The Duchess mask, she thought wryly. How easily it settled over her when needed.
Oliver continued to hold her hand as they left the terrace and re-entered the noise of the ballroom. They might have been gone only fifteen minutes or so, but to Alethea it felt like she had lived a lifetime in that quarter hour. Judging by Oliver's taut silence, he too was still processing what had passed.
As soon as they were back among the crowd, Oliver's grip on her hand loosened and he eventually released it, offering his arm in a more proper fashion instead.
Oliver did not leave her side for the rest of the night, and she noted that Peter did not interact with her again. She could only wonder if her husband had a role to play in that, but she did not interrogate him.
The ball wound to its close with a final, lively set of dances. By then, Alethea was pleasantly exhausted. The final guests were departing as Alethea stood by Oliver at the door.
Her own sisters appeared. Daphne squeezed Alethea's hands proudly, Felicity and Joyce both hugged her in turn.
"What a great ball," Daphne lauded. "I am sure thetonwill be speaking of it for days to come."
"You are kind," Alethea smiled.
Joyce did not appear to say much. Alethea noticed she appeared entirely distracted.
Theodore.
The thought appeared to her immediately, and she looked at the top of the grand staircase to see Theodore looking in their direction. Joyce seemed to be aware of this, as well. As she stole a last look in his direction.
"I hope you enjoyed yourself," she said sincerely to Joyce, feeling a tinge of guilt all over again.
"You were wonderful tonight," Joyce said in return.
"I…" Alethea tried to say something, but stopped herself for she knew Oliver could hear every word. But Oliver seemed aware of what was happening as well. He looked back at Theodore, who continued to stare in Joyce's direction mournfully. "Well, take care of yourself," she said instead.
The sisters departed then, and Alethea knew that this was not the last that she would hear of the story between Theodore and Joyce.
She was beginning to understand how love felt now. And if what the two of them felt was even a fraction of what she did for the duke, it would be no question that they would not give up so easily.
Oliver closed the door after the final carriage departed. Only the Duke and Duchess remained in the grand foyer now, with a fewfootmen discreetly waiting to extinguish candles and begin the cleanup.
"It seems congratulations are in order, Duchess," Oliver said.
"You think so?" Alethea said. She turned to look at the top of the stairs again, and Theodore was no longer there. It seemed that he had taken his leave as soon as Joyce had.
"For handily silencing every last critic in London, I'd say," Oliver said, "I could not be prouder of you."
"I only followed your lead," she murmured.
Oliver gently squeezed her hands.
"Nonsense. You led just as much as I tonight. The papers tomorrow will no doubt sing the praises of the ‘Surprising Duchess' or some such."
"Do you think that they will finally stop talking about the conditions of our marriage?" she asked.
"I think so," Oliver shrugged, "Thetonare easily distracted."
Alethea stepped closer, their joined hands between them.
"If it helps secure our place and quiets the rumors, then I am content." She hesitated, then added softly, "I want to make you proud, Oliver."
A smile formed on his face at her words, and she noticed that he seemed to be hiding a shy blush as well. The very idea of the duke blushing was inconceivable for her. But before she could prod before, his neutral expression returned at once.
"We should retire. It's been a long day for you."
"Yes," she agreed, masking her disappointment with a small smile. She realized that she did not want to leave his side just yet. "That it has."
