Over the next few days, Amelia familiarized herself with Blackthorn House. Every hallway looked the same, and every door seemed to open into the same room even if she was sure she opened a different one.
Her thoughts tumbled constantly, questioning everything. Graham retreated into his study most days, or claimed to be out on business, but Amelia knew he was avoiding looking at her, of feeling the full weight of his regret of marrying her.
Finally, she found the morning room, where the dowager duchess had beckoned her.
“Amelia, do come in,” she invited, gesturing to the other armchair that was set out. On a small table between the two chairs was a tea set up. “You look beautiful.”
Amelia hesitated, crossing the room, as she glanced down at her simple morning dress. It occurred to her often how her husband had rarely complimented her, yet his eyes lingered on her every night at dinner.
“Thank you,” she said, feeling nervous. “Your Grace, I confess—”
“Please, do call me Felicity.”
“I cannot simply do that,” Amelia laughed. “You are the dowager duchess.”
“And I have also become your mother-in-law,” she reminded her gently. “Calling me Felicity will do very well.”
Amelia nodded, feeling honored and yet out of place, still. “I confess that I am entirely out of my depth with everything but especially balls. I have attended every single event for just over two Seasons, but now it is my turn to host, I am at a loss.”
“That is why I am here.” She winked. Felicity presented a list of names to her. “These are the most notable members of our society. Everyaristocrat is on there, and you do not have to invite all but I would encourage you to. As the duchess, you do not want to offend anybody, however you must avoid those tangled up in current scandals, for it can appear bad.”
“So I must not offend anybody by not inviting, yet I may cause offence by inviting those in scandals?” Amelia asked, incredulous.
“The work of a duchess is not easy,” Felicity laughed.
“In that case, I ought not to have been invited to any gathering whatsoever,” Amelia murmured.
“Nor should my son, yet my own societal standing elevates his reputation.”
Amelia fell silent, wishing to ask about the duke’s reputation, and why everything had gone wrong that night that the ton spoke of, but she bit her tongue. She had her own duties to focus on; she could not put Graham under more scrutiny than he already was.
“Make sure the Kensingtons are invited,” Felicity pointed out. “And the Radcliffes. They are honourable guests.”
Amelia nodded. “And the Fairfax, too.”
“Ah, yes. Indeed.”
Amelia went through the list, marking off those to receive an invite, and clarifying any scandals she was not aware of. Felicity instructed her on how to judge scandals, and if the severity was too bad to receive an invitation or not. In the end, only three families were not invited, knowing it could potentially cause disruption to invite them. As they were of a lesser status, Felicity assured her that there would not be a great deal of offense in the shunning.
They talked long into the morning, and Amelia slowly felt more and more comfortable by offering suggestions, and Felicity nodded, impressed. By the end of their discussion, Amelia had invitations to be sent out, decor to arrange, and a theme ofgolden candlelight, inspired by the imagery of Romeo and Juliet’s final embrace in the chapel.
***
“My mother is impressed with you.”
Amelia turned at the voice coming from a place she could not see while she walked in the garden later that day. Traversing a flowering path, she looked around, hearing the duke’s voice but not able to see him. Seconds later, he stood up, emerging from a rose bush so suddenly she laughed.
“What is so funny?” he asked, scowling.
Amelia bit her lip. “I am sorry. It is only that you appeared out of nowhere.”
“I am tending the roses,” he told her, as though it was obvious, gesturing at the rose garden that filled the land behind him. He paused. “I know you are likely thinking that I have gardeners for such a task but it is something that I enjoy doing myself.”
Amelia only shook her head. “On the contrary, I was only thinking that you have rose petals in your hair.”
Graham frowned and reached up, patting the dark length of his hair, shaking the petals loose. It had softened him for a moment, and Amelia half wished she had not said anything at all.
“My mother,” he began again, “has spoken fondly of you regarding the planning for the ball.”
