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She shrugged. “I know you pretty well by now, you know.”

“Is that right?”

“Well enough to know that for reasons I cannot fathom, you are nervous. What’s the matter...” She winked. “Worried what people might say when they see us together?”

“They have seen us together already,” Duncan laughed, albeit with a hint of nerves.

“Not fighting, however. They might not know what to think.”

He laughed again. “That is one state of shock I am happy to bring about in others. Certainly nothing to be nervous about.” He swallowed noticeably, which he then cursed himself for.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “If you say so...”

Duncan smiled and shook his head and attempted his best to not look nervous. Even if he was. Even if he was so darn worried that he could feel the sweat dripping down his back and pooling under his arms.

It is going to be fine. I am sure that she is not even here. And if she is, even Juliet is not such a fool to make a scene. Is she?

It was the day of the Stoneside garden party and despite his protests, Duncan was attending if for no other reason than it made Isabella happy. Indeed, she had been at him these last three days, reminding him, prodding him, seeming to want him to argue and say he wasn’t going.

She knows. And she is trying to get me to confess.

But Duncan would not confess. If Juliet did attend, he would subtly pull her aside and tell her he was not interested. That would nip it in the bud and Isabella would never have to find out.

They arrived shortly before midday, breaching the back garden to dozens of pairs of eyes turned on them as if they were the guests of honor. A few waved. Many smiled. And Duncan kepthis composure as he swept his eyes across the back garden and over the guests... searching.

“Ah, there is my sister,” Isabella said. “And my mother.”

“Shall we say hello?”

She pushed her lips together. “No, I do not think so – later. Let us do the rounds first, shall we?”

“As you wish.”

For the first twenty minutes or so, Duncan and Isabella played the perfect couple and despite himself, Duncan found that he enjoyed it. It was a strange thing, having another on your arm, an extension of you it seemed, there to act as support for the mindless drivel and palaver that these little events tended to bring.

Even better was that Duncan found that he trusted Isabella.

He did not have to worry that she might say the wrong thing. He did not have to pay attention as she spoke, fearful that she would embarrass or anger him in any way. He knew her well by now, and he delighted in seeing the looks of both jealousy and approval in his contemporaries.

Throughout it all, Duncan’s mind was only half engaged. As they walked about the garden and said their hellos, he searchedand scoured for the one person who threatened to drive a knife through this day as if trying to murder it.

“Are you sure you are fine?” Isabella asked as they said their goodbyes to Count Wellington and his wife. “Your mind seems to be somewhere else?”

“Does it?” He forced himself to look at her. “Just... marveling in your beauty.”

She rolled her eyes, but he saw her smile to herself. It was a smile that delighted Duncan in ways that were new to him but not at all unfounded. Lately, bringing a smile to Isabella’s lips was one of his great pleasures and that as much as anything gave him courage for what he knew was about to come.

Indeed, no sooner was Isabella looking away as if embarrassed, did Duncan see none other than Juliet enter the garden.

Her eyes met Duncan’s, and they flashed delight. She licked her lips and smiled at him, and he felt his stomach sink.

This madness had to stop. He would not allow Juliet, or anyone else for that matter, to disturb this newfound peace he’d achieved. Especially, if it meant Isabella might get hurt or grow cold toward him again, as she once had.

“Ah... I need to visit the washroom, I am afraid.” Duncan pulled his arm free.

“Oh?”

“I will be right back. Perhaps it is time you spoke with your sister?”