“Before you go,” he called after her.
She turned quickly, almost as if she was expecting it. “Yes?”
“I…” He hesitated, nerves getting to him. But he looked down at Olivia who was still beaming, and that gave him strength. “Next week, I have been invited to a garden party—one I intend to attend.”
“Oh…”
“And I was wondering if you would like to join me.” He found his breathing was heavy, his body trembling. “As husband and wife, we ought to be seen about the ton together, and I thought this might be… fun.”
“Fun?” She tilted her head in mock amusement. “I did not know you knew the meaning of the word.” His face dropped and she laughed. “I would love to attend. And thank you for asking me.”
“You are welcome.”
She smiled at him, and he smiled back. They held that smile across the room, and for reasons that Ronan could not explain, it was not awkward at all. In fact, it felt perfectly natural, right in a way he would have never expected. He could see how happy she was at having been asked, and that made him happy in return.
Thalia left quickly after that, dragging Olivia from the room. Ronan was left alone once more, only this time it did not feel as if he was. Alone in the room perhaps, but not in this world. Not anymore.
Fifteen
Thalia was used to being spoken about and looked at when she attended public functions. Since her return to high society, such things were commonplace. And when she and Ronan walked into the back garden of Highmoor Estate, she was not in the least bit surprised to find that almost immediately the attention found her as if her arrival had been announced.
Only this time, it felt different.
She walked with her arm linked through Ronan’s. And through him, she felt a surge of confidence that was unlike anything she had experienced before. He was a tall and physically imposing specimen, powerful in his presence, demanding in his gait, and by his side it was as if a wall had been erected around the two.
Thalia felt safe and protected like she had never known. The guests turned and stared as they entered. The whispers began and she saw more than one smirk of derision crossing a pairof lips. But with the duke beside her, protecting her, she hardly even noticed it.
“Try not to let it bother you,” Ronan said as if he could read their minds. “I assure you, I am the one whom they are staring at.”
“Oh, I wasn’t,” she said. As she did, she looked up and smiled so he would see it was true. “I hardly even noticed it.”
He laughed darkly. “I wish I could say the same.”
Thalia frowned at the comment, surprised that one as assured of himself as the duke would care for such things. That he would even notice. But perhaps that was part of the reason he hid himself away as he did. It was not because he did not care… but because he cared a little too much.
“Do you know what I think?” she said, keeping her arm linked.
“What?”
“That they are jealous.”
He scoffed. “Somehow, I doubt that.”
“And why not?” she continued rightly. “The way people act toward others is often an extension of their own failings. And when they saw us walking in here as they have, arm in arm, they realized that they do not have what we do.”
“And what is that?”
Thalia could not help but smile as a thought came to mind. “As far as they are concerned or aware, a happy marriage which should be the envy of the ton.”
Ronan snorted. “Is that what we are?”
She shrugged. “They do not know otherwise. Besides, is that not the point of today? To present ourselves as if such a thing was true.”
“I…” He bit into his lips, eyes flashing around the large garden. “I suppose it is.”
“Then let us do just that.” She reached over and rested her hand on top of Ronan’s, which was still linked through her arm. “Let us give them something worth the gossip.”
It was subtle, but she could have sworn that she felt Ronan relaxing as they continued down the garden path. Indeed, the guests continued to eye them warily and with curiosity, but the judgement lessened considerably. He stood taller, she matched it. He raised his chin, and she did the same. And when she smiled, out the corner of her eye she saw him return it.
