The question thus became, how could she bring this side out?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
It was a clear night, the moon sat full in the dark sky, and its light shone through the carriage window so that Rose felt as if she were glowing from it. Her skin sparkled. Her eyes glimmered. And the great big emerald-encrusted necklace that sat nestled on her chest shone like the green flame of a candle.
And all the while, her husband, Christopher, sat across from her, watching with a knowing smile and green eyes that matched the shine of her necklace.
“What?” Rose asked awkwardly.
“Hhmm?” the Duke said.
“What are you looking at?”
They had been sitting in silence since they left the manor. It was not a tense silence, nor was it awkward. Now that Rose and herhusband were getting to know each other better, they could be together without falling into such tense states.
But that did not mean they had found complete comfort. While the Duke was no longer as severe or emotionally distant as he had once been, he was certainly not jovial. He still refrained from smiling outwardly. He was still careful not to laugh or let down his guard. He was still so stiff, and everything he said, every action taken, seemed weighed and measured beforehand.
I sense that tonight will be no different. Surrounded by our peers, our first time out together, no doubt I am going to be treated to the falseness and the feigned adoration.
It was a start, at least, and Rose was grateful for it. But it was nowhere near enough.
“I was just noticing the necklace,” he said simply. “It suits you.”
“Oh.” Rose blushed and had to resist the urge to fondle the necklace. “Thank you again for buying it for me.”
“I was happy to,” he said. Then he paused for a moment, his eyes moving over her, drinking her in. He licked his lips, she saw something pass behind his eyes, and she braced for it. “It really does suit you.”
Rose’s heart dropped because she had thought for a moment that he was about to be real with her. Maybe he was even going to tell her how good she looked.
No… he won’t do that. Not until there is someone around to hear it.
Still, Rose was careful not to appear downtrodden. In her mind, she was convinced she did not want his compliments or his fawning. All she wanted right now was the real him, and that looked to be a price too high.
They rode the rest of the way in silence. The odd shared smile. The odd moment when it looked like something was on her husband’s mind. But he was so damn careful to keep his feelings and thoughts hidden. And Rose, ever the stubborn one, wasn’t going to push him.
All that changed when they arrived.
It started with Christopher insisting that he be the first one from the carriage, so that he could offer her a hand to help her climb down. And this time, it was offered without seeming as if it were done as a favor.
“Thank you,” she said with a gentle smile.
“I wasn’t certain you would accept my help this time,” he responded with a wry smile.
There were already dozens of carriages parked around the driveway of the Winchester Estate, and from them walked scores of guests. A few, Rose recognized, many she did not, but theyall seemed to know her. And most especially, they all knew her husband.
“Your Grace!” from the darkness, an elderly lord and his wife walked together, arm in arm. They smiled as they approached. “Lovely to see you here.”
“Ah, Lord Eastvale,” the Duke crooned. “How are you this evening? And your lovely wife?” He released Rose’s arm and swept toward the elderly lady, taking her hand and giving it a kiss. “You look ravishing.”
“Oh my,” the elderly lady gushed.
“Please,” the Duke was quick to return to Rose, where he took her hand and led her to meet the lord and lady. “Allow me to introduce you to my wife, Her Grace, the Duchess.”
“It is a pleasure.”
“Lovely to meet you.”
“As it is you,” Rose said with a slight smile.
