Page 27 of The Duke’s Replacement Bride (The Wild Brides #6)

“ C aroline! What a pleasure to see you out of the house. I feel as if it’s been so long since you attended a society event. I wondered whether I would see you today.”

Caroline looked up. Modesty had come to a stop before her and folded her arms across her chest. A glass of wine perched loosely in her hand.

As usual, Modesty was overdressed. Today’s gathering was a simple garden party.

Most of the ladies were wearing gowns that were slightly better than their everyday ones, but were nothing particularly remarkable.

Not Modesty. The gown she wore was the sort of thing Caroline might have worn to the fanciest ball of the season. “That’s a beautiful dress, Modesty,” she said. “But aren’t you a bit warm? I would have thought something a bit simpler would be more appropriate for an event such as this.”

“You think that because your experience in society is so limited,” Modesty said, nose in the air.

“You may be a Duchess, but you are still from humble beginnings, and everything about you shows it. Perhaps, once you have a bit more experience in your new role, you will be better able to anticipate the needs of all social situations.”

It was a funny thing. Caroline knew perfectly well that Modesty was only trying to make her feel insecure. She had only to look around to see that the way she was dressed was in keeping with the attire of the rest of the partygoers. And yet, even knowing that, Modesty’s words did have an impact.

Maybe it was the fact that she had spent so much time around her family lately.

Having them back in her everyday life had continued to be a mix of pleasure and pain.

Prudence wasn’t at this party. Their mother was still insisting on keeping her and Bridget at home.

But if she had been here, would Modesty have made those comments to her?

Caroline didn’t think so, somehow. She thought it was more likely that Modesty would have been too intimidated to speak to Prudence that way.

If only she knew how to dissuade people from speaking that way to her!

“I suppose you had to come here this afternoon,” Modesty said.

“I know you’re still concerned about the rumors surrounding yourself and your husband.

I suppose you felt that making an appearance was your best opportunity to put them to rest. Was that it?

Are you here because you want to show everyone how happy and in love you are? ”

“I’m here because I was invited here, and to have a good time at the party,” Caroline said, doing her best to keep her voice even.

It was a challenge. Modesty always unnerved her.

She knew that the other lady was purposely attempting to get under her skin, but it worked.

She didn’t want to feel as if she was less valuable than Modesty, but in moments like these, it was hard to suppress that feeling.

“Well I don’t know why it would be any particular secret,” Modesty said. “Everyone knows the rumors that are circulating about the two of you. You may as well acknowledge it. People say your love is a lie. People say he married you only to save himself from disgrace when your sister ran away.”

“What people say doesn’t particularly concern me,” Caroline replied.

“I am not like the gossips of society, living and dying with each new rumor and new opinion. Perhaps that’s difficult for you to understand, Modesty.

I suspect that a rumor about you would upset you greatly. As for me, I hardly think about it.”

“How brave.” Modesty sipped her wine. “Perhaps you ought to come to the ball my parents will be having in two weeks. I considered whether I wanted to invite you.”

“It’s entirely up to you,” Caroline told her. She wasn’t about to beg for an invitation to an event like that.

Modesty looked rather annoyed, as though she had hoped Caroline would push to be invited.

“Well, I’ll have to think about it,” she said.

“You know I like you, Caroline, but your reputation… Well, let’s just say I need to be discerning when it comes to my invitations.

I can’t just ask anyone to balls at my home. ”

“Yes, I quite understand,” Caroline agreed. “It does take courage to disregard what society expects of you. It’s a struggle to find that courage. I have faith in you, Modesty. I’m sure you’ll find it someday.”

She picked up a glass of wine from the table beside her and walked away without giving Modesty a chance to answer. A smile played at the edges of her lips. The interaction had certainly restored some of her confidence. She wished that Levi had been there to see it.

She found him out in the garden with a sandwich in his hand. “There you are,” he said, smiling. “I wondered when I might see you.”

“I’m sorry. I was waylaid by Modesty.”

“Nothing to apologize for. Did the two of you have a nice talk?”

“Well, we had a talk.”

He raised his eyebrows. “That bad, was it?”

“She says she may invite us to a ball her family is planning to host. That’s if she deems me worthy of an invitation. I suppose I’ll be finding out in the next few days what decision she’s made.”

“Oh my.” Levi grinned. “How will you bear the suspense?”

Caroline found herself laughing. “She seems very worried about the rumors that are going around regarding you and me,” she said.

“So concerned for my well-being. I really should count myself lucky to have such a considerate friend. There aren’t many who would remind me at every turn that there is gossip about me. ”

“Yes, you’re very lucky in your friendships. If you are invited, do you wish to attend this ball?”

Caroline gave that some consideration. “I think it might be good for the two of us,” she said.

“I do see that there is something to be gained by putting the rumors to rest. The more we appear in public, the better odds we have of doing exactly that. And I wouldn’t want Modesty to get the idea that she’s frightened me, because she hasn’t.

She annoys me, but I am not intimidated by her, or by the things she says to me. ”

Levi wrapped an arm around her waist. “I’m very proud of you for that,” he said. “It’s not always easy to face the things people say about us.”

“No, it isn’t,” Caroline agreed. “But it’s somewhat easier when I know those things are not true. And it’s easier still when I have someone I can rely on standing by my side.”

He looked down at her, eyebrows raised, and she could see that he was slightly surprised at being referred to that way.

But she wasn’t about to take it back. Levi was someone she was truly beginning to trust. She could face anything if she had him with her—even the social difficulty of Modesty’s impending ball.

It would not be an enjoyable time, and she knew it, but that didn’t matter.

The only thing that mattered was that, whatever came, she and Levi would be able to face it together.