Her gaze fell on Dominic. She couldn’t help it; the movement was natural. Though tempted to use his Christian name, she didn’t think it would be appropriate in front of everyone else. As he gazed at her, his head tilting just so, she wondered if he was pondering the same notion.
The girls were right. He really is a handsome man. I’m surprised he escaped the marriage-minded mamas to find me. Unless there was someone. Oh goodness. What if there was? What if he gave her up? What if he didn’t give her up?
Forcing those thoughts back, Verity swallowed. She didn’t know what to do with jealousy. It was best she didn’t think of such matters.
“I’ve been informed I’m not allowed to leave again until we play a game,” Lucien drawled. “Thus I have recruited a number of us to begin. What shall it be today? Cards? Charades?”
“Will Cassian return?” Elowen murmured too softly for anyone to answer, though Verity noted she should check on their brother later.
Octavia was clapping her hands together loudly. “Why stay inside on such a warm day? We shall play a game of bowls! Everyone outside. If enough of us depart, then I’m sure everyone will follow.”
She took off with Eve before Verity could provide any direction. Though Peter grunted at the elbow he received, none of the men protested. They all looked to her for guidance.
“Very well.” She supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. “I suppose we are to play a game. And then the party shall end. Do you know if there are any surprises?”
Her remaining siblings shook their heads.
A few guests were playing cards at one of the tables that had already been offered. They were the remaining foursome to remain behind while everyone else cheerfully strolled outside. Already Octavia and Eve were setting up half the game, so Verity gathered Lucien to set up the rest.
“Can I assist you at all?” Dominic offered before she led her brother off.
“Thank you, but no. Please enjoy yourself before the games begin,” she told him.
Down through the grass they went. The stone wall of the gardens would stop the balls from rolling too far. She worked with Lucien to set up the lines, bending and straightening and so on.
“You don’t seem eager to spend time with your husband,” Lucien muttered when he passed her.
Pausing, Verity frowned. “I beg your pardon? Do you still dislike him?”
“I never said that.” Lucien dropped a ball and Verity moved over to fix it. She gave him a look, causing him to shrug. “What? I don’t know what I think. He’s fine. I haven’t heard anything amiss about the duke. Only it doesn’t make any sense.”
“Marriage?”
“Your marriage to him,” he corrected.
That made her roll her eyes. “Who else should I marry, then? One of your foppish friends?”
“No. Maybe. I don’t know. I’m sure anyone would have had you. I could have asked for you. I could have blackmailed them, too,” he added with that wicked grin of his. Lucien loved a good jest.
But this was growing old. Frustrating. Verity didn’t like having to defend her marriage. It was too new and strange for herself. She wanted to be wary and to have other people reassuring her, not the other way around. Besides, she hadn’t asked for thisunion. This stemmed from Cassian. The one person who had disappeared an hour with no clear intention of returning.
She sighed. “It’s just a marriage. Proper as far as I can see. Just because you don’t like him…”
“I didn’t say I don’t. I haven’t made up my mind,” Lucien corrected her.
There wasn’t time to continue their discussion, or argument, as Octavia called them over. It turned out she was moving ahead with the game. She’d paired everyone up without them. This left Verity paired with Lucien, who let out a groan.
“Shouldn’t the bride be paired with her husband?” He pointed out.
“I don’t know,” Octavia remarked with a sheepish grin. “I hardly know what I’m doing now. But I think we’re all having fun. Or we will once the game begins!”
Although Verity attempted to catch Dominic’s eye, feeling as though she should apologize, he wasn’t facing her while he spoke with Peter.
The two of them appeared to be friends. Her guilt was mollified lightly by seeing he wasn’t alone. Together the gentlemen were jovial, Peter chuckling over something Dominic said. Perhaps her husband had some jokes up his sleeve.
Verity turned her attention back to the game as her turn with Lucien came up. She just wanted for this party to be over. There was a life to begin and secrets to discover. But until Eve and Octavia won, of course, and that was when Lucien nudged her whilst nodding to Dominic.
The duke was standing in the shade while speaking to Peter. She watched him a moment, thoughtful and then confused.
