Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

H ector had never wanted an event to arrive and pass as much as he did the ball to which they had been invited.

Renton House did not hold the same degree of peace with Juliet in it. His thoughts of Juliet occupied as much space in his consciousness and dreams as she did in his reality. He suddenly wished they were back in Islington Hall with its larger hallways and wider corridors to put some distance between them.

Juliet’s presence practically haunted him, her body and warmth calling to him every second of the day. He had begun to think that he might have made a mistake by giving into his urges.

Marcus could tell that something had changed between himself and Juliet, and his cousin seemed to expect that any day now, they would announce that Juliet was with child.

If his wife also bore those same notions, it would spell his ruin because he was unprepared for such a commitment and did not believe he would ever even want a child in his life.

Perhaps it would have been better if they hadn’t consummated their marriage after all.

“The carriage has pulled around to the front door, Your Grace,” John informed him.

Hector inhaled deeply. Finally, the night of the ball had arrived, and he could put his time into something other than thinking about his wife.

Or at least, that was what he expected until he watched Juliet descend the stairs to meet him.

My dear Lord, she is breathtaking.

Juliet had told him that the modiste did not have anything that suited her taste and that the modiste would make something especially for her which had been delivered yesterday.

Hector did not know what he had expected, but he could not take his eyes off of her.

The dress was made from some sort of breezy, dark green fabric that shimmered when she moved. The design seemed to have genuinely been made with her in mind, accentuating the beautiful curves of her body in all the best ways.

She looked regal enough to be a queen.

“Shall we?” she asked curtly when she arrived at his side.

“You…are truly…stunning. You look like a goddess, Juliet,” Hector heard himself stutter.

“Thank you, husband.” She curtsied slightly, giving him a beautiful view of her spectacular breasts.

Hector quickly ripped his gaze away, clearing his throat as he tried to shift his thoughts to other things. However, before he could compose himself, she walked outside on her own, leaving him alone in the foyer.

He had initially thought that she was simply too excited to get to the ball, but she had then ensured there was distance between them in the carriage, not edging close to him as she had done when they went to visit his family.

It frustrated Hector how conflicted he felt. Although he knew he should feel grateful for the distance, it was almost painful how much he wanted to take her.

He was befuddled by how Juliet kept compromising his standards simply by existing.

When they arrived at the ball, the event was already in full swing. Juliet held onto him like a dutiful wife, and when the master of ceremony introduced them to all in attendance, she kept her chin up and walked with a regal air surrounding her.

Not for the first time since their marriage, Hector felt proud of her.

“Your Grace, I am so glad you could make it!”

Hector quickly put on what Marcus referred to as his ‘business smile’ and nodded at the man who quickly approached them.

“Lord Gainsbury,” Hector held his hand out for a handshake. “The pleasure is mine. I was pleased to receive an invitation as I have been wanting to make your acquaintance for a while now.”

“Ah! I am truly honored,” the man grinned, turning to Juliet and bowing. “You must be the Duchess of Islington. It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. I do hope this small soiree in my humble abode will provide you with a good night of entertainment, Your Grace.”

Juliet smiled, and Hector was struck again by how effortlessly beautiful she was. “I am sure it will, thank you.”

Hector cleared his throat, immediately calling the Earl’s attention.

“I wish to discuss a few matters with you, Lord Gainsbury. Do you mind conversing with me now? I do not wish to become too distracted by tonight’s activities.”

“Certainly, Your Grace. Right this way,” Lord Gainsbury gestured ahead of them.

As Hector turned to address Juliet, her arm slipped from his. Hector pretended that the insignificant action did not offend him although he did not understand why it bothered him.

“I must speak with Lord Gainsbury privately on a serious matter. You may enjoy the ball without me until I return.”

He could swear he heard her scoff, but she was already walking away by the time he thought of asking her about it.

“Your Grace?”

Hector shifted his attention to the Earl once more. “Right. After you, Lord Gainsbury.”

The host began to lead the way, but before he followed along, Hector sent one last lingering look in the direction Juliet had walked.

“Isn’t that… ”

“ The Duchess of Islington, as I live and breathe. ”

“ Just look at her, the poor lamb. The finest garments cannot turn a duckling into a swan, no matter how hard they try. ”

“ Really, what was the Duke thinking? ”

For Juliet, the challenge did not lay in pretending that she did not hear the rude statements being whispered about her. It lay in her desperation to convince them that she was unaffected by it all.

She felt uncomfortable, nervously moving through the sea of people, wondering if there would ever be a moment when she would not doubt herself in this new life she was living.

Even Hector had abandoned her without a second thought for her well-being, further verifying Juliet’s fears that the night they had shared together had meant nothing to him.

Days ago, she had been excited for this ball, excited to attach herself to her husband and share a dance or two with him.

Now, she wished she was anywhere else.

“Your Grace!”

Juliet stopped walking and looked around wildly in search of the face that belonged to the voice. Moments later, she spotted Lady Anne a few feet away and heaved a sigh of relief.

“Lady Anne! How do you do? My goodness, you look lovely tonight!” She beamed at her friend, gently holding onto her hands.

“Me?” Anne gasped. “I am truly flattered, Your Grace, but you are much worthier of such wonderful compliments! You look absolutely beautiful!”

Juliet blushed, lightly running her hands along the skirt of her dress. She, too, had been surprised when it had arrived the previous day and had been completely stunned by the sheer beauty of the dress. Miss Francesca had outdone herself in creating a masterpiece with so little time.

“Thank You, Lady Anne. Now tell me, how have you been? I had hoped that you would visit again, but you did not.”

Anne pouted apologetically.

“I am sorry, Your Grace. I really wanted to, but my brother has kept me occupied as of late. But…” She glanced around, then moved closer to whisper to Juliet. “…I have met a lord whom I fancy.”

Juliet grinned in excitement. “Who is he? Is he here?”

Anne sighed wistfully. “The Viscount of Emerson. He came to our home last week to discuss business with my brother. He is quite handsome and very respectful.” She looked around the room for a moment, then her eyes widened. “He is on the other side of the room…the man in the blue velvet jacket.”

“You should go and talk to him!” Juliet urged.

“But what if he is not interested in me? What if I am far too ordinary to catch his attention?”

“But how will you know if you do not try?” Juliet mused fondly.

When Anne simply sighed in response, Juliet knew she had to help the sweet girl.

“Well, I am quite parched. Will you accompany me to the refreshment table?” she asked Anne gently.

“Of course, Your Grace.” Anne smiled softly at her and offered her arm to Juliet, who took it.

They gradually walked towards the refreshment table talking casually, even though their eyes occasionally shifted to the Lord speaking with a few guests who were gathered only a few feet away from it.

Juliet kept silently hoping her plan would work, even after they walked past the Viscount.

“Lady Anne?”

Anne squealed then cleared her throat before she turned to him, daintily curtsying.

“Lord Emerson. Good evening.” She smiled sweetly.

“It is,” he replied, revealing a dimple on his cheek. “I had hoped to see you tonight. Would you care to dance with me? If you do not already have a line of offers…”

“It would not matter anyway,” Anne blurted out then blushed deeply, stammering as she held her dance card out to him. “I mean…I still have room… on my dance card.”

Lord Emerson grinned, clearly enchanted by Anne, and he nodded, taking her card to print his name.

Juliet watched the exchange with a fond smile, predicting Anne’s reaction as the Lord bade her goodbye for the moment with the promise of seeing her later for their dance.

Anne rushed to Juliet with a squeal of joy as soon as he was out of earshot.

“My goodness! I cannot believe it! He wants to dance with me,” Anne babbled excitedly.

“I told you. Never dismiss anything or anyone before you have tried to see whether things will work in your favor.” Juliet nodded proudly.

“Well, I…”

“If it isn’t the Duchess of Islington,” Lord Somerton spoke as he approached them, bowing slightly when he arrived in front of Juliet. “Good evening, Your Grace. Might I say you look divine tonight?”

Juliet smiled politely and nodded, “Thank you, Lord Somerton. I hope you have been well.”

“I have. Simply tending to business as usual. I am delighted that I chose to attend this event tonight as my sister’s chaperone because it feels as though I have been blessed by your beauty,” he sighed.

Anne made a face at her brother’s choice of words but said nothing, instead mumbling about retrieving some refreshments for the Duchess before slipping away to survey the assorted spread.

“I saw the Duke earlier, engrossed in conversation with the host. I had assumed he did not bring you with him for the ball, but…it is rather disappointing, it is it not? To be abandoned by your husband at an event such as this? I do not mean to offend you, Your Grace. I merely think it is unfair of him to put anything above your comfort.”

Lord Somerton’s words were as accurate as they were hurtful.

Juliet reminded herself that she had resolved to stay calm and remain the very picture of a good wife. She smiled gently and said, “My husband is a busy man with many connections. Meeting the host was important; this was the only time he could do so. Besides, I am not an infant who will burst into tears over being left on her own for a little while. I assure you, I am simply fine.”

It only took Juliet a few minutes after her statement to realize Hector was hurting her and getting away with it, but she was also helping him do that.

And that made her feel as foolish as it did na?ve.