"My girls," she embraced them warmly. "Oh, I am so excited to spend the next few days with you."
"Look at you, a duchess in every sense of the word," Isadora teased as Daphne. "The preparations seem excellent, and you look every bit as regal as your title."
Daphne winked, "Ambrose says that I have grown into the role quite well."
"He is not wrong," Violet added, "Though he might have his own vested interests in saying that to keep you happy."
Daphne shot her friend a look, before dissolving into laughter. "Perhaps you ladies will meet someone of your liking here. I would wish for the next wedding I attend to be one of yours."
"Well, it seems that you have hoarded all of the love luck," Violet admitted. "For there has been no one who has caught my eye."
"Similarly for me," Isadora admitted.
"Then I can set you up," Daphne said seriously. "We have invited some fine gentlemen from all across London. Surely there must be someone."
"Do not worry about us," Isadora laughed, playfully. "What you must tell is how your own marriage is going. Sometimes, I still forget that you do not live just down the street from me and find myself visiting Alborne Manor only to find you absent."
Daphne laughed. "Then perhaps you need to move to where I live now. I hear that the Blackwood Family who lives nearby has an eligible son that you might find yourself interested in."
"Don't avoid the question, Daphne," Violet said.
"About my marriage?"
"What else?" Isadora chuckled.
Daphne did not respond immediately. For there wassomethingelse, but she needed the right moment to admit it. "Well, we are very much in love. And it gets better every day," she admitted.
"Oh, how perfect," Violet swooned, touching her forehead dramatically. "Isadora, when will we find our own Prince Charming?"
"In due time," Isadora sighed, "for now, we can only be happy for our friend."
Daphne chuckled but was soon pulled back into the present as the butler announced another guest. She smiled warmly, stepping forward to greet them, playing the part of the perfect hostess.
The night was full of festivities, and Daphne did not get a chance to interact much with her husband. Until much later in the night when she found him alone in the balcony.
She decided that this was the perfect moment.
"Daphne," Ambrose greeted, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her. "My busy little Duchess. Have you finally found some time away to spend with your husband?"
"Oh, but you know that I have been only thinking of you the whole time," she chuckled softly. "Did you miss me, Ambrose?"
"Only every moment."
It still astounded her how sweet he always was to her, considering how they had gotten to know each other in a manner where he was always the opposite.
"I am glad that I found you here," she said, her eyes sparkling. "It is a beautiful night."
Ambrose did not even bother to look up at the starry sky. "I have something in front of me that is far mor beautiful."
She blushed, "You and your sweet talking."
"You love it."
She could not even deny it. Shedid.Every bit of it.
"There is something I need to tell you," she started off, hesitantly. She had been keeping the news a secret for a week now, but this was the perfect moment to share.
"What's this about?" he asked, his voice gentle but full of anticipation.
