“Well, how fortuitous,” Battington said. “I’m glad you were able to come to an arrangement that pleased you both. It’s the ideal way to start things out after all. But His Grace has always excelled at all forms of negotiation, so I’m not at all surprised that he was able to come up with a plan that would please both himself and his bride. I hope your marriage is just as easy to navigate as your wedding plans were.”
Leonard recognized a leading question when he heard one. Battington wasn’t just being cordial. He was trying to find out the nature of the marriage between Leonard and Prudence. But Leonard was happy to oblige since this was what he had hopedto demonstrate to people tonight. “Things have been going splendidly,” he assured Battington. “I couldn’t be any happier.”
“I never dreamed that marriage would bring me such joy,” Prudence said. “I knew it was my duty to secure a match, but I didn’t think I would find someone I’d enjoy as much as I do my husband. I have been very lucky.”
The musicians began to play, and Leonard saw the opening to take his leave. He held out his hand to Prudence. “Shall we dance?”
“Nothing would make me happier,” she said, taking his hand and allowing herself to be led away.
He waited until they were in the middle of the dance floor, away from Battington, before he spoke again. “That went well,” he said. “I think we made a very good impression on him, all things considered.”
“Do you?” she asked. “I did my best. He seems a bit… overly invested in your personal affairs.”
Leonard smiled. “He’s a nosy fellow,” he agreed. “But then, who isn’t? And if he’s going to talk about us, the best thing we can do is to ensure that he has nothing negative to say.”
He guided her through the easy, familiar steps of the dance, one he had done many times in his life. She looked up at him. “You’rea good dancer,” she said, eyes slightly wide. “I didn’t know you were a good dancer.”
“You haven’t had occasion to find that out about me,” he pointed out with a smile.
“No, I suppose I haven’t. But when did you learn? You don’t strike me as the sort of man who’s been out dancing very much prior to our marriage.”
“Not much. A few times. And it’s one of those things that just comes naturally to me.” He rotated the two of them, so they were facing in the opposite directions. “Perhaps we’ll have more chances to enjoy this about one another as the season goes on,” he said.
“I don’t doubt it! I wonder what other surprises are in store this season,” she mused. “What else am I going to learn about you as we spend time together at balls?”
“You already know more about me than almost anyone else,” he murmured.
“Does that bother you?”
“Yes,” Leonard admitted, experiencing a rare moment of pure honesty. “It bothers me a great deal, Prudence.”
He met her eyes and found himself reaching up to caress her cheek, startled at the way he was feeling toward her—inexplicably fond of her all of a sudden. Was it only because of the fact that she had done such a good job presenting herself as a loving wife that he was feeling this way? He had to admit that he wasn’t sure where his affection had come from, only that he was feeling it.
She froze where she stood, seeming unable to break eye contact with him.
“It makes me uneasy,” he said softly, “to be so well known. I’m unaccustomed to it.”
His gaze dropped to her lips.
No one would think anything of it, he realized, if he were to steal a kiss right now. If he were to lean in and capture her mouth with his. No one would find fault. In fact, it would go a long way toward showing them all exactly what he was trying to show them—that he was happy and settled in his marriage.
But he couldn’t do it.
I can’t kiss her like that. Not for that reason. Not when it might only be out of a desire to put on some kind of show. She deserves much, much better from me than that.
CHAPTER 27
Leonard pushed papers around on his desk, feeling exhausted and frustrated. He was going to have to stop retreating to his study so often eventually. There was already no work for him to do in here, and it was obvious to anyone who was paying attention that he only came here to put off the need to speak to Prudence about the interactions between the two of them.
The members of my staff know exactly what’s going on with me. It’s only dumb luck if Prudence herself hasn’t figured it out, and she will eventually.
The door moved slightly in its frame, and Leonard frowned, looking up. He didn’t believe in spirits or hauntings or any of that nonsense, but the door had definitely moved. Had it been a breeze? He hadn’t felt anything like that…
No. As he stood up to see what was going on, he spotted the culprit—it was the little gray cat that Prudence had rescued fromthe tree the other day. He simmered. That animal seemed to be taking over the house, always appearing when it was least expected and least wanted. He had no desire to spend any time in the company of this cat, but what could be done about it? It wasn’t as if the beast would go away because he asked it nicely, and he couldn’t bring himself to throw it out of the house. He knew all too well the impact it would have on Prudence if he were to get rid of her cherished pet.
The cat strode haughtily across the room, coiled its body, and leapt up into Leonard’s lap. For a moment, he was tempted to push it back down onto the floor, but it turned a slow circle and settled down, staring up at him with wide eyes as if daring him to do something about its presence.
Leonard sighed. “You’re just like Prudence; do you know that?”
