Why hadn’t this occurred to her earlier?
Of course they must have been fulfilling their conjugal duties. That was the natural course of things, established since Adam and Eve and the dawn of creation. No cause whatsoever for maidenly blushes and this cringing embarrassment that had taken hold of her.
It wasn’t hot in the room; it was positively scorching.
She tore open the windows and dropped back into her chair, still fanning herself.
If only she could remember!
How utterly humiliating not to recall a single thing about the man with whom she must have shared the most intimate moments of a married couple’s life.
She would never see the Duke in the same light again.
She drew in a sharp breath as an idea struck her.
No, she couldn’t dare.
It was outrageous.
It was impossible.
She could never, ever do that.
Could she?
To see if it would jog her memory…
If only she had the courage…
To kiss him.
ChapterTwenty-One
The ballthe following evening couldn’t have been more different.
Metternich’s Peace Ball was to be one of the grandest events of the Season. The rooms of the entire palais had been opened up. There were oriental tents and faux temples, a hot-air balloon and fireworks in the garden, and orchestras in every room and in hidden corners behind the hedges. There was a ballet, and people danced wherever there was space. The Arenheims were assigned to perform in a Turkish tent in the garden, which meant that the pianoforte had to be set up there.
Their performance went smoothly, as usual.
Lena had been worried that the Duke might be hovering nearby, scowling at them while they played, but fortunately, he was not. In fact, she hadn’t seen him since they’d arrived, and as the night wore on, she began to wonder if he’d be putting in an appearance at all. It would be strange if he did not, with all the foreign dignitaries here. She’d learned to recognisethem all by now and was eagerly soaking up the atmosphere of the place. There was so much information to take in. August would be pleased with her report that night.
They took a much-needed break, having played for hours. Adam had gone to organise some refreshments for them, and Theo had gone with Mona to have a look at the hot air balloon hovering above them on the other side of the garden.
Perhaps it was the mild night’s breeze, unseasonable for October, or the scent of roses and Turkish Delight carried on silver platters by footmen.
Or maybe it was the hushed titter of two ladies deep in conversation, the sighs of, “You wouldn’t believe the most beautiful trinket he gave me! Look. Isn’t it exquisite? I had a locket made for him too. In London. At Garrard’s in Albemarle Street. It is to be an expression of my sentiments, for I love him dearly…”
Lena gasped.
Images flashed in her inner eye. She was holding the commissioned locket that Mr Garrard had just given her, talking to her friend Elizabeth, who was with her in the shop.
Elizabeth! A vision of a pretty brunette appeared in her mind, who was smiling as she teased her. “Confess. You’re head over heels in love with him already, aren’t you? Yet you haven’t exchanged two words with him. I can see it in your eyes, and in the way you blush, like you are doing now.” She laughed softly. “Your cheeks have taken on the colour of beetroots.”
She covered her cheeks with her hands. “He is sodear to me. I love him so very, very much. Oh, Elizabeth. I am so happy! I cannot wait for us to be married.”
“Lucky, lucky girl! Would that I, too, could marry for love.”
The scene faded, and she remained standing beside by the hedge, staring foolishly at the little red lampion hanging from a branch.
