Always a touch cynical about Society, even Leonie was shocked at how quickly the ideas she had planted in Willa’s and Cassandra’s heads made the rounds of the gossips. It seemed everyone knew and accepted that Leonie and Rochdale had known each other at another time.
“Swept her off her feet,” some said.
“A love lost, and yet found again,” others whispered.
“They were meant to be together,” seemed to be the verdict.
If Roman knew Society had declared him love struck, he gave no indication to Leonie. Although, she had to admit, he did play his part of attentive suitor well, especially in front of others, and they were never alone.
From the moment the notice appeared in the papers, Leonie had callers. Her mother’s friends crowded around her, offering sage pieces of marital advice. Mothers brought their debutante daughters to bask in Leonie’s good fortune, and to pick up tidbits of new information. Gossip opened doors amongst theton. Even her father’s business associates made perfunctory calls to wish her well.
There was no topic too personal. Leonie found herself listening to long-winded stories of the most intimate nature. When she said as much to her mother, she was assured it was much, much worse when one was pregnant with child.
“You will run from the house in horror,” her mother promised.
Leonie didn’t answer that she would run nowhere because she had no desire to have children. That was a conversation no daughter should have with her mother—or a father who now made it very clear he couldn’t wait for her to give him a grandson. It was all he could wax on about.
She began to believe she had liked her father better when he ignored her.
Roman called precisely at half past three every day.Bothof her parents were there to receive him. It was as if they had decided to transform into the parents they should have been.
Her father, the least political creature in the world, made a huge pretense of discussing with Roman the details of whatever issue was before Parliament. Leonie noted that Roman did have good ideas. He took his responsibilities to his title seriously.
Her mother seemed to enjoy telling Roman of her plans for the elaborate wedding breakfast that would follow the simple, private ceremony. Her parents were intent on making the breakfast a Society event. Leonie wondered if the house could hold all the people they had invited.
Of course Roman was her escort for the evenings’ balls and routs. But her mother or her father were there as well. Her mother did not come in one door and duck out the next to meet a lover. They both behaved as if they were overjoyed Roman would be taking Leonie off their hands.
For her role, Leonie gave the appearance of being shy and dutiful. She always made certain she didn’t have any brandy on her breath when Roman called. She also smiled and performed as expected, something she’d done all her life, but whenever she had the opportunity to catch him alone, whether it was in the middle of the dance floor or while he was helping her into the coach, she would hurriedly whisper, “Do you accept my terms for this marriage?”
He was quite adept at evading the question while still playing the role of attentive swain.
However, there were signs he would not let her have the life she wanted. His gaze rarely met her eye. They traveled though receiving lines side by side and yet they were as far apart as strangers. Even when they danced, he could look past her while giving the impression he was paying attention.
Willa and Cassandra thought him very charming. There was more than a little envy in their voices, especially since no one had seen the Duke of Camberly at any of the latest social events. It was as if he had disappeared from London and Cassandra, especially, was downcast.
Leonie didn’t worry about the duke. She was busy wondering what game Roman played. She knew when a man found her attractive. She would have staked the dining silver that he wanted her. She’d seen signs of it that first evening at the marquis’s ball, and yet now, he acted somewhat disinterested.
Oh, he was polite. Gentlemanly. She caught other women watching him, saw their jealous glances at the way he deferred to her opinion or ensured she was included in conversations. Her mother might have been the most envious of all.
What they didn’t understand, and Leonie knew, was how practiced she and Roman were at only showing what they wanted others to see. It seemed as if they had already lived a lifetime this way. Marriage was just another milestone in the devil’s bargain they had made the night she’d eloped with Arthur.
The night before their marriage, over a family dinner for fifty that included relatives who had traveled to take part in the wedding festivities, Leonie’s aunt Ida asked Roman what his plans were for his and Leonie’s future.
“We shall go to Bonhomie, my family seat,” he said. He didn’t look at Leonie as he spoke because he obviously knew she would not be happy—and she wasn’t.
He was not going to honor her request for a separate life. She was going to have to be a wife to him. Worse, she was going to be buried in the country, never to be seen or heard from again.
She looked around the table. Everyone acted as if his was a capital plan, and she could almost hate him for maneuvering her to where she did not want to be. She smiled, she pretended, and she was furious.
Either he feared her reaction to his plans for them. Or her opinion did not matter.
Her only solace was that, now that she was to be married, she was allowed wine with dinner and she took full advantage of the luxury, using it to dull her quiet fury.
Roman left early. After all, it was the night before the wedding. Leonie was happy to see him go. She spent the rest of the evening in the upstairs study with cousins. One of them brought a bottle of wine. Leonie was pleased to imbibe. She told herself she needed something to help her deal with Roman’s deceit. She was certain he had known from the beginning he was going to take her to his estate, wherever that was. Being angry with him helped her deal with the apprehension that Roman expected her to be a wife in every way.
And then he would know the full truth of that terrible incident with Arthur.
She held out her glass for a bit more wine. Someone mentioned needing another bottle...
