Page 71 of The Wedding-Crashing Duchess

“You do seem a little… displeased.”

Ronan glanced across the table. Gregory was looking at him with such unconcealed interest that Ronan immediately regretted allowing the conversation to continue.

“I am accustomed to Gregory,” he said.

Gregory laughed softly. “You handle him remarkably well.”

Augusta, however, appeared to take the remark innocently. “I do not think His Grace requires handling. Although I have discovered that insisting upon an answer is often more effective than waiting for him to volunteer one.”

“That is valuable knowledge,” Gregory replied. “Ronan has perfected the art of remaining silent. You must never reward him for it.”

Ronan looked from one to the other. “You have known each other for an hour.”

“And already we have found common ground,” Gregory said.

Another laugh escaped Augusta, and Ronan felt his grip tighten around his wineglass.

Entirely ridiculous. He did not care whether Gregory entertained Augusta.

Why should he?

She was his wife, certainly, but theirs was not that sort of marriage. He had been very clear with her from the beginning that he expected nothing from her. He had asked for companionship, for friendship eventually, and for someone who might bring warmth into Sarah’s life. He had not married Augusta with the expectation that she would spend every moment looking toward him for amusement. And yet he suddenly resented how easily Gregory commanded her attention.

Ronan took a drink of wine.

Gregory’s eyes remained on him. If the man did not stop smiling, Ronan was going to ask the footmen to remove him.

The conversation might have continued in that same irritating vein had Gregory not changed the subject a few minutes later.

“I heard Temperance is preparing for the Hetherford ball,” Gregory said, turning toward Augusta. “She has been speaking of little else for the past week. I encountered Sedgewick yesterday.”

Augusta smiled. “She is very excited about it. She visited me earlier this week and informed me that I have been hidden away at Ravenhill long enough. Apparently, if I do not attend soon, people will begin inventing increasingly dramatic explanations for my absence.”

“Oh, they already have,” Gregory replied.

Augusta’s eyes widened. “They have?”

Gregory nodded, clearly enjoying the opportunity to relay society gossip. “Nothing especially interesting, I am afraid. Half of London believes you and Ravenhill are so besotted with one another that you refuse to leave the estate, while the other half believes you are already living in separate wings and communicating exclusively through solicitors.”

Augusta stared at him before laughing. “Surely not.”

“I exaggerate only slightly. Your marriage was hardly conventional, and people are naturally interested.”

Augusta’s amusement faded into something more thoughtful. “I suppose they would be. I had not really considered it. Everything happened so quickly that I have spent most of my time simply trying to understand my place here.”

Ronan looked at her. There was nothing unhappy in her tone, but he found himself listening more closely nonetheless.

Gregory asked, “And have you decided whether you will attend?”

“Yes,” Augusta replied. “I told Temperance that I would. Charity will be there as well, and Alethea mentioned that she intended to go. I think it will be pleasant to see everyone again, and I cannot remain hidden forever merely because people enjoy gossiping about us.”

“You are not hidden,” Ronan said.

Augusta turned toward him. “I simply mean that I have barely left the estate since we married, and that was my own choice as much as anyone’s. But I think I am ready to return to society now.”

Ronan nodded once.

Gregory, however, appeared to be considering something. “Then you must allow me to keep you company.”