“I do not know you well enough by far to…” He scoffed. “To offer you small gestures or intimate moments. Further to that point, how am I expected to show these people any of that? How would they notice such a thing.”
“That is the point though,” she pressed. “You should not have to show it off. Trying to do as much, only makes it seem more false.” She clicked her tongue, looked back toward the attendees, and an idea came to mind. “Here…” She took his hand again and guided him to follow her gaze. “Look at the couples here and tell me, who do you think is the most in love?”
“How can I possibly –”
“Just look!”
He sighed with exaggeration but did as she asked. Lucy did also, searching through them all, wondering if they would come to the same conclusion…
“There.” After a few moments, he pointed at an elderly couple who stood together, away from the rest. “They look rather happy, I suppose.”
“And why is that?”
“Well…” He exhaled sharply to make his point, but studied them, nonetheless. “They seem to be enjoying one another’s company, for a start. And… and the way that she laughs, even though he says nothing.”
“What is she laughing at?”
“He has food on his nose…” He laughed softly. “And she’s wiping it off, shaking her head. Now, he’s laughing, slapping away her hand. It is rather cute, I suppose.”
Lucy beamed. “Exactly. They are not bragging about their marriage. They are not shoving it in other people’s faces. They simply are, and that is enough – what? What are you looking at?”
Marcus folded his arms and looked down at her, his eyes narrowed in observation. “For one who claims to have not wanted to marry, ever, you seem to know an awful lot about love and romance. Very strange…” He cocked an eyebrow at her.
Lucy’s cheeks turned pink and she looked away. “My parents, is why. Before… before my mother died. They were happy, and it’s those small moments that I remember most.”
“I see.” He sighed and let his arms drop. “I think you are right, if it is any consolation.”
She laughed. “I always am.”
He rolled his eyes. “There is one more problem, however.”
“Which is…”
“How am I to make it appear as if I know you intimately if I know nothing about you? As you know nothing about me?”
To that, Lucy had no answer.
Was this yesterday, she would have been perfectly happy with the Duke knowing less than nothing about her. After all, was that not the point? Practical strangers, as this marriage was supposed to be. Only this time, now, she found that wasn’t what she wanted… not anymore.
She and Marcus would never fall in love. They would never be like that elderly couple who they watched just now. But that did not mean they couldn’t be companionable, even close… maybe friends, all things considered.
And why is that such a bad thing? We are set to spend our lives together, so why should we not get along?
That thought sent a warmth rushing over Lucy… which must have been the effects of the day’s sun. Yes, that’s what it was…
“Why don’t we change that?” She offered her his hand.
He eyed it skeptically. “What does that mean?”
“We still have all day, do we not? Plenty of time to spend together and learn what we can? And if anyone asks, we are still just married, still figuring one another out. There is nothing wrong with that for newlyweds, as far as I know.”
Marcus grinned and he took her hand. Once again, she felt it burn where he touched her, as she felt her skin break out into goosebumps…
“Let us be about it then,” he said. “Oh, and Lucy…” He stopped her from walking ahead, forcing her to look right at him. “Thank you. Truly, you did not have to help. Nor did you have to care about any of this. So, again, thank you.”
“Any time,” she said back with a warm smile that she felt in her heart.
This was not a typical marriage. It was never meant to be. But that did not mean it couldn’t be successful, at the very least companionable, and as Lucy and Marcus returned to the gathering, Lucy wore a smile that was very real. She looked forward to what was to come, and from the way that Marcus held her hand and pulled her close, she was certain he was of the exact same mind.
