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She chuckled. “I rather think he was jesting. Nearly every word of felicitation we received was wrapped in a suggestive joke.” She bit into her cake and he sucked in his breath to keep his thoughts on anything but her mouth.
“Dance with me.” He took the champagne from her hand and set it down as soon as a new tune began to play.
“You have claimed two dances now.” She chuckled. “You might not be able to claim a third.”
“You are my wife now and I can have as many dances as I wish and there is nothing society can do about it.” Her color rose to a delightful shade of pink.
When their dance was concluded, he walked her to where her father stood and she gave him a grateful smile. She needed the respite and would be saying goodbye to him soon. “I thought you would like to spend some time with him.”
“I do. That is very considerate of you. Thank you.” There was another point in his favor. And he was tempted to hum to himself.
“Where is your wife?” The dowager accosted him, blocking his path with her cane.
“With her father,” he replied smoothly. “I have given him the honor of the country dance.”
“She should be with you at all times.” She threw him a displeased look that did not affect him in the least.
“She is my wife, not my prisoner.” He lowered his voice. “Keeping her with me at all times is not going to hasten the coming of an heir.”
She began to express her displeasure but Nicholas did not hear a thing as his attention was arrested by someone from his past. The last time he had seen that face had been two years ago,offEnglish soil.
The person held his astonished gaze and his feet began to carry him forward only to be halted by a couple passing in front of him. When he looked again, the face was gone, leaving him with something heavy inside.
This was no imagination, and how merciless of the past to visit him on his wedding day.
* * *
“You look lovely,” Daphne said, joining Jenny and her father. She had just finished dancing with Ernest. “Would you mind if I steal her from you for a moment, my lord?” she asked her father.
“Not at all, Daphne.”
Daphne pulled her aside and scanned her face worriedly. “Are you well?”
Jenny smiled. “I am. My nerves are gone.” She had nearly changed her mind that morning about marrying Nicholas but now she knew it would have been a mistake.
She was not the sort to read meaning into things but the kiss they had shared at the church gave her hope. Perhaps Nicholas was avoiding something and had contrived to avoid her because of it.
“Good. I dislike seeing you nervous. I am going to dance with the gentleman near the terrace doors now,” Daphne said.
Jenny searched for the gentleman in question but saw the face she had seen on Bond Street after stepping out of Raphael’s shop. All doubt of its reality was removed from her mind and she hoped the person did not bring any trouble with them.
