Page 38 of The Duke’s Return (Dukes of the Compass Rose #2)

U nable to take his eyes of Genevieve for more than a minute, Julian marveled over the sight of his wife.

She truly looked lovely.

Sapphires were made for her. Those familiar stormy gray eyes glittered like moonlight with the gemstone and pearls around her throat.

He had forgotten about the sapphires, but he found relief in knowing he had done something right in the beginning.

One day, he hoped to see her in all of the other sapphires as well.

“She really is a dear.” He forced himself to look away as Lady Elena tilted her head up at him with a friendly smile. A friend of Genevieve’s from the Kettering family, he recalled. “How fortunate you are to have one another.”

“Fortunate,” Julian echoed. “A fair word.”

Her head tilted the other way as she asked him, “Fair enough that you agree, or you have another one in mind?”

Fortunate often implied luck, which was not a word he would pick now. But still, this evening he did feel fortunate. That was not a feeling he was used to acknowledging.

After all, a duke didn’t need luck. He had been raised with the understanding that the world and its inhabitants answered to him.

It helped that his country seat was in a beautiful part of the country and his ancestors continued to make sound investments so he didn’t think he would ever have to worry about funds.

I don’t really need to worry about anything.

Not all of the titled can afford not to worry, but the wealthy certainly can.

I’ve heard the gossip that my dukedom occasionally manages more than the royal family.

But all these years I have taken advantage of that.

So why is it now there is a bitterness welling up within me?

Julian didn’t want to think about that, not now, not with Genevieve shining like silver moonlight amongst the ton.

His heart stuttered when she glanced his way. Those pretty pink lips of hers curled up, and he suddenly remembered every opportunity he’d had for a kiss only to have walked away. An ache settled in his chest when he considered all of the space between them and how he wanted to be closer.

“Fortunate is a very good word, I believe,” Julian finally responded to Lady Elena. “All one has to do is look at my Genevieve to know this.”

“I hope there is every happiness set for the two of you.”

How much happiness? More than what can fit in these two hands? I wouldn’t know what to do with it. I know fun more than happiness, satisfaction more than joy.

Julian drained his cup as a servant with a tray walked by so he could set it aside. “Thank you, Lady Elena, and I wish you find all the happiness you seek as well,” he told her. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to be nearer my wife now.”

“Certainly. Perhaps I will speak with her later.”

“You’re always welcome at Southwick,” he called over his shoulder while moving toward his wife. He couldn’t tell if Lady Elena said anything more, too distracted to pay much mind to anyone else. If she ever came to visit, he could make certain to offer his apologies.

Genevieve watched him approach. Her lips curled into a smile. “Here we are, the duke joins us. At last we might have an expert opinion.”

At once he nodded. “I am an expert in all things, my dear, and I am happy to assist. What is the topic at hand?”

“Strolls.”

“They exist, yes,” he said with a lazy grin. “I have heard of them. I’ve even dared enjoy one in the past. Very pleasant things, strolls.”

Polite laughter followed the jest but he focused on the easy roll of the eyes by Genevieve. Even then she smiled with a light shake of her head.

“You distract us,” she exclaimed just as he noticed her empty drink. Taking it from her as she spoke, Julian beckoned a servant to take it away from them. “The four of us cannot decide the best time to enjoy a stroll. Mornings or afternoons.”

“No evenings?” Free of the glass, he fixed his cuffs while studying his wife. “A moment at twilight surely is beautiful. So silver and blue.”

The lady to his right, who happened to be Lady Kettering, twittered while Genevieve blushed. As she looked at him, she seemed to tell him to behave himself. That only garnered a wider smile, however, as he stepped a little closer, so no one stood between them.

“I must say,” the elderly gentleman to his left, “mornings are too early. One should never suffer the mornings. It is best to be awake with healthy digestion if one insists on walking out of doors. It is not seemly otherwise.”

“And yet the early hour is what makes it so splendid,” Genevieve countered. “Especially out here in the countryside. There is the fresh air, the morning sun, and the birds that sing to you with every step.”

Hesitating, Lady Kettering shook her head. “It’s a frightful hour, I’m afraid.”

“Absolutely terrifying,” Julian agreed. With one glance he could see the strain in Genevieve’s face.

For all the pleasure of wit and conversation, it wasn’t easy when everyone disagreed.

Not when one wished to fit in with everyone.

His heart went out to her and he told the group, “Much too terrifying for everyone here, it would seem, so the duchess and I will surely continue to enjoy the mornings ourselves.”

“Oh, it is so difficult to disagree with the two of you,” the lady admitted to them as her expression softened.

“What a pleasure it has been to have you both here. I don’t know how long you intend to reside in the countryside, but we should love to have your refreshing opinions always. London doesn’t deserve the two of you.”

With a nod, he chuckled. “Indeed, and what an absolute thrill it has been to have all of you for company. I do enjoy a good quaint opinion. Speaking of my wife, however, I should like to take her for a turn about the room. Or perhaps the house. If you’ll amuse us?”

Everyone made space for them. Wrapping a hand around her waist, he thanked their party before nudging Genevieve along.

A quiet sigh escaped her once they were out of hearing. “Thank you. I like all of them, but…”

“You don’t have to say anything,” he reassured her. “These are much busier affairs than I’m sure you typically enjoy.”

“But you enjoy them?”

His lips twisted. “I have been known to enjoy them, yes. Come, shall we take in some air?”

Turning her head to face them, she gave a sudden smile and remarked playfully, “I thought mornings were enough for us.”

“I think we could enjoy some part of every day,” Julian decided.

Then he nodded his head, directing them toward the French doors that led out to the terrace.

The ball was in full swing now. At least two parties stumbled on the dance floor with so many attempting to join in the fun.

And beyond them was a young man swinging around a drink, clearly intoxicated much to the amusement of his friends and the distaste of several older woman behind them.

We are never so far from London, I suppose.

Cool evening air welcomed them as they stepped out of doors. Beside him, his wife sighed audibly. Every step they took led them further from the bright lights, the crowd, and the warmth of the ball. He kept a close arm on his wife even as she shivered.

They moved away from three other parties on the landing to find their own little corner in the shadows.

Once there, he shifted back a step so he could slip free of his coat.

Genevieve glanced away for a minute, clearly intrigued by the gardens, before startling when his coat settled on her shoulders.

“I’m not that cold,” she objected immediately.

He raised an eyebrow but decided against saying anything. It was worth it to see the rise of another blush on her cheeks. A darker red due to the lighting, he thought it matched neatly with the lips she pressed together like she was trying to hide a smile.

That didn’t work, however, and a small tender smile revealed itself. She took a small step forward that closed the distance between them. The intoxicating scent of her overwhelmed his senses.

“Can we stay out here for the rest of the ball?” she whispered.

He chuckled before relaxing his shoulders. “It is tempting, isn’t it? It’s a beautiful evening. Something like this will never come again. I always loved that, how every night can be special so long as you let it be special.”

Licking her lips in a way that made his breath pause, Genevieve asked him, “Is tonight special, then?”

Their bodies shifted invariably when their eyes met. Heat warmed him from the inside as he gazed at her. It was a warmth that flooded every part of his body until it felt like he was entirely aflame. All he wanted was to be burned to the core.

His voice couldn’t seem to get any louder. “What else could it be?”

Inhaling, Genevieve nodded. A heady feeling rushed through him as he shifted closer, so his foot struck hers, and he felt the layers of her dress brushing against his garments. Everything fell away but for her. The entire world was Genevieve and somehow, he still wasn’t close enough.

“It’s beginning! Everyone, out here!”

Both of them startled as voices passed them by. When they turned, bright explosions burst through the sky. He grasped Genevieve’s arm when she staggered with a gasp.

What the devil?

He could hardly think. The deafening crash confounded him and though he could see the sparks in the air, they took a minute for him to understand what was happening. That they weren’t in danger and all was well.

Others were flooding out onto the terrace to see the fireworks.

Any privacy they might have enjoyed here a moment ago immediately dissipated; he had to shift aside to make room, his wife clinging to him to avoid anyone stepping on their toes.

The two of them turned to each other in bewilderment and it suddenly broke the tension he hadn’t realized had fallen over them.