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“Yes,” Evelyn said meekly. “And I am sorry.”

“Mother,” Diana spoke up. “I am sorry, but has it occurred to you that Evelyn does not wish to be courted by Lord Herrod?

“Excuse me?” her mother turned on her.

“Do not act so surprised,” Diana continued. “I have seen them together for less than five minutes and it is as clear as day that Evelyn is not happy.”

“Is that so?”

“Tell her, Evelyn?” Diana looked to her cousin for support, expecting her to speak up finally. Before she got the chance, her mother cut in.

“Diana, I appreciate that you are concerned for your cousin’s welfare, but have you stopped to consider the very real fact that this is none of your business.”

Diana leaned back, shocked. “What?”

“You heard me well enough,” her mother said. “You might not have wished to marry Lord Herrod – you made that perfectly clear. By the grace of God only, you were able to find a better option. Your cousin does not have that luxury.”

“Yes, but still, that does not mean she needs to be forced --”

“Nobody is forcing anything,” her mother spoke over her. “And I do wish that for once in your life you would mind your own business.”

“And I wish that you would not speak to my wife like that.” Stepping in beside her, Magnus appeared. A hand on her waist, he stood tall and proud and powerful. It was enough to see Diana’s mother shift back as if the sun had been shone in her eyes.

“Your Grace, I was just saying --”

“I heard well enough,” Magnus continued, his tone warning. “Yes, Diana may be your daughter, but she is my wife, and I suggest the next time you plan on speaking to her in that manner, ask if it is a tone befitting of a duchess.” He looked down at Diana’s mother, who suddenly looked lost for words. “And then simply don’t.”

Diana was rendered momentarily speechless. Never in all her life had she seen someone stand up to her mother like that. And never in all her life had she imagined it to be so successful.

And it wasn’t just that he was standing up to her mother, but that he was standing up for her. He had no idea what the conversation concerned. For all he knew, Diana had started it. But he stepped in nonetheless, putting himself firmly in her corner, acting as any husband ought to. Truly, Diana didn’t think she had ever found the man so attractive as right then.

“Good,” he said with a firm nod. Then he offered Evelyn a smile. “And Miss Goldsmith, how are you this evening?”

“I am...” She smiled politely. “Very well, Your Grace.”

“And I love to hear it. Now, I do not wish to interrupt but I am afraid I need to steal my lovely wife from you both. Diana...” He looked down at her. “Would you care for a dance?”

To that, Diana had just the one thing to say. “Try and stop me.”

ChapterTwenty-One

“Ishould have known,” Magnus chuckled as the two began to waltz together across the dance floor.

“Known what?” Diana asked.

He grinned. “That dancing was yet another talent that you possessed. I might need to take lessons.”

Diana blushed furiously at the compliment, which might have seemed strange as it was nothing over the top, certainly not when compared to some of the other compliments he had paid her recently. But then she knew that the reason she was blushing was only half-to-do with his kind words, and mostly to do with how she was starting to feel concerning her husband. A man whom she now knew herself to be in love with.

“I’m not so sure lessons will help,” she said sheepishly, forcing herself to meet his eyes, not caring one little bit how red her cheeks had grown.

“How do you mean?”

“When it comes to dancing, some of us simply have it, and others do not.” She raised an eyebrow at him as he guided her across the floor. “And you, husband, sadly, do not.”

He chuckled at the cheek. “Careful now, people are watching. You do not wish to anger me, do you?”

“I had no idea you were so sensitive where your dancing prowess was concerned. Or lack thereof.”