Florentia tried to catch his eye during the ceremony. She tried to smile at him, hoping he would do the same. She tried to show him that she had come around to this union and was looking forward to what it might bring. But the duke gave her nothing, which itself was a clear indication of what she might expect from today, tonight, and the rest of her life.
A marriage of convenience, this was to be. Nothing more.
Florentia realized that she was glaring at her husband and had to force herself to stop.
Careful, Florentia. Do not let yourself go down that path. It has been but an hour into this marriage, and the last thing you want to do is make things worse. If that is even possible...
She was at the post-wedding breakfast, hosted at what was now her estate. Following the ceremony, those who had attended were asked to join the new duchess and the duke at Worthington Estate to eat and drink and dance and bask in what all agreed would be the happiest of unions. At least that was what they were saying.
Perhaps if they were paying attention, they would not say such things. Perhaps if they were paying attention, they might have noticed that not since leaving the chapel had the duke said so much as a word to Florentia. Not once!
The duke was standing on the opposite side of the room, surrounded by half a dozen men she did not know or care to know. He was not speaking, just standing there as they spoke at him, each of the men eager to garner favor with the duke despite how bored he looked.
“What are you looking at?” Albina swept toward her, out of breath and laughing gaily. “And why are you standing over here on your lonesome?”
“Where else should I stand?” Florentia snapped before she could help herself. “Sorry...” She grimaced. “I did not mean to snap at you.”
“Still in a mood, I see.”
“Can you blame me?” She indicated the duke with a flick of her head. “He stands so far away from me it is as if he is doing so on purpose. Am I crazy, or did the two of us not just wed? Unless I imagined the whole thing.”
“No, no, I am quite sure that is what happened.” Albina scrunched her face as if trying to remember. “Yes, I distinctly remember seeing the two of you standing at the end of the aisle as the pastor?—”
“It is not funny, Albina!”
Seeming to understand that she had gone too far, Albina’s tone softened. “I am sorry, Florentia. I did not mean it.”
That is fine,” Florentia sighed.” I just wish to know why is he ignoring me? Is this what I must look forward to for the rest of my life? Never mind wishing to start a family? At this rate, a simple conversation would be nice.”
Albina’s brow scrunched, this time in thought. She looked between her friend and the duke, only to nod to herself as a decision was made. “May I ask you a question?”
“Do I have a choice.”
“While I admit that His Grace’s behavior is a little odd?—”
“It is rude, is what it is.”
“—you will remember what I told you of him, no? That he is not exactly the most social person, and it takes time for him to come out of his shell. I mean, look at him, Florentia.”
She took her friend by the hand and forced Florentia to focus on the duke. “Look how miserable he is. How bored. Does that look like a man who is actively avoiding his wife? Who is taking pleasure in pretending she does not exist? Or does it look like a man who is trapped?”
Albina made a good point. With his arms crossed, and his eyes looking every which way but at those who spoke to him, the duke looked as if those that had pulled him into a conversation were holding him against his will.
“I hardly think trapped is the right word,” Florentia muttered.
“He does not look happy though, does he? I dare say he would love nothing more than to be rescued.”
“What do you mean?”
Albina rolled her eyes. “For all your complaining that your husband has not sought you out and laid himself bare at your feet, I must ask, have you done the same for him? If you wish to have a conversation with your husband, then do it. Nothing is stopping you.”
“Oh...” Florentia blinked, caught off guard by how obvious the observation was. “Well... no, I have not—but he is the one who should be making the effort.”
“Why?” Albina asked flatly. “As I said, he is not sociable. The norms that you expect have likely not occurred to him. You have asked me day and night about who the man that you have now wed is, trying to figure him out like he is some sort of puzzle. I tell you now, he is not nearly as complicated as you might think. And all the questions you have, likely, will be solved if you walk over there right now and simply say hello.”
“I...” Florentia’s heart began to race with nerves. Such a simple thing to do, but it now seemed like an impossible task fraught with danger. “What if he does not wish to speak with me? What if?—”
“No, no.” Albina stepped behind Florentia and gave her a shove. “You wish to find out the potential this marriage has. It is time you do something about it!” Another shove and before she knew it, Florentia was crossing the room toward her husband.
