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The irony of his anger at the situation was not lost on him. It seemed Alicia had acted exactly as he had—abandoning their guests for a moment of solitude.

As he considered going to find her and dragging her out of wherever she was hiding, she appeared at the door to the gardens, flanked by her two friends.

They were whispering together like schoolgirls, and Seth’s fists clenched as her gaze met his. Her spine straightened, chin rising to the air before she walked past him toward a group of guests by the long table in the center.

The nerve of the woman.

He followed her, conscious of many eyes on them, and gently took her arm. “Where were you?” he asked.

Alicia fixed him with a cold look.

“I was with Lady Bridget and Miss Hill in the gardens,” she stated matter-of-factly. She pursed her lips as she ran her eyes over him. “Did you miss me, Your Grace? I wonder how you noticed my absence, considering you have been gone for a great length of time yourself.”

Seth clenched his jaw. “I was attending to some business,” he muttered.

Several curious glances were cast their way. This was not how newlyweds usually behaved; Alicia’s stance was positively hostile.

“Oh yes? And what ‘business’ were you taking care of?”

Seth grimaced at her tone, trying to think up a reasonable answer to her question, but she did not give him the chance.

She scoffed scornfully. “If you will excuse me, Your Grace. I really should see to our guests. One of us should consider them, after all.”

She stalked away, leaving him tongue-tied, his mouth hanging open like a fool.

My new Duchess is proving to be more trouble than I had bargained for. Beautiful trouble, but trouble nonetheless.

“Enjoy your wedding night, my friend,” Michael said as he staggered down the path.

Seth stood at the carriage door, ensuring that his friend got home safely.

Michael had finished a bottle of brandy by himself and was struggling to remain upright.

Seth thought he might have to catch him, but Lucas appeared at his side and wrapped an arm around his waist to steady him.

After some scuffling, cursing, and a great deal of laughter, Michael was safely tucked in his carriage, and Seth slapped the side as the final guest left.

He waved to Lucas and Isaac, who were traveling back together, and watched them fade into the darkness, listening to the horse’s hooves until he was left alone, standing in the moonlight.

Glancing up at the lit windows on the first floor, his eyes found Alicia’s bedchamber, where a candle flickered on the windowsill.

He froze as he spotted a silhouette on the window seat, her head bowed, looking as if she were reading a book.

What must she think of me after my behavior today? Perhaps she is relieved that I have confirmed all of her worst fears.

He wandered back to the house, listening to the quiet and allowing himself a moment of rest.

The wedding had been more exhausting than he had anticipated, and Alicia had done the brunt of the work with the guests.

Apart from a brief wander in the gardens, where she had walked around the flowerbeds with her friends, she had barely paused for breath.

Isaac was correct—she smiled a great deal. But it never seemed to reach her eyes. Seth had watched her most of the afternoon, noting the distance between her and her father.

His wife’s relationship with her sister was clearly excellent and filled with affection, but whenever the Earl approached her, it was either to give her an order or introduce her to a guest.

By the end of the evening, Seth had begun to find him… galling.

The Earl didn’t appear to be interested in anything to do with his daughter except what she could do for him. Considering how intelligent and accomplished she was, his attitude was surprising.