“Of course, of course! It is a pleasure to?—”
“Your Grace!” another voice cried out, coming this time from the right. Florentia started and felt Hudson stiffen as Lord Heatherington and his wife, Lady Diana Heatherington came for them. “Do my eyes deceive me?”
“Lord Heatherington,” Hudson said, his jaw already clenched with annoyance. “It is nice to see you again.’
“And my wife, of course...” Lord Heatherington led his wife forward to greet Hudson. “Lady Diana Heatherington.
“Your Grace,” she said with a small curtsy. “It is an honor to meet you.”
“As it is mine to meet you. My wife...” Hudson then steered Florentia toward Lord Heatherington’s wife.
“Hello,” Florentia began. “It is nice to meet?—”
“Say it is not so!” a third voice shouted, soon joined by a body swarming through the crowd, eager to reach Hudson without so much as a second wasted. “Your Grace! I am positively delighted to see you here this evening! Yes, yes, truly taken with joy!”
It was chaos the likes of which made even Florentia uncomfortable. She had known that, as a duke, Hudson would be a prized asset at tonight’s event, as to be seen speaking with him was to be viewed as worthy of attention.
These lords and ladies did not care if Hudson wanted to speak with them. Heck, they did not care if he scowled and sneered and ignored their palaver. All they wished for was to be around him, and they weren’t about to waste any time in doing it.
Florentia could see the frustration rising in Hudson as he was assailed from all sides. Words called out at him. Hands reaching and slapping him on the back. She tried to catch his eye to lethim know that she was here for him, but he was looking ahead, past the throng, likely trying to remain calm.
Suddenly, Florentia realized what she needed to do.
“Gentlemen!” she cried out above the chatter. “If you will all please give my husband and me some space, that would be wholly appreciated!” She clung to Hudson’s arm and held him close.
“Yes, yes,” Lord Heatherington agreed. “If I might just finish?—”
“It will have to be later,” she cut through him.
Lord Bartholemew then attempted to butt in. “She is right, Heatherington. Besides, His Grace and I were just discussing when he might join me for?—”
“A discussion that will be best had at another time,” she spoke over Lord Bartholemew. “My lords, we have only just arrived. We are hardly five feet through the door. We are terribly stiff from the ride over, and thirsty as well. Perhaps, once we have stretched our legs and sated ourselves with wine, we might continue this discussion.”
“Your Grace...” One of them looked to Hudson for agreement.
Hudson was frowning at Florentia, taking a moment to understand what she was doing and why. But then a smilespread across his face, one which warmed her heart because she could read it in how grateful he was.
“My lovely wife is correct,” Hudson said. “Gentlemen, if you would excuse us...” And with that, the two stepped away from the small crowd.
“What a nightmare,” Hudson said the moment they were free.
She laughed. “Yes, I sensed you were not having the best time.”
“You see now why I hate having to come to these things.”
“Oh, they are not so bad...” They walked with their arms linked, and Florentia made sure to rest her hand on top of the duke’s as she side-eyed him. “So long as you are with the right person.”
To this, he smiled. “You make a compelling argument.”
“It is not an argument. It is fact.”
“I will have to start bringing you on my business trips. Something tells me I could use you.”
“Your Grace...” She winked. “Are you suggesting that you are starting to enjoy my company?”
He chuckled softly. “More that I am seeing the benefit of it.”
“I will take that as a compliment.”
