In her friends' faces, Alethea could see the same pride that she felt.
"I suppose Alethea told you then?" Prudence asked, seeming surprised.
"I only wish for justice to be served," Oliver replied then, dodging the topic. Alethea suspected it was because he did not wish for her to feel awkward.
So thoughtful, once again. Alethea nearly wanted to embrace him then, but she showed great restraint.
"Ladies, I must return to my study for the evening. Duties await, I fear. But before I go, please know that you are welcome back at any time," Oliver announced before leaving. He gave Alethea a small smile on the way out.
The moment he was out of earshot, the girls had surrounded Alethea.
"Well, well,well," Temperance teased.
"Oh, Alethea, he's wonderful," Prudence breathed.
"He is certainly not what I expected of a duke," Maria added .
"I admit I may have misjudged the man. He is all right for an aristocrat," Charity said.
"Charity, you were ready to despise him outright," Temperance giggled.
"Fine," Charity rolled her eyes. "Consider me impressed, if you must."
They all laughed, and Alethea finally sank back onto the sofa, still feeling rather dazed. Oliver had shown her and her friendssuch heartfelt kindness that they were nearly as charmed by him as she was.
Her friends exchanged glances of amused satisfaction as they watched Alethea's face.
"What?" Alethea asked, attempting and failing to feign innocence.
"You two are so sweet together," Prudence giggled."
"I've never seen a man look at his wife quite that way," Maria said thoughtfully. "At least, not among theton."
"He seems utterly smitten," Temperance declared in her usual bold fashion.
"You're all reading too much into polite gestures," Alethea murmured, blushing wildly.
"Polite gestures," Charity shook her head, "My father is polite to my stepmother and he's never once looked at her the way the Duke just looked at you."
Alethea bit her lip again, trying to suppress the bubbling happiness inside of her.
Could they be right? Could it be that Oliver…? She dared not think it fully.
"We're only teasing because we'resohappy for you, love," Temperance added, "You deserve every ounce of this happiness and more. And after meeting him, I'm relieved to see with my own eyes that he cherishes you."
"I'll have you know," Charity whispered wryly, "I arrived here fully prepared to find fault with your husband. But based on what I've witnessed today…"
She cast a glance toward the door through which Oliver had departed, then back to Alethea.
"Well, I daresay all those rumors swirling around thetonmight actually be true."
"Rumors?" Alethea said, curious.
"The rumors that the Duke of Redhaven is utterly in love with his wife," Temperance giggled.
The idea set her heart pounding.
"He…" Alethea stammered, utterly caught off guard.
