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“Is there a theme of any kind?” he asked.

Alicia hesitated. She had not expected him to engage in the discussion.

“Lady Heartland favors an autumnal color palette, but it is not a strict dress code. Of course, that makes it all the more difficult to interpret.”

The Duke nodded. He lookedinterested.

Alicia stared at him in confusion before rallying. She bit her lip as his eyes slowly followed the line of the feather up to its tip.

“One would not wish to look like all the other ladies,” she added, leaning into the details of the topic. “And if one makes the faux pas of wearing dark colors, one would stand out terribly at such occasions. Many ladies favor pastels, particularly in the springand summer months, but an autumn theme at this time of year? It does cause issues.”

“Have you advised her on what she should wear? I know that ladies often ask their friends for their opinions on such matters. You clearly have a…” He coughed. “Special take on fashion.”

Alicia chewed on her cheek to keep from smiling, and picked up her glass, trying to ignore the mirth in his eyes.

“I told her that she has always looked beautiful in fawn colors. I cannot wear browns, for I am too pale, but Katie has a natural tan and freckles on her cheeks. Her dark brown hair has streaks of copper, too. Ochre or light brown would complement her complexion.”

Seth nodded, taking a sip from his glass. “I think you are mistaken.”

She raised her eyebrows. “In what, Your Grace?”

He frowned at her, and she could not help but laugh. She was still getting used to calling him by his Christian name.

“In what way am I mistaken,Seth?” she corrected, a shiver running through her at the satisfaction in his gaze.

“That you cannot wear brown or fawn. I have never seen you look plain or pale in anything, not even that… rather large headpiece.”

“It is a feather.”

“I am aware of that, but somehow it still suits you, even when you are weighed down by it, almost into your soup bowl.”

Alicia rolled her eyes, a smile spreading across her face against her will.

With a sigh, she pulled the feather off her head and laid it down on the table. A footman quickly came to retrieve it and walked away, as if he were keen to never lay eyes on it again.

“I confess it was larger than I imagined it would be.”

“If the buzzard drops any from his nest, I shall make sure to bring you some,” her husband said teasingly, and the tension between them vanished as if it had never been.

Seth had never had such fun at dinner before. Indeed, he rarely had such entertaining company.

Alicia was extremely funny, with a dry wit, and seemed entirely aware of her foibles.

The dress she had worn to dinner was madness personified, but Seth did not mind. Its cut had drawn his eye to her enticing breasts, and he had found it difficult to focus on anything else for most of the meal.

She is clearly trying to prove a point; I just have to work out what it is.

After the initial stiffness, he found her extremely easy to talk to. She seemed surprised by his interest in her friends, but he did not have many female acquaintances and found the gossip that spun around her small group very entertaining.

Lucas, Michael, and Isaac were diverting enough, but he had never invited them to dinner at the manor. Alicia’s lively personality had him rethinking that decision, wondering if he should make more of an effort with his friends.

I owe them so much and give them so little.

The thought left an unease in his gut that he could not shake, and he concentrated on Alicia’s lively chatter to distract himself.

“Bridget was furious,” Alicia was saying. “She does not allow others to speak down to her friends, and she ‘accidentally’ tripped him up during a waltz and made him fall over, upending a bowl of punch all over his head.”

The strange gloom that had spread through him at the thought of his friends was instantly chased away as he chuckled.