Adelaide felt like she was betraying herself, but she knew better than to say something that her mother-in-law would not like to hear. There was nothing to be gained in saying that she wanted more than the cold, loveless marriage Cassian expected. Not to someone like the Dowager Duchess.
The woman opened her mouth to say something more, when Cassian stepped into the room. She sat back, her mouth closing. Cassian did not look at her. Instead, he looked directly at Adelaide.
“We have received an invitation,” he announced.
“A ball?” she asked.
He shook his head. “It arrived this morning—a sealed letter from Westminster.”
Adelaide did not know what to say to that, but she had a feeling that it was something bad.
Cassian seemed almost pained as he told her about it. His mother, on the other hand, was looking at them both triumphantly, as though she had been expecting it.
“Is everything all right?”
“Technically speaking, yes. A new bill affecting several northern estates has been proposed, and because Ashford is involved, you and I are expected to attend a public presentation at Somerset House.”
“A presentation?” Adelaide echoed. “I… I have only been to one, and that was when I was presented to Her Majesty.”
“And how was that?”
“It was fine enough,” she replied, remembering the day rather fondly. “She said that I was pretty. A most gracious remark.”
“Then you will be prepared for what is ahead. Mother, if I may, I need a word with my wife.”
“Anything you can say to her, you can say to me.”
“Anything?” he asked. “Are you suggesting that anything appropriate for husband and wife is appropriate for mother and son?”
The Dowager Duchess shot him a disgusted look and scurried out of the room.
Despite the humor Adelaide found in it, she was confused as to why he had spoken to her mother in that way. It was unlike him.
“You seem more willing to tell her how you feel than usual.”
“You may not have noticed, but I am at my wits’ end with her. Sometimes I can hide that, sometimes I cannot. And when I need to have a discussion with you, I do not have time for her.”
She accepted that.
He explained what would happen. It would be a formal gathering of landowners, politicians, and investors. Not a ball, not a soirée, but something far more serious, and far more scrutinized. They had to be perfect, especially as they were newlyweds.
And, for the first time since the wedding, they needed to present a united front.
“But that…” Adelaide trailed off. “That is not what you wanted.”
“At home, yes, but this is different. We must pretend that we are basking in marital bliss if we are to be taken seriously.”
“And what are these laws, exactly?” she asked.
He raised an eyebrow at her. “I was not aware that you would need to know.”
“It would be preferable. I would hate to appear uneducated, especially when this will be their first impression of me, for the most part.”
Once again, approval flashed in his eyes.
Adelaide wanted to say that it did not matter what he thought of her, and that she did not act to please him, but there was no denying the satisfaction she felt when he liked what she said or did.
“Very well.” He nodded. “But I shall explain in the carriage. We are to attend now.”
