They had reached the back corner of the room, away from the guests. Most in the room watched them curiously, but none dared to approach. It was as if they were seeing for themselves what this marriage really was, and Hudson understood well enough that it was a test he needed to pass.
“So...” He started awkwardly. “How was the ceremony for you?”
“It was lovely, thank you,” she said. “Did you enjoy it also?”
“It was adequate,” he said shortly. She frowned at the response, and he quickly added, “I am pleased that this arrangement has gone so smoothly, however. And...” He considered his answer,feeling her eyes on him, filled with hope and desperation. “And might I say, you look very pretty.”
She frowned at the compliment, as if she didn’t believe him. “As do you.”
He leaned back. “Excuse me.”
“You look pretty,” she said. “Perhaps not as pretty as me, but that is to be expected.”
“I...” Hudson blinked in confusion. “I do not... I was not trying to look pretty.”
“I am joking, Your Grace.” She reached out and rested a hand on his forearm. “Just a joke.”
“Oh...” He eyed the hand on his arm, wondering now why his body had begun to tingle. “Very, ah...very funny.”
She rolled her eyes at him, and he sensed that she was making fun. About to ask what amused her so, her hand squeezed firmly, he felt a pulse rush through him, and then she turned slightly and indicated across the room.
“What do you think?” she asked. “Shall we make this official?”
“Official?” Hudson looked to see what she was indicating. “What do you mean?”
“A dance, of course,” she chuckled. “I assume you know how?”
Of course Hudson knew how to dance. He had been taught how from a young age, the steps drilled into him as if preparing him for war. The problem, frustratingly, was that he was not very good at it. He was not graceful. He was not fluent. And he never danced unless he absolutely had no choice.
Not that he was going to admit these things. Already, he got the distinct impression that he had lost ground with his wife, and he’d be darned if he admitted defeat right now.
“I would enjoy that very much,” he said, cocking his arm for her to link. “Shall we?”
“We shall,” she said with a grin, linking her arm through his and allowing him to lead her across the room to where others were already dancing.
Hudson eyed his wife as they walked together. She was smiling to herself, her delight apparent.At least she doesn’t hate me. I suppose that is something to be happy about.
He would be lying if he said that he didn’t find her attractive. In fact, Hudson’s immediate attraction to his wife had very nearly convinced him that he shouldn’t marry her. When he had first seen her appear at the top of those steps, his breath had left his body in a way it never had before, and he’d had to concentrate specifically on not gaping.
Today too, when she had presented herself at the end of the aisle, dressed in yellow, glowing from the morning sun which shone from behind her. She was angelic, a true beauty beyond his wildest dreams. Hudson’s heart had begun to race, thoughts which he had never had before pushed to the fore of his mind, and it was all he could do not to stare.
This marriage was not typical. He did not want it in the first place. And the last thing he needed was to be attracted to his own wife! It was a business venture, he reminded himself, looking ahead now because he’d found himself staring again.I must treat it as professional and nothing more.
“I take it that you are leading?” she asked as they took their place on the dance floor.
“What? Of course I am.”
“Just checking,” she winked as she stepped into him.
Again, Hudson frowned as he took his wife, his right hand placed firmly around hers, his left on her waist. Their bodies were close; he could feel her warm breath on the nape of his neck. It was distracting and Hudson forced himself to look past her.
As they began to move to the rhythm of the music, Hudson concentrated on his footwork. Absolute focus was needed to?—
“I confess, I am surprised,” his wife said.
“Excuse me?”
“You are a better dancer than I thought.” She was grinning again.
