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He laughed again. “Do you wish to lead? It is not as easy as it looks.”

“No, no,” she said. “I know how much you like to...” She widened her eyes suggestively. “Lead.”

“That I do,” he grinned. “That I do.”

Diana held his eyes as he continued to lead her across the floor. She gave herself over, joking of course about his dancing skills, even impressed by how smoothly and effortlessly he guided her. In that way, it felt as if they were one, not two separate bodies dancing, but a perfect pairing sharing this space with themselves only.

A dozen other couples moved around them, but Diana had eyes for her husband only.

These last few days, Diana had felt herself falling for her husband. The other night especially, seeing how vulnerable he could be, was enough to confirm that this right here was a man whom she could fall in love with. Could being the operative word.

Seeing him stand up to her mother just now, the way he strode in from nowhere and protected her from the woman’s wrath without question, was the final straw. It proved that he was more than words, that he cared deeply for her, that this marriage had transcended its original mandate and transgressed into a true union of man and wife.

I am in love with my husband. What a glorious thing to be.

“Thank you, by the way,” Diana said, still staring into Magnus’ eyes.

“For?” he frowned.

“Just now,” she said. “Standing up to my mother as you did. That was... it was perfect.”

His smile was warm and embracing. “No one is to ever speak to you like that, Diana. Is that understood? I don’t care if the King of England tries to put you down. If I am with you, you will always be safe.”

And she believed him. Oh, how she did.

As they danced, Diana looked beyond the circle to the crowd of onlookers. Among them, she caught her mother and Evelyn watching them. Evelyn still looked forlorn, and that was a problem that she would need to deal with later. Something was wrong there, and she would not stand by and simply let her cousin be manipulated for reasons she could for now only guess at.

She caught her mother’s eye next, and most surprisingly, she did not look upset. Rather, she appeared proud, delighted by what she was seeing. And why wouldn’t she be? Her daughter, married to a duke, seemingly in love. It was every mother’s dream.

It made Diana think back to their conversation from a few days' past. A topic which Diana hadn’t thought much of but now, under the new circumstances, felt not only topical but paramount in importance. She and the duke had come so far lately. They had done so much. But there was one thing they were yet to do...

Diana felt her cheeks turn even brighter red and her heart began to race. Her stomach too, fluttered so that she felt sick. She wanted to not think about it, knowing at the same time if there was ever a night, a moment, to breech it, this was it.

And so, she took a deep breath, steadied herself, and met her husband’s eyes once more.

“M -- Mangus,” she stammered and then swallowed. “I have been thinking.”

“Oh?”

“About us.”

She felt him stiffen and he missed his step. But it was a small thing and soon he recovered. “Regarding?”

“I know it has only been a short time, but I feel that I am making great progress with you nieces. And I want you to know how deeply I care for them – as if they were my own. And that will not change. No matter what happens.”

He frowned. “And what might happen?”

“But they are not my own, nor are they yours.” She felt herself begin to sweat, the nerves peaking. “And it has occurred to me that... that... we have done so much together, lately, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. Still...” Her tongue began to swell inside her mouth.Why is this so hard!“There is one thing we have not done...”

His frown deepened and then his eyes turned wide. Again, he missed his step, this time slower to recover. Diana did not hurry him, not wishing to rush or pressure him. She wanted him to want this as much as she did.

“You are speaking of...” He began, trailing off suggestively.

“I believe you know exactly what I speak of.”

He swallowed and glanced about as if worried someone might hear. “You wish for me to take you to bed.”

“To make me your wife,” she corrected. “And...” A smile, one that was soft and loving because that was what this conversation should be. “And to produce an heir. If this marriage is more than one of convenience, is that not the entire point? Unless...” She looked away. “Unless I have mistaken what this is.”