Page 99 of The Duke's Indecent Match

Kalina could only infer that meant the previous attempt on the Duke of York’s life had been by them.Her jaw felt locked into place to keep it from dropping as revelation after revelation was dropped in front of her.When Lady Astrid had assured them they could speak freely in front of her, they had certainly taken her at her word.Kalina had had no idea there had ever been an attempt on the Duke of York’s life, much less the rest of it.

She was uncertain why Mrs.Browne and her husband had been investigating anything, much less why she took her cousin’s word about an entire continent, but Lady Astrid seemed to take their statements as fact.Kalina decided she could do no less.At least for now.She may have questions later, but this was clearly not the time.

Turning to her, the young Mr.Stuart gave her his best smile.He was charming enough that Kalina found the corners of her lips lifting automatically in response.She would not have been able to help herself, even if she had wanted to hold back a smile—which she had no reason to currently—but she recognized his charisma.

“You were born in India, correct, Your Grace?”

“I was.My family came here recently, not long before the start of the Season.”

Immediately, his eyes lit up with interest.

“I have always wanted to visit India.Is it true there are entire seasons with nothing but rain?”

“That does not sound so different from London some weeks,” Lady Durham quipped with a smile.

Kalina laughed, but Mr.Stuart shook his head with all intent seriousness.

“No, Josie, it’s completely different.”

“I know, Adam, I am only jesting.”She did not seem to take affront, patting her brother-in-law on the arm with a fond look for him before turning to Kalina.“Adam is an intrepid explorer these days.Given the chance, he will certainly talk your ear off about both India and the trip from there to here.”

The roguish smile was back, and he bestowed it intently upon Kalina.“I certainly will.”

Indeed, he was able to pepper her with several questions before her husband suddenly appeared at her side, scowling for some reason.Immediately, Kalina was concerned.Had his talk with the earl not gone well?Yet the earl had rejoined them as well.He was not smiling, but the fond way he was looking at his wife before he whispered something in her ear did not indicate any unhappiness on his end.

Taking her hand in his, Nathanial wound her fingers around his arm, glaring at Durham’s younger brother as he did so.

“Stuart.”

Mr.Stuart’s dark eyes danced with amusement.

“Hereford.I understand congratulations are in order.”He winked at Kalina, unfazed by Nathanial’s deepening scowl.

Kalina was not certain she understood what was happening.

Her husband seemed… jealous?

But in order to be jealous, he would have to care about her.

Wouldn’t he?

“Thank you, Stuart.Now, if you’ll excuse us,” he put a little emphasis on the ‘us’ just as the first notes from a violin trembled through the air, “I believe this is my dance withmy wife.”

No, she was not imagining it.Not jealous though.Possessiveness.And maybe a touch of jealousy.

Because she’d been talking to another man?

Kalina did not have time to think, did not have time to question it before she found herself being pulled through the crowd by her husband.The dance floor was also crowded, elbow to elbow, but somehow he stepped into the swirling mass, making a space for them without stepping on anyone’s toes and pulling her along with him.Breathless, Kalina found herself rotating in his arms.

Which was when she realized what they were dancing.

“The waltz!I’m not…” She was not supposed to waltz in London...when she was a debutante.But she was married now.And waltzing with her husband.Kalina relaxed.No one had told her explicitly, but it made sense that she would not need permission from the Almack’s hostesses to waltz now.

She was not doing anything wrong that could hurt the family’s standing.

Nathanial

Looking down at his wife, Nathanial wished her pink mask did not obscure so much of her face.It was difficult to decipher the expressions flashing across her face when he could not see half of it.