“Agreeable?”
“Yes. The younger sisters of the viscount are too young and distracted,” Dominic explained. “I have no sisters, either. But Lady Verity and I had the pleasure of meeting, talking, and dancing. How she has remained unattached, I do not know. She’s a very observant lady and well composed. She’ll make a fine duchess even with her bold nature.”
Peter gave a short chuckle. “I hardly know if any of this is the truth or a jest. Are you saying you wed a lady too bold for you?”
“Not at all. I had hoped that marriage would be a simple matter, but I am finding it will require time to understand the lady,” Dominic was willing to admit. “Her brother wanted the arrangement more than she did. But she’s accepted the union just as much as I have. We have found what we both want through this, I believe. She has the cuttings of a beautiful and proper duchess, so I am not disappointed.”
“Not disappointed.”
“Content,” Dominic offered when his friend appeared skeptical. “She has impressed me on occasion thus far. I hope she will do so again in time.”
Shaking his head, Peter chuckled. He slowly rose to his feet and stretched his arms before collecting his glass he’d left on the steps. “Dominic, I don’t understand. I can be honest about that. You’re clearly tied to something… unpredictable. You’re sure you know what you’re doing?”
“Not yet.” He rose as well, finally smiling. “But I’m not concerned. I shall seek to understand my circumstances instead of avoiding them.”
“And your wife?”
A slight thrill spread through Dominic just like it had when the vicar announced the marriage was official.
“As for my wife… I shall seek to treat her as a lady and a wife deserves to be treated,” he reassured his friend. “Shall we return inside now?”
“Indeed.”
The two of them fell quiet as they turned back toward the doors of the house. This time Dominic took the entrance leading back to the crowded room where the party continued.
The room was as loud as it was cheerful. Just as Dominic considered disappearing again, he caught eyes with Verity.
Whatever tension had been caught up in her body had her relaxing. There was clear relief on her face before she turned back to her conversation with Octavia and Eve.
“A fine match indeed,” Peter mused. He nudged Dominic before taking the empty glass and losing himself in the crowd.
As for Dominic, he lingered in the doorway a while longer.
He wasn’t a fool to assume he knew everything. But he was concerned about what feelings might come in time. Having spent most of his life used to being alone, Dominic didn’t know what to expect as a married man.
But with Verity, I find myself hopeful.
CHAPTER 8
Seeing that Dominic had returned brought Verity comfort she hadn’t expected to feel. She couldn’t look at him very long, hoping she wasn’t blushing. There was warmth on her cheeks she hadn’t felt earlier.
It’s just the room. That’s all. I have no reason to blush over my new husband. It’s a crowded room.
“I think it’s positively romantic,” Eve Starling boasted as Elowen came over to join their little corner. “Don’t you? Your sister insists the union to be suspicious.”
“The union has been made so I’m not certain it matters,” the younger girl offered peaceably. No opinion meant no arguments.
To some, at least, Verity thought sardonically as Octavia cleared her throat. “She told me yesterday it was strange. But never mind that. Elowen is right that the marriage has been made. An annulment would surely be too scandalous for our propersister.” She pouted. “Perhaps the real strangeness will come in the way of your new home. Do you know if there’s a dungeon in the duke’s home?”
“I don’t think so. It’s a London manor, not a castle,” she said.
“What of his country house? Houses? How much does he own?” Octavia’s eyes widened. “He is rich, is he not? What if he’s hiding dead wives out in the countryside?”
Scoffing, Verity waved over a servant with a tray of lemonade-filled glasses. “You’re reading too many gothic novels. I thought Cassian was attempting to put a stop to that.”
“As if Cassian has time or effort for the likes of us. I’m surprised he even noticed you were getting married,” she added.
If only you knew, silly sister.
