“Indeed, you are,” Felicity agreed with a warm smile that she turned to Graham, as if to tell him she was proud, that this was what she wanted for him, even if the circumstances were not perfect. “And you have also made a fine choice for dinner tonight, I believe.”
Graham could not take his eyes off Amelia as she took her seat, and he returned to his own. Very quickly, his wine glass was emptied and refilled. Perhaps the wine would replace every other thought in his head.
“I have heard that you are a fond reader, Amelia,” Daphne said, clearly making up for a lack of conversation in the room.
“I am,” she answered, as the first course was served. “My sisters, Clara and Elizabeth, and I, often read in the library. Elizabeth was more fond of philosophy and geography, and she is so very intelligent despite only being ten and two. Clara always favored romance novels.”
“She must have loved this tale of how you and my brother came to be wed.”
Graham’s face flickered in annoyance as he glared at his sister, who pointedly ignored him. Amelia cleared her throat and toyed with one of her earrings. “Indeed, she did mention such a thing.”
Her eyes cast to him, as if wondering if he was uncomfortable by her mentioning it.
“And yourself?” Daphne asked. “What do you read?”
“Everything,” she responded, with a short laugh. “I love plays mostly. Do you read?”
“I do. I am rather predictable, however, for I have a love of Austen’s works. Do you read her books?”
Amelia shook her head. “I confess they can be a touch too… unrealistic for me. I like the nuance of Shakespeare, though. I enjoy how he sees humanity without the societal expectation around it in quite the same way.”
“I see,” Daphne said. “I have recently attended a reading of Shakespeare’sRomeo and Juliet. The actor who played Romeo was rather dashing.”
Graham could not help but clench his jaw at that. How could they speak of such things when his mind tossed and turned. Yet Amelia listened with rapt attention.
“It was at the theatre in Bath,” Daphne continued. “Several of my friends and I attended. I think one of them hoped to catch the actor’s eye in secret. It happens, though, I suppose. Love in secret, just as Romeo and Juliet experienced.”
“Daphne.” Graham’s voice was hard, a firm warning.
“Yes, brother?”
“Do not be smart,” he muttered.
“Do not speak to your sister in such ways,” Felicity admonished. “She speaks only about her love of books.”
And is secretly trying to form something out of this marriage that looks like love, he thought.
“Well, regardless, I have been thinking,” Daphne continued. “Romeo and Juliet fell for one another during a masked ball. What better way to introduce the Duke and Duchess of Blackthorn as a married couple than to host our own ball here? As in the play, it shall show that love does not always need to be careful or planned. Sometimes it can linger outside of society’s expectations.”
Graham noted that, although Amelia listened intently, her eyes glimmering with excitement, she kept fidgeting every time Daphne spoke of love.
“I think that would be a lovely idea,” Amelia said, glancing at Graham. “That is, if His Grace deigns to agree.”
“It is the worst idea I can possibly think of,” he murmured, shaking his head. “However, I might be the duke but you are three women that I do not wish to upset. I am not happy about it, Daphne, and you know how I feel about being seen in society. It has brought me enough trouble already.”
He noticed Amelia flinching, and he wished to swallow yet more terribly spoken words. He had not meant it to sound as harsh as it came out but the moment passed too quickly to rectify.
He frowned down at the table while Daphne clapped her hands together in excitement. “It shall be perfect! We do not have to make it masked but we shall still have a beautiful ball! Oh, it shall be Blackthorns’ first one in many years!”
Graham nodded again, his assent quiet, especially when he saw Amelia’s own excitement. He recalled her calling herself the ton’s wallflower, and he could not help but wonder if he would only restrict her further by dragging her into this life he had, cursed and reclusive as he was.
He knew Amelia would have questions about that night the tonloved to gossip about. He knew it would only be a matter of time before she asked him about it, and although he felt far from ready to discuss any of it, he knew he had to prepare himself.
As the first course was eaten and cleared, replaced by the main course, Graham kept looking towards his new wife. To even think of her as such made him feel out of place and off-kilter. His wine was refilled once more after he found it empty without truly recalling drinking from that second pouring.
As they ate, he questioned himself: did he agree to the ball to please his sister, or because he did not wish to disappoint his wife whom he felt as though he had already failed?
***
