Caroline worked to keep her smile from slipping, but as she did, she felt her heart somersault in her chest. It was only a couple of days, and thanks to Jeremy, she was finally ready to give her marriage a real chance, but it had not been long since Damien had tended to her bee sting that she had had a chance to see or talk to him. No matter how hard she tried, she always seemed to just miss him. She could only hope that wherever he had been, he had finally returned and would be attending the ball. It was, after all, being hosted in Jeremy’s honor, and she was sure that Damien would not miss it.
“Please,” Caroline urged, stepping aside. “Do come in and enjoy yourselves. I must play hostess a little while longer, but then I will come find you, and we will hopefully have a chance to have a proper conversation.”
Nora and Bridget each kissed her on the cheek, and Adrian gave her a quick hug. Then the three of them headed toward the makeshift ballroom that now filled the large foyer, dining room, and main parlor. For a moment, she watched them, smiling fondly at her family as they walked away, then turned back around to continue greeting her guests.
For the next little while, Caroline found herself doing something she had not done in a very long time. Enjoying herself.
The house looked magnificent. The flowers George had helped choose lined every surface, and the candlelight caught the gold trim of Jeremy’s chosen invitations, reflected now in the decorations throughout the room. She felt a swell of pride every time she looked at it.
Jeremy appeared at her elbow at one point, looking immaculate and entirely in his element.
“Smile,” he murmured into her ear. “You are the Duchess of Ravenshaw. Own it.”
She laughed. But she smiled.
And to her surprise, it was not difficult. The guests were warm and welcoming, and as the evening wore on, Caroline felt herself settle into her new role with an ease she had not expected. However, she found herself glancing toward the doorway rather more often than she intended.
He has not yet come down.
She was mid-conversation with one of Jeremy’s friends when she turned back toward the entrance and felt her smile and her heart drop at once.
What are they doing here?
“M-mother,” Caroline stammered, feeling her heart begin to slam into her chest as her panic rose. She blinked and drew in a shaking breath as she took in the other familiar face.
“Caroline.” Agatha’s voice was as breathy and icy as she remembered, and that single word had a chill creeping down Caroline’s spine and making her shiver.
“L-lilian,” she stammered, managing to bow her head in greeting. They both stared at her with narrowed, cold gazes, their mouths set in hard lines that betrayed the cheerful color of their gowns.
Jeremy had not invited them; she was sure of it. She had helped him with the guest list and must have looked at it at least a dozen times as they prepared for the ball.
“You look well,” Lilian stated, her tone just as cold as her mother’s.
They cannot hurt me here. I am a duchess. I am safe.
“Thank you,” Caroline said. “You look lovely as we—”
Agatha quickly grabbed Caroline’s wrist and pulled her further into the house, pressing her into the corner behind the door as Lilian disappeared.
“You stoleallof this from Lilian,” Agatha hissed, her grip growing painfully tight as she shoved her face close to Caroline’s. “That was not part of our agreement.”
The cold breath of her stepmother on her face made Caroline’s stomach clench. But she was not six years old.
“You sent me away,” Caroline said, keeping her voice low and steady. “You made the agreement, not I. And when His Grace came to find me, I tried to refuse him. You cannot blame me for his persistence.”
Agatha’s eyes narrowed.
“You ungrateful wench! You owed me.”
“I owed you nothing,” Caroline replied. “I owed Lilian nothing. You made certain of that a long time ago.”
“You have been a very bad girl, Caroline,” Agatha seethed, cutting her off. “And I am certainly going to punish you for it. You stole your sister’s life, you ruined my plans. After all I have done for you, this is how you repay me?”
She let out a low laugh so wicked that it sent Caroline’s stomach into tight knots and had perspiration erupting over her forehead.
“You are going to pay for it. I am going to ruin you in front of everyone’s eyes, do you understand me?” Agatha questioned.
Caroline shook her head, willing her bravery to rise above her fear.
