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He shuddered inwardly as his tailor measured him for a new suit. The only consolation was that both Count Jacob and Lionel would be in attendance. If he had to suffer through the ball, at least he would not have to do so alone.

In any case, it could be a good opportunity to combine business with pleasure, as several of the gentlemen who had government connections would also be present.

He began to feel slightly better about the whole thing.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Georgiana was quickly finding the whole event extremely stressful. She had attended countless social events during the year that she had been a lonely duchess, yet none of them had filled her with the anxiety and pressure that she was feeling now.

Perhaps it was the thought of being in a public space with her husband for the first time. She was used to people looking askance at her, and she had become accustomed to pitying and contemptuous glances. That no longer bothered her.

She did not know how people would look at her now. Would they be jealous? Envious? Happy for her?

She was sure that whatever assumptions they made would result in mortifying her. They would think she was making some triumphant entrance when in truth she loathed the importance that was placed upon the presence of her husband.

If she was honest, she was also not looking forward to the covetous looks from other women. After their stroll in the park, her view of her husband changed dramatically. He was no longer the strange, irritating man to whom she was curiously drawn.

Now she realized his true magnetism, his height, the breadth of his chest, his ever-piercing eyes with their lining of black lashes, beckoning all womankind to draw near and bathe in the warmth of his gaze.

Georgiana felt overheated when she was near him. She wanted to preen and posture, show off her feathers like a peacock, and make him notice her andonlyher.

I have taken leave of my senses.

“Georgiana!” Daisy called from the hallway.

She stuck her head out of the library door. “Why are you shouting?” she asked her sister.

“I did not know which room you were in.” Daisy scurried towards her, giving her an urgent look. “We do not have much time. When will we visit the modiste to measure for our gowns?”

“Measure for gowns?” Georgiana frowned in puzzlement. “I have plenty if you need something to wear.”

“No, no, no,” Daisy jumped up and down in agitation, “we need new gowns. Georgie, this is important!”

Georgiana stared at her sister, nonplussed by her childish behavior. “What is amiss?”

Daisy shifted agitatedly from foot to foot. “This is the biggest ball of the year, Georgie. We must look our absolute best! You must summon the modiste at once.”

Georgiana choked back the urge to laugh. She had been attending balls the entire year without having gowns made for her. But if Daisy was this adamant, she supposed it would not do any harm.

“All right, all right. I shall write a note to Madam Frenier. Cecile swears by her,” she said, turning towards the table and reaching for a pen.

She quickly wrote a note on a foolscap, folded it, and sealed it before handing it to a footman.

“Deliver this as fast as you can. Tell her it is urgent, and that she needs to come right away. I shall pay for the inconvenience.”

The footman bowed. “Yes, Your Grace,” he said before dashing off.

Daisy clutched at Georgiana’s shoulder, squeezing urgently. “Do you think she will make haste?”

“She knows I shall make it worth her while. I am a duchess, after all.” She met Daisy’s eyes, lifting her chin. “Am I not?”

Daisy stopped staring after the footman and turned her attention to Georgiana. “Yes, you are.”

They smiled at each other before retiring to the library to wait.

CHAPTER 24

“What is taking them so long?” Robert grumbled.