Lewis said nothing but led her down the right path, towards the rose gardens. “I suppose that is true.”
“Why?”
“I am not especially fond of occasions where my every move is watched,” he said.
“Ah, yes. I had nearly forgotten about your hypocritical devotion to following societal rules,” Bridget said.
He cast her a sly look, wondering if there was some deeper meaning behind her words. Was she going to use this occasion as another opportunity to embarrass him?
“Somehow, I suspect you did not forget at all. You are not nearly as…” He trailed off, trying to find a kind way of expressing what he meant.
“Aswhat?”
“As child-like as you pretend,” he said. “Sometimes, I feel as though youactmore naïve than you truly are.”
Bridget cast him an odd look, as if she was uncertain what to make of his words. “And why would I do that?”
“Because you want to vex me,” he said. “That much is obvious. But perhaps there is more to it. You are…cunning. Deceitful.”
Bridget laughed. “You make me sound dreadful.”
“Your behavior is improper.”
He could not honestly say that she wasdreadfulwhen her defiance set his blood ablaze.
“You believe that everything I do is improper,” she said.
He glanced at her. At the moment, Bridget looked very elegant with her hand placed at the crook of his arm. Thus far, she had not embarrassed him, and Bridget had ample opportunity to do so, given all the couples they had passed when they entered the gardens. Was this another game, an attempt to make him lower his defenses?
Or had the woman finally conceded defeat?
“Not everything,” Lewis said.
Regardless of what her motivations might be, Bridget was behaving herself, and he did not want her to believe that he was perpetually displeased. What incentive would she have to be aproper duchess if she truly thought that nothing would please him? Why, none at all, and he did not desire that.
“Oh?” Bridget asked. “What aspects of my characterdoyou like? I shall vanquish them at once.”
She tensed suddenly, her fingers tightening just a little on his arm. Lewis glanced ahead and saw Lady Susan and a few other ladies coming toward them.
His pulse quickened. “Do not let her irk you,” Lewis murmured.
Bridget’s smile appeared almost genuine. “Of course not, my dear husband.”
He straightened his spine, dreading the confrontation, but he supposed this was a good opportunity to determine if Bridget’s pleasant behavior would last.
Lady Susan and her companions halted a few feet away. “Your Grace,” Lady Susan simpered, offering a curtsey.
Lewis bowed. “Ladies.”
“I heard of your nuptials,” Lady Susan said. “I suppose that congratulations are in order.”
The ladies behind her murmured in agreement.
“It is a smart match,” Lewis said.
Bridget said nothing, but her thumb rubbed patterns on his arm. When he glanced at her, Lewis found that her smile had not wavered. If anything, her expression had softened and become more convincing. Had Bridget not been a lady, she might have made a splendid actress.
“And you are enjoying marital bliss?” Lady Susan asked.
