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What would happen tomorrow, he could not say. But he could not have been gladder for how tonight had went and surely that said everything.

ChapterTwenty

“You look... breathtaking.” Only a few words were said, but they were more than enough.

Diana tried her best not to blush furiously at the compliment, and the way that her husband was looking at her. Surely, she was beyond such things by now? After all they had been through and all they had done, his reaction should not have only been expected, but welcome.

Even still, she felt her cheeks turn furiously red and she was forced to look away, focusing her attention back on the mirror as if to double check her outfit for herself.

“Somebody is shy,” Magnus chuckled. She saw him in the reflection, moving across the room and toward her.

“I certainly am not.”

“So, I didn’t see you blushing just now?”

“It is called make-up,” she dismissed, her cheeks turning an even further shade of red. “Despite what you may think, I do not always look like this.”

“Now that, I find hard to believe.”

She rolled her eyes at him in the reflection, but she wore a smile which she hoped he saw too, so he would know how much his words meant to her. A little over the top, sure, but that didn’t take away how wonderful they felt. Wonderful... just like this marriage.

Who could have guessed we’d come so far in such a short amount of time? And who could have guessed that everything would be so... so perfect? A word I hesitate to use, even if it feels so right.

It was beginning to feel like nothing could go wrong.

Even tonight, which had all the potential for unwanted drama and frustrations, had gotten off to a tremendous start. Although Magnus had not confirmed it during the day, Diana had suspected that, come this evening, he would join her at the Truscott Ball. After all, it was just two nights ago that they had spent the night together, still only cuddling, but that did not take away from the importance of the moment.

And since then, they had been near inseparable. Breaking their fast together each morning. Sharing supper of an evening. The girls too, always involved, while Magnus seemed delighted to see how well they were all getting along.

Things were progressing at a steady pace. Diana hadn’t tried to push Magnus any further on his personal life either. He had been open and honest with her once already, it had made a huge difference, and she knew that come time he would tell her more.

Needless to say, she wasn’t at all surprised to find him standing in the doorway of her room, dressed for the ball, acting as if he had always intended on joining her. And she might have said something too, but then he started to fawn over her and, well, Diana was happy to let his appreciation run its course.

“How long until we leave?” she asked, making a final check of her hair.

“The carriage is ready and waiting,” he said from behind her. Close now, he moved his hands to her hips and his lips went to her neck --

She slapped his hands away. “Not now.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “Do you know how long it took me to get ready?”

“Oh, so that is what you meant when you said you do not always look like this?”

She rolled her eyes at him.

The dress was a two-toned number; the corset being a deep green, the skirt a lighter shade, and with golden stitched hems. A floral pattern swirled its way up one side, while the sleeves were long, but the neckline and shoulders were low. In that way it was both modest and revealing, covering just enough, whilst some skin was still showing and her curves protruded in ways that had Magnus salivating.

Standing behind her but to the side, Diana smirked to see that he had chosen an outfit to match. Mostly black, his cummerbund was a dark emerald green and the buttons were golden much like the stitching of her dress. When they entered together, as indeed they would, all eyes would be on them, and everyone would know that this marriage was above reproach.

“Shall we?” Diana turned about.

“I think it is time.” Magnus cocked his arm and she linked hers with it. Then, she leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips. “Careful,” he said. “Do you have any idea how long it took me to get ready.”

“Oh, do you not always look like that?”

Together they laughed and made their way downstairs, sure to say goodnight to Josephine and Adeline on the way.

It was twenty minutes later when they arrived at Truscott Estate, one of the last to do so, based on the rows of carriages already parked about the grounds. Their carriage pulled up at the front entrance, Magnus climbed down and then helped her by lifting her about the waist. They linked arms again, wore smiles that were very much real, and as husband and wife, Duke and Duchess, they made their very first appearance in theton.

All eyes were on them as they entered the Ball Room.