Page 33 of The Duke’s Replacement Bride (The Wild Brides #6)

“ C aroline, you made it!” Modesty exclaimed, sashaying over to Caroline across the ballroom. “But tell me, where is your dear husband? I didn’t see him when you came in!”

Her eyes glinted maliciously. Caroline was sure she already knew the answer to the question.

“Levi was unable to join us tonight,” she said, keeping her chin in the air. It was a struggle to do so. She knew she was being scorned, and she wanted very badly to turn and run away. Facing tonight alone had been a trial.

“Well, I suppose he has other affairs keeping him busy,” Modesty said with a smirk.

“Still, it’s such a shame he couldn’t be with us.

I was so looking forward to seeing the two of you and hosting you together, because I know how happy you are in your marriage.

” She leaned close, conspiratorially. “Or is that no longer the case? Is the household troubled?”

“There is no trouble, I can assure you,” Caroline said firmly. “We are very happy together.”

“I ask only because of his absence, when I was assured the two of you would attend together,” Modesty explained. “But I suppose it couldn’t be helped. He has so much to keep him occupied. I don’t know how you stand it.”

“He works very hard.”

“I’m sure he does. So hard that he couldn’t possibly get away to be with his wife on such an important night.

Well, men can be like that, I suppose. I think that when I marry I shall make sure I am wedded to a man who always puts me before his…

other interests. Personally, I don’t see how you stand it! ”

Caroline squared her shoulders. “I suppose it’s hard to imagine that people are able to tolerate things not always going their way,” she said. “I suppose that’s something you don’t experience very often.”

“Not very often, no,” Modesty agreed with a smug smile. “And thank heavens for that. I’m sure that when I marry, my husband will always acquiesce to my wishes.”

Caroline was hard-pressed to force a smile onto her face. “Marriage is a complicated thing,” she said. “Until you have tried it for yourself, you really know nothing of its hardships.”

Modesty’s eyes narrowed. “So, you admit that there are hardships?”

Caroline let out a sigh, then immediately wished she hadn’t.

She didn’t want to let Modesty see that she was getting to her.

“Perhaps you could point me in the direction of the drinks,” she suggested, hoping to change the subject.

It was going to be a very long night if Modesty was determined to spend the entire time interrogating her about the state of her marriage.

Surely there were other things they could speak about.

“Looking to drown your sorrows?” Modesty asked. “I suppose I can’t really blame you, but it does seem to me that there are better ways to deal with your problems. Why not try talking about it? You have a friendly ear right here.”

Caroline could only imagine how much Modesty would love to be confided in. “I was just hoping for the chance to walk around a bit and admire all the work you’ve done to prepare for this party,” she said. “It all looks lovely.”

“Well, we did work very hard,” Modesty agreed. “Mother and I envision this ball becoming a regular event of the season. Perhaps even one of the headlining events of the season.”

Caroline did her best to make the astonishment on her face look polite. “Such an ambitious goal,” she said.

“Oh, I don’t think it’s that ambitious..”

“And yet, you have yet to find a husband. But I suppose you are simply waiting for the very best. Is that about right?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I do just that?

Only the very best will do on the marriage mart, Caroline, something you would know if you had ever had real suitors instead of just jumping into an arrangement with the man your sister scorned.

I suppose she knew better than to tie herself to a rake, though whether anyone will ever see fit to marry her after that debacle is difficult to say.

I know I wouldn’t want a marriage to someone who had disrespected me like that—but your family and mine are very different in this regard.

My family has much more pride in our reputation.

It must be nice not to be burdened with that sort of thing. ”

“The drinks?” Caroline prompted again.

“Oh, they’re just over here.” Modesty pointed out a long table draped in an embroidered linen cloth.

“Do help yourself to as many as you would like. I know you have so much on your mind and I want you to be able to forget your worries and have a good time tonight. I do so hope everyone enjoys themselves here at my ball.”

After a comment like that, Caroline almost didn’t want to take a drink at all. She forced herself to pick one up and take a small sip — her instinct had been to take a long swallow. Modesty was right on one count, at least. It would be a blessing to drink too much wine and forget her troubles.

Thankfully, Modesty was whisked away by other guests, leaving Caroline to her thoughts.

“Standing here all alone? I would never have thought it of such a lovely young lady.”

Caroline turned and was delighted to see a familiar face. “William! What are you doing here?”

Her sister’s husband smiled. “A man does like to get out from time to time,” he said.

“Is Arabella here as well?” It would be such a relief to see her sister. Arabella would know exactly what to say to put Caroline’s mind at ease about everything.

“No, she chose to stay at home. And I very nearly didn’t come without her, but she insisted. She said that you would be here, and that you might need a friend. She would have come herself, but both of the children are ill.”

“Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear it. Are they all right?”

“Yes, they’re just fine. They only have head colds, but you know how children can get when they aren’t feeling well. They just want their mother. And she doesn’t want to leave them.”

“I can imagine,” Caroline agreed. “She was always the one to care for Prudence and me when we were sick as children.”

“She hasn’t changed,” William said. “She worries about you every bit as much even now that you are adults. That’s part of the reason she asked me to come tonight.

She wanted me to ensure that you are doing well.

And I see you standing over here by yourself, and that makes me doubt. Is something the matter?”

“Nothing very much,” Caroline assured him. “Levi was unable to join me tonight. I wish he could have been here. That’s all.”

“Well of course you do. What caused him to be away?”

Caroline felt a prick of uncertainty. “Surely you’ve heard the rumors about my husband.”

“I hear rumors about every person at this party,” William said. “That doesn’t mean I am fool enough to believe them. Rumors usually contain more fiction than fact. I won’t believe anything I hear about your husband unless I hear from him, or from you.”

Caroline was unendingly grateful. “It isn’t true, what people say,” she said. “The way our marriage began was unexpected, and I understand why people might have their doubts. But we are happy together. We love one another.”

Should she have said that? Those were not words they had spoken to one another.

Maybe he didn’t feel that way. It was the first time she had acknowledged feeling such a thing herself.

And yet, all those moments between the two of them…

The night they had spent together, the stolen kisses, they all made it impossible to believe there were no feelings between the two of them.

“I’m so glad to hear it,” William said, beaming at her. “Arabella will be thrilled. We both just want to know that you’re happy, Caroline.”

“I am happy,” Caroline said firmly. “I am very content with the way everything has worked out. I feel very fortunate.”

“He is a good man, then?”

“A very good man. He cares for me, he tends to my needs, and he makes me happy.”

“I am still curious, though, as to why he was unable to be here tonight. I’m sure he would have liked to be, to spend time with you. You look very lovely. Any gentleman would be proud to have you on his arm.”

“Thank you,” Caroline said, feeling a surge of gratitude.

She hadn’t realized until that moment how lonely she was feeling, and how wonderful it would be to be noticed and appreciated.

Modesty’s harsh words had gotten to her, as usual, even though she knew perfectly well that Modesty was only trying to be unkind to get a rise out of her.

One day, that would have to stop working.

“You’re very welcome.”

“If I tell you, can you keep a secret?”

“I hope you can trust me, Caroline. I would never betray your confidence.”

Caroline took William’s arm and led him away from the thick of the crowd.

She spoke in a low voice. “The truth is that Levi is off in the country, trying to discover the source of the rumors about him. He wishes to put a stop to them. He understands how harmful they are to both of us, and he wants to ensure that such words are not spoken again.”

“A noble endeavor,” William said. “Do you think he will be successful?”

“If I know my husband, he won’t give up until he is.”

“It was generous of you to give him permission to do that instead of attending the ball with you,” William said. “I’m sure he’s very grateful. And I’m sure he would have come back in a heartbeat to be by your side had you asked him to.”

Caroline forced a smile onto her face yet again, but her heart sank.

William had been trying to be kind. She knew that. But he had made a point that she had been trying not to think about. His saying it out loud had brought it to the forefront of her mind.

Levi had promised.

He had promised her that he would be here tonight. When he had gone to the country, he had assured her that he would be back in time for the ball.

When she had received his letter telling her that he would not be coming home on time after all, she had tried her best to be understanding, despite her disappointment.

She had told herself that she needed to be supportive of her husband and not think about her own needs.

Even then, something had felt unpleasant and wrong. But she had forced that feeling away.

She was no longer capable of ignoring it.

William was quite right. If he had asked her, she might have said yes. But there had been no request. He had simply informed her that he would not be home for the ball. It was the only thing she had asked, and he had refused.

And here she was, telling people that they loved each other.

She felt like a fool. How could she have lied to herself like that, allowing herself to believe that he loved her?

Of course, he didn’t. If he had loved her, he would have remembered that this was important.

He would have cared how she felt about it. He clearly did not.

She had been lying to herself. Modesty had been right to scorn her. What a stupid girl she was!

Suddenly, she found herself wanting nothing more than to leave the party, go home, and sequester herself in her room.

And for the first time, she was desperately grateful that Levi would not be there.