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"Indeed," Olivia replied with a small smile, taking a measured sip of soup. "I was at the ball attempting to avoid a marriage to a man I had no intention of marrying; therefore, I made myself scarce. James happened to come upon me and we had a good conversation."

Louiza coughed suspiciously into her napkin, and Olivia resisted the urge to laugh.

Lady Midton leaned closer. "And that was when you first knew the duke?" she asked, her voice lowering conspiratorially.

"Indeed. That was when I met him," Olivia corrected, allowing herself a faint smile. "Knowing him came considerably later."

Lady Midton laughed, delighted, while Louiza shook her head with an affectionate expression. Olivia could not help enjoying herself a little. If Lady Midton wanted gossip, she would give her the truth. There was no reason to invent romantic nonsense when the actual story was far more entertaining.

By the time the second course was served, Olivia had learned enough about Lady Midton to know that she was almost certainly the town's chief source of information. She knew which gentleman had argued with his brother, which young lady had received three proposals, which household had dismissed its butler, and which family had been seen travelling north without explanation.

Good heavens.

Olivia thought as servants replaced the first course with roast beef, chicken, potatoes, vegetables, pies and various sauces.

If I tell her anything, James' entire duchy will know by Sunday.

"And how did the proposal occur?" Lady Midton asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Olivia glanced toward James again, wondering whether he could somehow sense danger from the other end of the table. He was listening to Lord Nichols, apparently unaware that his wife was preparing to become the evening's greatest entertainment. Olivia smiled slowly and decided that if Lady Midton wished to gossip about her, she would at least have facts worth repeating.

"Well," Olivia said, accepting a serving of roast from the footman, "there was nothing to it really. We met, and a few days later he came to Charnley Manor to propose."

Lady Midton stared at her for one fascinated second before laughing outright. "Your Grace, you must tell me everything," she insisted, reaching for her wineglass.

Olivia smiled across the table, already certain that by tomorrow morning half the county would know that the Duchess of Glenmore had not arrived through an ordinary courtship.

"I shall," Olivia promised, lifting her glass, "but I warn you, Lady Midton, the truth is considerably ordinary. He was in need of a wife. The timing was simply right. He is not one for courtship and I was suitable enough."

I will not tell her everything, of course, but only a few small details to satifsy her curiosities.

As laughter travelled around their end of the table, Olivia felt some of the tightness leave her shoulders. Perhaps she could do this after all. Perhaps being James' duchess did not require her to become someone else. She only needed to be herself, and somehow, with James watching her from the other end of the table and Louiza beside her, that suddenly seemed possible.

At last, supper came to an end, and Olivia was beginning to believe she might survive the evening without disgracing herself when James appeared at her side.

He leaned close enough that only she could hear him and said quietly, "You should announce that we are to retire to the billiards room for refreshments and games."

Olivia stared at him in disbelief, her eyes widening. "Me?" she whispered, glancing toward the assembled guests as though he had just suggested she address Parliament.

James's mouth twitched with restrained amusement as he answered, "It is your house, wife."

The word sent a shiver through her every time he used it.

Wife.

It still sounded impossible, intimate and strange, as though the title belonged to another woman entirely and yet somehow belonged to her.

Olivia drew a breath and straightened her shoulders. If James believed she could do it, then she would at least attempt to prove him right.

She turned toward the room, where conversations had begun to rise again as servants cleared the final dishes, and lifted her voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she announced, trying desperately not to sound as though she had rehearsed the words in her head six times, "I believe we have lingered at the table quite long enough. If you would be so kind as to join us in the billiards room, there will be cards, games, refreshments and, naturally, brandy and cigars for those who wish it."

A murmur of approval swept through the room almost immediately, followed by several delighted smiles and agreeable remarks. Olivia blinked, pleasantly surprised that nobody had laughed at her.

Well. I had not fainted, stumbled, or accidentally ordered anyone to leave the house. That must count as success.

James came to her side as the guests began moving toward the adjoining room, and he offered his arm.