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The baron chuckled softly. She glared at him, until she saw no malice or mocking in his expression and relented. He gave her a small smile and gestured with his eyes toward Sally. Rowena realized he wanted to speak to her privately.
“How is your family taking the news of our engagement?” he asked.
Rowena swallowed, hesitant to mention Nancy’s plan to throw a party for them. How would he react?
“Mother seems relieved,” she said at last. “My sisters, of course, are quite thrilled.”
His lordship smiled and nodded.
“That is good to hear,” he said.
Rowena nodded, chewing her lip. Then, she mustered enough courage to come straight out with it.
“My sister, Nancy, wishes to host an engagement ball in our honor.” She held her breath as soon as the words were out, watching his face carefully, her knuckles white as they clutched her reticule.
But the baron only nodded, looking thoughtful.
“I think that sounds like a splendid idea,” he said, looking at her, still smiling.
Rowena was stunned and greatly relieved. Some of her tension drained away, but then she started worrying if he had only said that because Sally was listening. What would he say when they were able to speak privately? Just then, the carriage came to a halt outside the entrance to Hyde Park. The baron was on his feet and out of the coach within seconds.
Rowena took the hand that her future husband offered to her to alight from the carriage. The instant their hands touched, even though they were both wearing gloves, she once more felt the strange electrical charge as before running through her. She stepped down gently off the coach steps, unable to suppress a shiver. She had never expected to feel what was definitely an attraction to her fiancé, and she blushed as she smiled at him.
Foolish girl,she thought, scolding herself for entertaining such thoughts.A husband of convenience will never be truly attracted to you.She looked away, her flush deepening with the embarrassment of having allowed herself such a moment of weakness. Of course, he would never reciprocate any connection or attraction she thought she felt. She must dismiss the idea and never consider it again.
The baron offered her his arm, while Sally placed Benji on the ground, attached his leash, and handed it to Rowena, taking up her station a few feet behind the couple. The little dog capered joyfully as the party headed into the park, heading up the main path, to where the performers, food vendors, and merchants had their booths. They walked along in silence for a few minutes, and Rowena tried desperately to think of something to say to ease the awkwardness between them.
“It is a lovely day,” she said again, feeling instantly stupid.
Her fiancé turned his head to her and raised his eyebrows. She chuckled nervously, blushing again when she realized her mistake. He had told her when he asked her to marry him how much he hated idle chatter about the weather. She couldn’t believe she had fallen into the trap!
“Oh, heavens,” she said, putting her hand to her cheek. “I apologize. I was not thinking.”
The baron’s lips twitched, and he chuckled.
“It is all right,” he said. “It is a beautiful day, indeed. Now, please, don’t be so nervous. We can talk about whatever you like. Apart from the weather.”
Rowena giggled, anxious to redeem herself.
“Why don’t we talk about whateveryoulike?” she asked.
The baron laughed, thinking for a moment.
“I have another idea,” he said, gesturing with his free hand toward a man who was juggling colorful balls. “Why don’t we watch some of the performers?”
Rowena nodded, trying not to pay attention to the odd glances some of the people nearby were casting in her direction.
“That sounds wonderful,” she said.
Chapter Nineteen
The couple slowly made their way down the main path of Hyde Park, admiring the various performers and listening to the spiels of every vendor selling their goods to London’s High Society. Rowena thought it a pleasant way to spend time together without the need for much talking. But eventually, they reached the end of the attractions and thus, the end of things to discuss outside of their surroundings.
Andrew walked with his fiancée’s gloved hand on his arm. The conversation was stilted and punctuated by long periods of uncomfortable silence, though Miss Whitworth seemed often distracted by the dog’s antics. He couldn’t stop thinking about their upcoming wedding. He wondered if it was the same for her. Though he doubted her family was anywhere near as unhappy about the marriage as his.
Gemma had seemed reluctant to support him in his bold, seemingly rushed decision. And his mother had not spoken a single word to him since recovering from her fainting spell. He wished she would stop being so angry with him. He was doing what she had demanded by marrying at all. Why was she so insistent on forcing him into marriage and choosing his wife as well?
“Is something bothering you, my lord?” Miss Whitworth suddenly asked.
