Chapter 33

CHAPTER 33

“ Y ou have an invitation to an event, Your Grace,” Worthington said to her as soon as she returned to the house.

“I what?” she stuttered, trying to curb her emotions after watching Hector’s carriage roll out of sight.

“An invitation to an event,” the butler repeated gently, holding out the white envelope to her on a silver platter.

Juliet picked it up, immediately overwhelmed by the heavy floral scents wafting from the envelope, telling her that the host of this gathering was likely a woman. She was proven right when she opened it and read that she had been invited to a summer night soiree by Viscountess Newton. For a moment, Juliet stared at the invitation, unsure what to do.

“I am not certain if Hector will return in time to attend her event. Even if he has, he will likely still be exhausted from his journey”.

“Pardon me, Your Grace,” Estella stepped forward with a frown. “You cannot base your attendance on the Duke’s presence. You are his wife, and in situations such as these, you carry as much power as he does. You must attend this and every other soiree that comes your way. Otherwise, the Ton might think something is amiss.”

They already think so .

While she did not wish to make things worse, she did not feel confident in public amongst members of the Ton without her husband.

“Must I really? Surely, I can simply send a letter in response, thanking them and explaining that I cannot attend because I am ill or otherwise engaged.”

“The host will think you have something to hide, and it would only feed the rumors already circulating. You must not only attend this event, but you need to show that, regardless of what has been happening, you will not be shaken or distressed,” Estella stated firmly.

It seemed easy to imagine being an unmovable force in the face of all the rumors and flawed assumptions surrounding her marriage. Despite all the comfort Hector had provided her with before his departure, she still felt worried.

Why now, when our marriage has finally begun to work, are these awful whispers about us are circulating?

This recent development only added to the pile of worries she felt for the girls and sisters she had left behind at St. Catherine’s. She was in no mood to attend any social functions.

But with Hector away on business trying to secure their future, she needed to do something to support him. Perhaps if she told some of the ladies at these events that their marriage was fine and their past had no bearing on their present, it would assuage the concerns that the rumors were raising.

“All right,” Juliet conceded reluctantly. “I suppose I can attend on behalf of the Duke.”

“Excellent,” Estella nodded in approval then turned to address Leila, who had been lingering silently behind Juliet. “You shall begin preparations for her attendance at once. If Her Grace requires anything, you are to inform me as soon as possible, and I shall make arrangements to procure it.”

Juliet shot a concerned and overwhelmed look at Leila, but her maid simply smiled and nodded.

“Of course, Mrs. Harris. Our Duchess is in good hands.”

It was easy to trust them because there were no other viable options left for Juliet. As much as she had hopes and ideas to correct the many wrongs she wished to make right, her hands were invariably tied, and she had to wait for Hector’s return to institute them.

“All right then. I suppose I do not have any other option.”

Three days later, the carriage dropped her off at the Newton residence, the outside of which was already bustling with excited chatter.

If the atmosphere outside is anything to go by, it looks like it will be an entertaining evening.

With a deep breath Juliet walked inside, holding onto hope that the night would be the bearer of better things to come.

Her heart ached for Hector, and she wished he was by her side to quell the nervousness welling up within her. As she entered the ballroom, she quietly prayed that things were going well on his end.

“ Is that the Duchess of Islington? ”

“ My goodness, she is rather bold, isn’t she? To show her face in public after all we have heard about her. ”

“ And where is her husband? Has he perhaps seen the light of reason and nullified their marriage? ”

Juliet thought it was quite a feat that the gossip had begun immediately upon her entry into the room. She was both a little impressed and disheartened by the murmurs she heard.

It was astounding that they found her so interesting that they were willing to push aside the evening’s entertainment just to talk about her and Hector. There was a lovely string quartet playing stunning music, and two jesters were juggling in one corner of the room, yet it was as though she was the most fascinating thing in the room.

“Your Grace!” a small group of women approached her, the sickly-sweet smiles on their faces making Juliet’s stomach churn with apprehension. “What a lovely surprise it is, seeing you here!”

Juliet tried to be polite despite her initial introduction to the gaggle of gossiping women. “I am honored and happy to be here. It looks like a wonderful evening will be had.”

“Yes, Eleanor is known for throwing excellent parties. We had not expected that you would be in attendance without the Duke,” another woman said, her eyes wide with innocent wonder.

“Ahh,” Juliet nodded, glancing around nervously for a moment. “My husband is currently away on business. I decided to attend on behalf of us both as it would have been disrespectful to the host to simply disregard her generous invitation.”

“How magnanimous of you, Duchess,” the first woman spoke up again with a piteous expression on her face. “I do think it is rather interesting, though.”

Juliet blinked, a little confused. “What?”

The lady glanced at the other women and snickered.

“Oh, nothing. I am just fascinated by the lengths men will go to avoid their wives.”

Heat filled Juliet’s cheeks, and she spoke up quickly, “That is not what happened!”

“So, you say, and yet, here you are, alone, in the face of all we have learned about you. Perhaps he felt you would be better suited to deal with the things we have heard, given that you were taught to embody the temperament of Christ and all the other things that we trust that disturbing place instilled in you.”

Hearing St. Catherine’s referred to in such a degrading manner upset Juliet, and she had barely started to speak up against their insults when the ladies curtsied slightly, and one of them smiled and said, “Enjoy the rest of your evening, Your Grace.”

They scurried away quickly, leaving Juliet feeling ashamed and angry.

For the rest of the evening, Juliet was subjected to blatant ignorance, insults, and ridicule from people who clearly believed all the rumors they had heard and took it upon themselves to punish her for the crimes they believed she had committed.

Eventually, when she’d had enough and decided to return home, she left the soiree with a deep ache in her chest, greatly craving the presence of her husband.