“The governess? Oh, the very best. Of course, that is what the condition was as well. It took me a long time to find her, but I am confident that she is capable.”
Frances was silent for a moment, lost in thought.
“Frances?” Christopher prompted. He seemed unsettled by her long pauses. “I cannot read your mind, and you have an excellent poker face. So would you please instead tell me what you are thinking yourself?”
She bit her lip. “Your Grace, I… I was just thinking that you seemed to have put a lot of thought into choosing the governess. So then why did you want my word to the final one?”
He looked at her as though she had just asked a ridiculous question.
“We are taking care of the twins together. Your opinion holds equal weight in this, if not more.”
She blushed again and muttered a quick “thank you” under her breath.
Christopher was, in all ways, the perfect gentleman. He always put her first, and she was realizing now just how nice it made her feel.
“No need for any formalities,” he said, sinking into the sofa behind him. “I think we are far too formal with one another.”
Her eyebrow shot up. “I do not see why that is a bad thing?”
“No, of course, it’s not abadthing. But we should consider each other as friends.” He smiled. “There is not much room for formalities between friends, is there?”
For a split second, she felt her heart sink. There was something not right about being referred to as a friend by her husband.
Still, she was careful to not let it show on her face.
“No, I suppose there is not.”
“Happy to be on the same page then.” He nodded. “Oh, and one more thing.”
“Another one?”
He chuckled lightly. “This has to do with your duties as a duchess. If all goes well with the governess, then you will be free to attend to your duties as a duchess.”
She gulped, holding onto the hem of her skirt. “Go on, then.”
“There is a ball in London in the next few days that the both of us must attend. This, of course, will be our first public appearance, so it is vital that you make a good impression.”
Her grip on her skirt tightened. “I see.”
“In fact, I have ordered a dress for you already. From one of the finest dressmakers in town—Madam Belfry.”
Frances’s jaw nearly dropped. “You cannot be serious.”
He gave her a boyish grin. “I have no reason to joke about this.”
Frances had a take a moment to soak in the information. Madam Belfry was the best dressmaker in the whole of London. It was every young lady’s dream to wear a dress made by her, and her dresses cost more than half a year’s wage for a normal person. It was the ultimate dream, and Christopher had made it come true so effortlessly.
“I like it when you are at a loss for words,” Christopher commented, amused. “It’s endearing, actually. The way your eyes widen.”
Frances shook her head, still in disbelief. “I apologize. I am still trying to process what you have told me. You did not have to do this, really.”
She left out that this was perhaps the nicest thing that anyone had ever done for her.
“I wanted to,” Christopher insisted. “Besides, you must be dressed in your best for our first public appearance.”
He was smiling at her how, and Frances realized that this smile was genuine.
Did he like seeing her happy? The idea made warmth rush through her.
