Page 81 of The Wedding-Crashing Duchess

The laughter disappeared.

Augusta’s voice softened. “I told him I was not. He seemed… concerned by the possibility. More than I expected.”

Charity’s expression became thoughtful. “Considering what he told you about his first wife, I suppose he would be.”

“Yes.” Augusta looked down at her hands. “I think I understood that afterward. He was not offended exactly. He seemed afraid that he had repeated something without realizing it.”

Alethea said quietly, “And you reassured him?”

“I tried. I told him he had done nothing to frighten me. I meant it.”

Temperance’s tone softened as well. “Good.”

Augusta nodded. “Then he noticed something on my face. I must have had a little chocolate near my mouth from dessert. He tried to tell me where it was; I kept missing it, and eventually he came closer to wipe it away himself.”

Temperance’s eyes brightened again.

Augusta ignored her.

“I moved, and he put his hand around my waist to steady me.”

Charity smiled, and Alethea’s expression shifted into immediate understanding.

Temperance looked as though she might burst.

Augusta gave them all a warning glance. “If any of you laugh, I am leaving.”

“Nobody is laughing,” Charity said.

Temperance looked pained by the effort.

Augusta continued. “I gasped. He thought he had frightened me, so he started to pull away. But then he looked at me and realized that was not why I had reacted.”

“How did he realize?” Alethea asked.

Augusta looked at her, and Alethea’s smile deepened.

“You were blushing.”

Charity laughed and squeezed Augusta’s hand. “And then?”

Augusta’s embarrassment returned so strongly that she considered inventing an interruption. Perhaps the shop might catch fire. Perhaps the king might arrive.

Nothing obliging occurred. “He told me to look at him.”

Alethea gave Augusta a slow, knowing smile.

Augusta immediately became defensive. “Do not all look at me like that.”

“Like what?” Charity asked.

“As though something extraordinary happened.”

Temperance stared. “Your enormous, terrifying husband put his hand around your waist, discovered you were blushing because he was touching you, and told you to look at him. Augusta, you cannot possibly expect me to behave as though you just described him handing you a cup of tea.”

“He is not terrifying.”

Charity rescued her again. “What happened when you looked at him?”