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“Of course, Your Grace,” the elderly woman curtsied. “Rest assured, she is in good hands.”

With that, Hector felt it was time for him to depart. After one last lingering look at his wife, he stepped away and climbed into the carriage.

“Well then, to Renton Hall.”

Watching Hector leave was difficult for Juliet.

She couldn’t tell if it was because they had grown so close in recent days and she had become attached to him and the future they were building together, or if it was merely because his farewell felt like one that meant they would be apart for much longer than either of them envisioned.

Still, she resolved to remain strong, determined to endure his absence as best as she could.

CHAPTER 33

“You have an invitation to an event, Your Grace,” Worthington said to her as soon as she returned to the house.

“I what?” she stuttered, trying to curb her emotions after watching Hector’s carriage roll out of sight.

“An invitation to an event,” the butler repeated gently, holding out the white envelope to her on a silver platter.

Juliet picked it up, immediately overwhelmed by the heavy floral scents wafting from the envelope, telling her that the host of this gathering was likely a woman. She was proven right when she opened it and read that she had been invited to a summer night soiree by Viscountess Newton. For a moment, Juliet stared at the invitation, unsure what to do.

“I am not certain if Hector will return in time to attend her event. Even if he has, he will likely still be exhausted from his journey”.

“Pardon me, Your Grace,” Estella stepped forward with a frown. “You cannot base your attendance on the Duke’s presence. You are his wife, and in situations such as these, you carry as much power as he does. You must attend this and every other soiree that comes your way. Otherwise, the Ton might think something is amiss.”

They already think so.

While she did not wish to make things worse, she did not feel confident in public amongst members of the Ton without her husband.

“Must I really? Surely, I can simply send a letter in response, thanking them and explaining that I cannot attend because I am ill or otherwise engaged.”

“The host will think you have something to hide, and it would only feed the rumors already circulating. You must not only attend this event, but you need to show that, regardless of what has been happening, you will not be shaken or distressed,” Estella stated firmly.

It seemed easy to imagine being an unmovable force in the face of all the rumors and flawed assumptions surrounding her marriage. Despite all the comfort Hector had provided her with before his departure, she still felt worried.

Why now, when our marriage has finally begun to work, are these awful whispers about us are circulating?

This recent development only added to the pile of worries she felt for the girls and sisters she had left behind at St. Catherine’s. She was in no mood to attend any social functions.

But with Hector away on business trying to secure their future, she needed to do something to support him. Perhaps if she told some of the ladies at these events that their marriage was fine and their past had no bearing on their present, it would assuage the concerns that the rumors were raising.

“All right,” Juliet conceded reluctantly. “I suppose I can attend on behalf of the Duke.”

“Excellent,” Estella nodded in approval then turned to address Leila, who had been lingering silently behind Juliet. “You shall begin preparations for her attendance at once. If Her Grace requires anything, you are to inform me as soon as possible, and I shall make arrangements to procure it.”

Juliet shot a concerned and overwhelmed look at Leila, but her maid simply smiled and nodded.

“Of course, Mrs. Harris. Our Duchess is in good hands.”

It was easy to trust them because there were no other viable options left for Juliet. As much as she had hopes and ideas to correct the many wrongs she wished to make right, her hands were invariably tied, and she had to wait for Hector’s return to institute them.

“All right then. I suppose I do not have any other option.”

Three days later, the carriage dropped her off at the Newton residence, the outside of which was already bustling with excited chatter.

If the atmosphere outside is anything to go by, it looks like it will be an entertaining evening.

With a deep breath Juliet walked inside, holding onto hope that the night would be the bearer of better things to come.