“I thought you might be growing weary of that conversation,” he said. “She seems very nice, but immediately turning to talk of Prudence like that…I thought it might have the potential to sour your evening, and I’m sure neither of us wants that.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you,” Caroline murmured.
“Was Lady Alexandra a particular friend of your sister’s?
“No, nothing like that. But Prudence has always been everybody’s favorite,” Caroline explained. “Alexandra was right—she’s the life of every party. People won’t know what to make of the fact that I’m here at this ball and she is not. I knew to expect that sort of thing.”
“Does it bother you? The fact that they see you and ask for her?”
She hesitated, wondering whether she should just say that of course she wasn’t bothered. But this was Levi. He alwaysappreciated it when she told him the truth, and in spite of her hesitation, he had never given her a reason not to put her faith in him.
“It does bother me a bit,” she said. “And the fact that it bothers me disturbs me even more, if that makes sense. This would never have affected me before. I don’t know when I allowed myself to become so invested in others’ opinions about me.”
“I don’t believe you are as invested in that as you might think,” Levi countered. “But on the first night of the season, your first night out in society as a duchess…it does make sense that you would be more aware of what people are thinking. What they might see when they look at you. I wouldn’t judge yourself harshly for that if I were you.”
“You don’t think I’m being shallow?”
“I’ve never seen you that way.” He grinned. “And my tolerance for shallow people is…not very high. I believe I would have noticed that quality if you possessed it, Caroline.”
Caroline returned his smile. “I do appreciate you ending that conversation,” she said. “I quite like Lady Alexandra, but at the same time, I heard what she was saying. As happy as she might have been to see me, her enthusiasm for my sister’s presence would have been greater. Prudence was a light in society that I can never hope to match, no matter how brilliantly I shine.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Levi said. He reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, and she felt a shiver ofanticipation pass through her, as if his touch was the precursor to something more.
It isn’t. Of course not.
But she couldn’t help feeling that there was something special—something magical—about this night, and about the connection between the two of them. She didn’t know when it had begun, but somehow, Levi had become the person who saw right through to the heart of her, and who understood her better than anybody else in the world.
CHAPTER 18
“You won’t mind, I hope, if I leave you for a moment?” Levi asked.
Caroline frowned. “Where are you going?” She didn’t want to cling to him, but the truth was that she did mind a little. The idea of being left on her own was daunting. She knew that the moment they were apart, someone would approach her and try to question her—about what it was like to be a duchess, about Prudence, about any number of things. Having Levi by her side offered her protection that she didn’t want to be without.
“I’ll be back soon,” he assured her. “I want to find Gregory and speak to him about the search for Prudence.”
“Will Gregory be here?” She was surprised. “I mean…I don’t wish to be disrespectful, of course. But…”
“But he isn’t noble?” Levi smiled. “You’re right. But he has a lot of friends in society, and it’s not uncommon for him to be invitedto parties anyway. I saw him over in the corner when we came in, chatting with the Earl of Greystoke’s second daughter.”
“Do you think he intends to make a bid for her hand?”
“I think he intends to make a bid for her attentions this evening.” Levi laughed. “I’m not sure Gregory is the sort to settle down. But at any rate, he may be able to provide an update on the search for your sister, and I’m sure that’s something you and I would both like to have.”
“Very much,” Caroline agreed. “I’ll be fine on my own if you’d like to go and speak to him.”
“I’ll return soon,” Levi said. “Why don’t you wait for me over there?” He pointed to a table that was covered with drinks. “Get yourself something to drink, and I’ll return to you as soon as I can.”
He took her hand and gave it a brief squeeze, and Caroline felt acutely aware of how much she craved his presence. Even if it hadn’t been something that caused her such discomfort, she would have very simply missed him when he wasn’t by her side.
I’m going to have to give all this more thought later. Do I have genuine feelings for my husband? And if I do…what does that mean for the two of us? He has made it clear by his words that he doesn’t intend for us to have that sort of relationship, even if his actions are communicating something quite different…
She made her way over to the drink table and picked up a glass of wine. Then she retreated into the corner. Having her back to the wall was a familiar position, and there was something comforting about it. This was where she would have found herself at any number of balls she had attended last season—standing back, away from everything, watching the people around her, but not participating. Not a part of things.
Caroline was a duchess now, but a part of her was still most comfortable with quiet and relative solitude.
It wasn’t to be hers for long, though. “Good evening, Lady Caroline,” a simpering voice said, and Caroline looked up into familiar beady eyes.
Modesty.
