Page 26 of His Temporary Duchess

A tempting proposition if ever there was one. But she would have to do the thing carefully, provoking his jealousy in subtle ways, without doing anything to make thetonassume their marriage was an unhappy one. Or worse, make him suspect that she was doing this deliberately. It would only work if he believed she genuinely preferred the company of others over his own, with no consideration given to him at all.

One way or the other, she would tempt him to her.

With her reticule dangling over one wrist, she descended the stairs to where he waited a little impatiently. Although she had been ready in time, she had gone out of her way to dawdle a few more minutes, so he was certain to be in the hallway waiting for her. That way, he could better appreciate the sight of her coming down the stairs.

“There you are,” he drawled, turning as he heard her approach. “New rule. When I give you a time to be ready, my girl, you will adhere to it, or—” He broke off as he saw her. His brows furrowed, and she saw his throat bob with a swallow.

There it was. The admiration that she had so hoped he would feel, there and gone in a flash.

“I truly apologize, Ravenscroft,” she said, lowering her head and resting one gloved hand lightly on his arm as she reached his side. “I merely wanted to look my best for the evening ahead. I know we are to be putting on a good performance for all our acquaintances.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “You are being remarkably complacent about the fact.”

“Why not? I am attending a ball as a Duchess.” She smiled up at him. “You may think it of no consequence, but I certainly do.”

“The Lord help me,” he muttered as he took her to the carriage and handed her inside. “I did not think you were one of the ladies who aspired to marry the greatest title they could find.”

“I aspired to nothing, but you bestowed the honor on me, and I think it would be unfair of me not to make the most of it.”

“And if I had not married you?”

“Well, then I probably would have been stuck under my stepmother’s thumb for the rest of my life,” she said serenely. Admitting to that now she was married felt like no difficult thing. “She would never have allowed me to meet an eligible gentleman. Perhaps if she felt she was spending too much on my upkeep, she might have found a modest match for me. Someone unimportant, so I did not outshine her daughters.”

He fixed his gaze on her, harsh and direct. “And what if something were to happen to me? Would you throw yourself back on her kindness?”

“What kindness?” she asked with a rueful smile. “I did not experience any kindness at her hands, I assure you.”

“Answer the question.”

“If you died and the estate passed elsewhere, I suppose I would do my best to survive independently of her. In truth, I doubt she would allow me back into her household unless I could bring some wealth with me, or she thought that I might elevate her position somewhat.” Eleanor frowned. “Why, are you ill?”

“Nothing of the sort.” He scowled, looking at her as though she was ridiculous for coming to such a conclusion—though what else she was supposed to think after such pointed questioning, he hardly knew. “I expect your stepmother and half-sisters will be present tonight.”

“I imagine so,” she agreed. “They will be very angry at me for not issuing them an invitation, but I will be able to tell them that you prevented me from doing so, and they will have no choice but to excuse you.”

“You—” He snapped his jaw shut. “Yes, I can see how it has happened that way. I ought to have chosen different instructions.”

“Would you rather she came to visit?”

“That lady? Good God, no. What a preposterous idea. I have no intention of letting her step foot in the house.” His brows descended over his eyes again. “But you should say nothing of the sort to her. Let her believe that I am inclined to keep you to myself as my new bride. That would be preferable, at least at the beginning.”

“And after that?”

“After that, I do not anticipate it being any concern of mine any longer.”

Eleanor settled back in her seat. Yes, he was possibly correct. Margaret would want to foster her relationship with them both if she could, but she would not do so indefinitely. At some point, hopefully in the near future, they would be free from her altogether.

Eleanor beamed at the Duke. “Do you know, I think this is the first civilized conversation we have had since the wedding. We are learning to get along.”

His scowl deepened. “Stop saying such ridiculous things. And be silent until we arrive. I have no patience for your yammering.”

And yet, until she had brought up such a thing, he had been content to sit and talk to her. Perhaps her lesson to learn herewas not to mention things about them getting along or not doing so, but to encourage his conversation as much as she could.

Still, she held her tongue for the remainder of the visit to London and to Lady Rochester’s ball, to which they had been invited and would be attending. With every passing second, she found herself becoming increasingly nervous.

Her first venture into Society as a Duchess. No doubt her stepmother and half-sisters would be in attendance, and though she now outranked them and could not be blamed for not having issued them an invitation to the Duke’s house, they had a certain way of making her feel ill at ease. As though she would never be good enough for anything.

And heaven knew she had been granted a great honor.