Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

A urelia stood in front of the mirror adjusting the bodice of her gown as she inspected herself one final time. The pale blue fabric of her dress flowed elegantly around her frame, perfectly accentuating her figure.

Her hair was pinned up, with a few soft curls left to frame her face. She smiled softly at her reflection, a small sense of pride welling within her.

Suddenly, warm arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back into a familiar embrace. She felt the comforting solidity of Philip's chest against her back and instinctively leaned against him.

His breath tickled her neck as he whispered, "You look beautiful, Aurelia."

Aurelia's lips curled into a soft smile as she met his eyes in the mirror. "Thank you," she said quietly, her voice carrying a note of contentment.

It had been three days since the ball and in that time they had become inseparable.

She frequently found herself in Philip's chambers since he had insisted it was her rightful place as his wife. Their bond had deepened, blossoming into something she hadn't anticipated but now cherished.

Philip turned her around gently, his hands still resting on her waist and leaned in for a kiss. But just as his lips were about to touch hers, Aurelia placed her hand on his mouth, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Philip," she chided softly, "I have a lot to do. If I let you kiss me, I fear I will lose all sense and accomplish nothing."

Her tone was teasing, but there was truth in her words.

Philip sighed dramatically, resting his forehead against hers. "You are right," he murmured, inhaling her scent before pulling back. "I will let you go…for now."

She chuckled softly at his theatrics, appreciating the lightheartedness between them.

Before she left, Aurelia reached up, cupping the side of his face and pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "I promise to return soon," she whispered.

Philip smiled, his eyes following her every movement. "I love this version of you," he said, his voice warm with admiration. "Taking charge, kissing me like that…I am also proud of you, Aurelia. You have done a perfect job arranging this dinner party for my friends. They will be impressed, I am certain of it."

Aurelia blushed slightly at his praise. "I have learned a lot from Mrs. Jarrow. I wanted to put it all to use as soon as possible," she replied, her voice tinged with excitement.

All those countless hours with Mrs. Jarrow had been overwhelming at first, but Aurelia had embraced them with determination. This dinner would be her first opportunity to showcase her newfound skills.

Philip's smile widened and he took her hand, placing a soft kiss into her palm. "You will be perfect," he assured her.

With a nod and a quick look of affection, Aurelia left the room, her heart light but her mind focused on the task ahead.

She wanted everything to go smoothly, not only for Philip's sake but to give herself a sense of accomplishment. It was time for her to step fully into her role as Duchess, and tonight would be her first true test.

Aurelia's eyes sparkled with excitement as the guests arrived. She and Philip stood together at the entrance, greeting them as they stepped out of their carriages.

Aurelia had donned a lovely navy-blue gown that contrasted perfectly with her fair skin. A radiant smile spread across her face as her new friends approached them. Philip stood beside her, and although he was more reserved he appeared to be at ease, although his expression carried its usual trace of stoicism.

Catherine and Beatrice were the first to notice Philip's demeanor.

"Look at you, Philip," Catherine teased with a smirk, her arm linked with Thomas's. "All stern and proper as usual."

Beatrice chimed in with a playful grin, "We half expected to see a smile tonight. After all, this is a party!"

Kenneth chuckled and the two women exchanged amused glances.

Aurelia laughed softly, leaning closer to Philip as if to encourage him to smile. "I suppose not everyone is as easily pleased as we are," she teased gently.

Before they could move inside, Oliver, who was standing alone, let out a dramatic sigh. "It seems I am the odd one out tonight, without a wife to accompany me," he said, feigning disappointment.

Philip raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into the faintest smile. "Yes, it seems you are," he quipped, causing the other men to chuckle.

"Oh, Oliver, do not pay them any heed," Beatrice chimed in with a warm smile. "You are as welcome here as any of us, if not more so. I daresay I prefer your company to the rest of these brooding men."

At that, the playful banter turned on the husbands, Catherine and Aurelia nodding in agreement.

"Indeed! We could use some pleasant conversation instead of the usual grumbling," Catherine added, her eyes twinkling.

Thomas and Kenneth exchanged mock-offended glances, their smug expressions turning into exaggerated frowns, which only caused the women to laugh louder.

Even Philip's composure slipped and a faint smile crept onto his face. Aurelia noticed it, her heart swelling at the sight of her husband joining in the merriment.

As they made their way into the house, Thomas remarked, "It is quite a rare thing for us all to be gathered like this. Not at some grand ball or event, but for a quiet dinner amongst friends."

The group nodded in agreement.

Catherine gave a grateful smile and said, "Thank you for organizing this Aurelia. It is lovely."

Aurelia beamed, pleased that her efforts were appreciated. "It was my pleasure. I thought it would be nice to have a more intimate evening."

At Aurelia's signal, the maids stepped forward to guide the guests to their rooms for the night. Oliver, however, held up a hand. "I am afraid I must leave after dinner," he said, his tone apologetic.

Aurelia's smile dimmed slightly, though she did her best to hide her disappointment. "That is a shame," she replied. "But we are glad to have you with us, even if it is only for a little while."

Inside the dining room the long, beautifully set table glittered with crystal and silver, the soft candlelight casting a warm, welcoming glow over the room. The smell of roast meats and fragrant herbs wafted in the air, setting a festive tone as everyone took their seats.

The dinner began with light conversation, stories shared between the couples about their latest outings and experiences.

Laughter filled the room and the mood was lively and relaxed. Aurelia found herself thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere, something she had never before experienced. She had always been somewhat of a solitary figure, the only child in a family that had sheltered her from much of Society. Now, for the first time, she was surrounded by friends and felt a true sense of belonging.

"This is wonderful," she said, her voice soft and sincere. "This is my first time hosting and it…it is really quite special. I never had anything like this growing up. Friends. Dinner parties. It is all so new and wonderful."

Philip, seated beside her, leaned back and gave her an affectionate smile. "If you want to host a dinner party every night, my dear, I shall see to it that it is done," he said, his tone half teasing and a genuine warmth infusing his words.

Their friends, however, couldn't resist teasing them.

"My, my," Kenneth drawled with a grin, "I never thought I would live to see the day Philip would be so openly affectionate."

Thomas smirked. "Indeed. If anyone had told me, I would not have believed it."

Philip, unfazed by their jests, leaned back in his chair with a casual air. "Neither would I," he replied smoothly. "But yet, here we are."

The men shared knowing looks and Aurelia couldn't help but laugh at their lighthearted exchange. It was strange to see Philip so comfortable, but it warmed her heart.

As the evening wore on the conversations continued to flow, the clinking of glasses and the rich laughter of friends filling the room. Aurelia looked around at the scene with a full heart. She had been nervous about hosting her first dinner party, but now she felt a quiet sense of pride. She had done it and it had been a success.

Philip's gaze lingered on her, his expression one of deep admiration. As their eyes met across the table he gave her a slow, meaningful smile and at that moment, Aurelia realized that this warmth, this companionship, was what she had missing for so long.

After dinner the men ventured outside for their evening smoke as while the women gathered in the cozy drawing room, the soft glow of candlelight setting the perfect atmosphere.

As per Aurelia's instructions, Eilidh served them tea, moving about the room with quiet efficiency. The women settled, cups and saucers in hand as they exchanged light conversation.

Catherine leaned towards Aurelia with a teasing smile. "So, it seems your relationship with Philip has changed for the better since we last gathered," she remarked, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

A blush crept up Aurelia's cheeks and she raised the teacup to her face in a futile attempt to hide it.

The memory of the past few days with Philip played in her mind; how they had grown closer and how their once-distant marriage had taken a turn she had not anticipated.

"I suppose it has," she admitted softly, nodding. "I am his wife, after all. It would be unwise for me to focus on the difficult parts of our union, especially when…" she trailed off, before she let out a soft dramatic sigh. "Especially when I know there is no getting out of it."

The women chuckled lightly at her words, but Beatrice's face took on a more serious expression. Setting her teacup down on the table with a quiet clink, she leaned in.

"What about your father?" she asked, her voice low and cautious, as though wary of reopening old wounds.

Aurelia let out a deep breath, setting her cup down on its saucer; Beatrice's inquiry had momentarily startled her.

"I still do not know," she confessed, her tone tinged with frustration. "Philip has not told me anything as of yet."

Catherine and Beatrice exchanged surprised glances, clearly taken aback.

"You mean, even now? After everything?" Catherine asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Aurelia shook her head, a sad smile playing on her lips. "He has his reasons, I suppose, although I still do not understand them. But I have come to realize that dwelling on it only creates more distance between us. I…I am ready to move on from it."

Catherine tilted her head, studying her for a moment. "You have a good heart," she said quietly. "Few women would be able to choose their husbands over their fathers."

Aurelia shrugged, trying to conceal the turmoil that Catherine's words stirred up inside her. "I am not certain that I have chosen one over the other," she replied slowly. "At some point I still must find a way to speak with my father. There are too many unanswered questions. But for now, I want to focus on my marriage."

Her friends nodded in understanding, but Aurelia's thoughts had already wandered.

Even as she spoke the words, she realized how much her perspective had changed. She no longer saw Philip as the cold, vengeful Duke who had taken her away from her father. He wasn't the monster she had initially made him out to be, hellbent on taking revenge on her father. He was a man wounded by the tragic loss of his brother, struggling to protect the life he had built.

Aurelia had initially been determined to protect her father from Philip's wrath, but now, seeing Philip's pain so clearly, she felt a pang of guilt. He had lost the only family he had left and she had been too blinded by her loyalty to her father to recognize that.

"I was so foolish," she murmured, almost to herself.

Catching her words, Catherine raised an eyebrow. "Foolish? Whatever do you mean?"

Aurelia shook her head, feeling the weight of her earlier actions settle heavily on her chest.

"I was so focused on protecting my father, on trying to gain information from Philip, that I never stopped to consider his side of the story. Gabriel was his brother, his only family, and I…" She paused, swallowing down the guilt that threatened to overwhelm her. "I feel awful about it now."

Especially when she thought of how eager she had been to seduce Philip to pull herself out of the dark.

Beatrice's eyes softened as she reached over to place a hand on Aurelia's arm. "You are not to blame for wanting to protect your family. Any of us would have done the same."

Aurelia gave a weak smile in appreciation of the sentiment, knowing it didn't lessen the weight of her guilt.

"What matters right now is that your opinion about him has changed," Catherine said.

Aurelia nodded. "I see Philip in a different light now," she continued, her voice quieter. "He is not the man I thought he was. He has been deeply hurt. I feel as though I have let him down."

Catherine leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. "Do you love him?"

The question hung in the air and Aurelia felt her heart flutter at the thought.

Love .

It was a word she hadn't dared to entertain, not in the early days of her marriage to Philip when they had been so distant, so cold toward one another. But now…now things were different.

"I think I do," Aurelia admitted softly. "It is strange, isn't it? To have been so focused on protecting my father, and now I find myself…" She hesitated, her gaze falling to the floor as though the words were too fragile to speak aloud.

"You have fallen for him," Beatrice concluded with a knowing smile.

Aurelia nodded, a blush coloring her cheeks. "Yes, I have indeed fallen for him, and it terrifies me."

Catherine exchanged a glance with Beatrice before smiling warmly at Aurelia. "Well, I think you have done quite well. It takes a strong heart to move past the pain and see the good in others."

Aurelia took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of their support.

And at that moment she knew that her heart belonged to Philip, no matter what uncertainties lay ahead.