“As you should,” he said. “And thank you, also Truly, I could not do this without you.”
“Do not mention it.”
Florentia beamed as she looked ahead, not wishing for Hudson so see just how pleased with herself she was. With the strides the two had made in this past week, dare she say, it was almost starting to feel like a real marriage.
“You are doing very well, might I say,” Mr. Elias Bond, Hudson’s brother congratulated Florentia. “Better than I think anyone could have expected.”
She shrugged. “It is no great thing. Once you understand the nuances of His Grace, he is easy enough to navigate.”
“Ah, but being able to spend the time with him that will allow for you to learn of these nuances in the first place...” He winked. “I wasn’t sure you had it in you.”
“So you were setting me up for failure?”
He chuckled. “It is more that my lovely wife assured me you were up for the challenge.”
“Oh, do not be silly,” Albina slapped her husband’s arm. “Your brother is not nearly as bad as you imply. Personally, I find him rather sweet.”
Elias raised an eyebrow at his wife. “Sweet? Are we talking of the same man?”
“Well...in a fashion,” Albina giggled. “But I hear how you speak of him, and I knew that if anyone could find that side of him, it would be Florentia. Which she has.” She then looked flatly at Florentia. “You are most welcome, by the way.”
Florentia snorted. “I will make sure to thank you in my victory speech.”
The evening was going as well as Florentia might have hoped—better than she would have thought possible, truth be told. Why, so effortless had it become, so easy, that she might have gone so far as to describe it as wonderful.Although I doubt my husband would be quite so ready to say the same.
Things had become easier, once they had found their footing. The key was to always be moving, which made it harder for Florentia and Hudson to be surrounded and held up. And when they were approached, after introductions were made, Florentia was quick to make an excuse as to why she and Hudson needed to keep moving. This saw her husband relax considerably as the night wore on.
Eventually, Hudson’s brother and wife had found them, which Florentia saw brought about an immediate change in Hudson.He loosened up considerably, relaxed even more than he had before, and she saw that he looked as if he was enjoying himself.
“I lost a lot of money tonight, and it is all your fault,” Elias had accused Hudson.
“Money? What are you speaking of—shall I have Mr. Andrews take a look?”
His brother had rolled his eyes. “It was a bet that I lost. I put down large sums of coin betting that you would not attend this ball, an easy wager on which I was certain to make out like a bandit in the night.”
Hudson exhaled sharply. “Do not be foolish.”
“Yet here you are! Honestly, brother, you have changed. I just can’t decide if I like this change in you or not.” He slapped Hudson on the arm and laughed, and Hudson, most surprisingly, joined in.
It was all going so well that when a lord who’s name Florentia did not know approached them and asked if he might speak with Hudson privately, she did not think to intervene. She met her husband’s eyes, and he nodded his approval of the request, allowing himself to be led away without fuss.
To Florentia, it was a sign that he trusted her. Or perhaps that he had learned enough from her this evening that he would be able to leave the conversation when required, without turninghostile. Or maybe he was simply enjoying himself, as she knew he would, and for once did not mind the idea of being caught up in chatter.
“The marriage is going well then?” Elias asked. “Although I suppose the evidence speaks for itself.”
She smiled. “It is coming along nicely.”
“Better than last month,” Albina added. “And I told you so, did I not?”
“Yes, yes, take all the credit you wish,” Florentia laughed. “I know you will, no matter what I say.”
“Last month? What was last month?” Elias asked, to which his wife laughed and shook her head.
This was not a traditional marriage by any means. The truth was that it was hardly even a marriage. There was no romance between her and Hudson. And no sense that he wished for it, and nor did she. Rather, it was a friendship of sorts, as strange as that might have sounded. Hard going at first, but now one which she was beginning to cherish in ways that went far beyond any friendship she’d had before.
She cared for Hudson, was why. She worried about him. She wished for the best, and hoped he thought the same of her. What was more, shelikedhis company. How very odd.
It was thus that she found herself missing him by her side, realizing suddenly that he had been gone for some time. She felt a moment of panic as she worried, her gaze cast across the ballroom in search of him. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw the back of him... only for her stomach to drop when she saw who he was talking to.
