Page 32 of Taken By the Dangerous Duke

“You need to stop beating yourself up,” said Margaret.

“I showed you how weak I am,” said the duke. “If you were really my wife….”

“Well, it is a good thing that I am not,” said Margaret. “Besides, it only makes you more of a man. It is nonsense to think that a man cannot have feelings and emotions. Who wants to be dead inside?”

“Sometimes, I—”

“Duke Garriot,” came the shout.

Margaret and Arthur both looked up to see a tall gentleman with a cane approaching them. He was being followed by a tall woman. The couple must have been in their fifties, but they moved with vigor and verve that belied their years.

“Earl,” smiled Arthur. He held out his hand, and the older man shook it readily.

“And, this must be your poor wife. However do you put up with this awful man?” asked the earl.

Margaret laughed. “I don’t know what you have heard about the duke, but I am much worse than he is.” She winked at the earl. “It is not I who puts up with the duke, but the duke who puts up with me.”

“Oh, I like her,” said the countess. “Worse than the duke. Well, we might joke, but that is easy to achieve. The duke is a good, good man, so you do not have to be much worse to be worse than Duke Garriot.”

“Well, that is good to hear,” said Margaret. “It seems that I have married the right man.”

“I know that you have,” said the countess. “And, do you have news on the child front yet?”

“We have only just got married,” said Arthur.

“And I was pregnant within the week,” reminded the countess. “There is no time like the present. Now, let me get a good look at the two of you. Come on, move closer.”

Margaret and Arthur did as they were told.

“Hmm,” said the countess. “Yes, a very fine couple indeed. Don’t you think so, dear?”

“I already did, but I do so more now that you have pointed it out, my dear,” said the earl. “You know, I believe she can sniff out true love.”

“I can, I can,” agreed the countess. “And, I can sense that the two of you are going to have a very full and exciting marriage. You are going to be together for a very long time.”

Arthur tensed a little.

“Thank you,” said Margaret. “That is very gracious of you to say. I am glad to have found this man. Or, glad that he found me. My life is much, much better since he came into it.”

“I am sure that it is,” said the countess.

“Now, let us not keep the two of you. We have a lot of people to visit with, and I am sure the two of you have come here to dance,” said the earl.

“It is really good to see you again, Earl Wexford. You too, Lady Wexford.”

“Enjoy the rest of the evening,” said the countess.

“They were friends of my father’s,” whispered Arthur. “They became my friends too. Or, theyaremy friends. It is one of those weird situations when your parent’s friends become your own, but in this case, I actually enjoy their company. They are good people.”

“They seemed very nice,” admitted Margaret.

“And, I am sorry about—”

“Please,” said Margaret. “You do not need to apologize for everything. I enjoyed making their acquaintance, and I am going to enjoy the evening. You should enjoy it too.”

“Then I will,” said the duke. “Come on, the next song is about to start. Would you care to dance?”

“I….”

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