Helena is grateful for it too. The truth is, none of us liked what was happening, and so I had to change it.”
“It may not seem it,” Owen agreed, “but my wife is very strong willed, and her politeness does not mean that she does not know how to handle matters.”
He had said it firmly as his eyes settled on Lady Pembroke. It was a warning, and Beatrice hoped that she would heed it for she was enjoying her night and did not want it to be ruined.
“She certainly enjoys the attention that it brings, too,” she replied. “All of these ladies in silver and blue, myself included, and yet a select few decided that they needed to be looked at even more. Tell me, Your Grace, what made you choose something like that?”
