Page 86 of The Duke’s Hidden Duchess

She dressed during the final hour before they were due to leave.

Only then did the cords come off the gown box.

The silk inside was silver.

Selina had ordered it without consulting Georgiana, an omission for which she expected to be made to suffer later. It was not ostentatious in its cut. It did not need to be. The pale silk caught the candlelight whenever she moved and returned it softly.

Her maid fastened the last of the buttons and stepped back.

Selina looked at herself in the glass.

For eight years, grey had been useful because nobody remembered it. Grey passed through rooms. Grey did not invite questions.

Silver did.

She stood beneath the maid’s inspection and found that she no longer minded being seen.

Nathaniel was waiting at the foot of the stairs. He looked up when she appeared. Then he forgot whatever he had intended to say.

Selina came down several steps before stopping.

“Is something wrong?”

“No.”

“You are staring.”

“Yes.”

“That is generally considered rude.”

“I am attempting to recover sufficiently to care.”

She descended another step. “Is the gown unsuitable?”

“No.” His gaze moved over the silver once more before returning, deliberately, to her face. “I was merely unprepared.”

“That is almost gratifying.”

“It was intended to be entirely gratifying.”

She came down the remaining stairs. Nathaniel offered his hand, and she placed hers in it.

“Shall we?”

“Together.”

***

Lady Marwood’s house blazed at every window.

The receiving rooms were already crowded when they arrived, feathers and jewels moving beneath the chandeliers, conversation rising above the musicians in the ballroom.

Selina entered upon Nathaniel’s arm in silver.

Georgiana followed with her reticule held firmly in both hands. Lady Helena had already taken a place near the great fireplace, austere in dark silk and apparently indifferent to everything around her. Petherick was less conspicuous near the far wall. Selina saw him once, received the smallest inclination of his head and looked away again.

Two ladies upon the landing stopped speaking as she passed. Selina heard the silence and continued at the same pace.