Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

“ W here is Her Grace, Mrs. Farley? We were supposed to leave for the ball an hour ago. The sun has set, and our carriage is waiting,” Simon complained to the housekeeper from the bottom of the stairs.

Placing a hand over the fluttering in her stomach, Octavia took a deep breath and composed herself.

She had spent a lot of time with Mrs. Farley and the dressmaker preparing for the ball. Part of her wanted the rest of the ton to see that everything was as it should have been. Yet she knew deep down that she had chosen the dress for Simon. She wanted him to look at her as he had done in the pool.

“I can assure you that Her Grace will be down soon, Your Grace. It takes time for a lady to make herself ready.” Mrs. Farley held the fort while Octavia worked up the courage to come down.

“Married life will be the death of me…” Simon grumbled loud enough for Octavia to hear, irritation dripping from his words.

Taking her cue from the tone of his voice, Octavia stepped out of the hallway and placed her hand on the top of the banister.

Letting out a breath through her pursed lips, she blinked a few times before looking at Simon.

“How hard can it be to…” The Duke suddenly stopped, his words tapering off as he unfolded his arms and turned to Octavia with his mouth slightly agape.

He’s looking at me.

Her heart tumbled uncontrollably in her chest, causing the pit of her stomach to flutter furiously.

“Well, Your Grace, do you approve?” Octavia angled her head to the side with a cheeky smile.

She teased him with a curtsy that exposed her cleavage ever so slightly. Her godmother had always told her that the art of seduction was in the minor details for a man.

The gown of white silk and silver trimmings had been chosen for the elegant way that the fabric clung to her figure. Her tight corset pushed up her chest, highlighting the swelling of her breasts. Her thick black hair had been braided and pinned to the back of her head with dozens of tiny white pearls. The fine diamonds in her ears and around her neck sparkled in the light of the candles in their sconces.

“You… you look… beautiful,” Simon stammered, swallowing hard when she began to descend the stairs.

His eyes drank in her appearance, never leaving her for a moment.

The bright red shawl she had chosen, hung over her arms in a scarlet river of silk, finishing off her look with a pop of brilliant color.

“Thank you, Your Grace. Mrs. Farley and I knew that you wouldn’t mind waiting. Do you like my shawl? I felt that it adds much-needed brightness to the plain dress.”

She took her time descending the stairs, allowing Simon the time to take everything in. She knew she had placated his frustration when he closed his mouth and took a deep breath. His chest rose and fell beneath the neat black dinner jacket.

“It will certainly help if you feel a chill,” he responded coolly and stood up straight, yet Octavia could tell that she had caught him off guard.

His eyes moved over her figure, lingering over her waist and breasts for a little too long.

Mrs. Farley smiled knowingly, pursing her lips in an attempt to hide her approval. “Well, I think that my work here is done, I bid you both a wonderful evening, Your Graces.”

She curtsied politely and hurried away, leaving Simon and Octavia alone.

Stifling a giggle, Octavia reached the bottom of the stairs and met his gaze.

“Well, Your Grace? Shall we go? I know we should have left for the ball an hour ago. All these pearls and frills take time to perfect,” she teased him gently, letting him know that she had heard his complaints.

Simon coughed into his hand before allowing the corner of his mouth to tilt into a smile.

“Yes, yes. Let’s.” He held his arm out to her with a veiled look in his eyes.

Her heart skittered again when she looped her arm into his, feeling the warmth of his skin seep through her glove.

“I hope you don’t find the ball this evening too tiresome, Your Grace.” She spoke softly to him, not wanting to break the spell that had suddenly formed between them.

Things seemed lighter somehow, more tangible and real.

Their relationship was beginning to change in ways that she hadn’t expected. She felt closer to him as a tiny spark of hope took flame in her chest.

“It shouldn’t be too tiresome. I’m not saying that I will want to stay to the end, but one or two dances wouldn’t hurt.” He spoke stiffly, smiling at her from the corner of his mouth.

Octavia looked up in surprise as they neared the front doors where a footman was waiting to whisk them into the carriage. Was he secretly confessing to enjoying her company? Her heart leaped into her throat as they stepped into the cool summer air.

What am I hoping will happen between us?

The evening ahead suddenly felt more daunting as she realized that her feelings toward her husband were beginning to change over time.

As slow and steady as the flowing of a river, she was beginning to enjoy his company.

The ball teamed with guests chattering away when Octavia and Simon entered the room. Ladies stopped to stare, whispering behind their fans with excited chatter as the Duke led her into the throng.

“Did you see? It’s them; they’ve apparently been in love for years. They held back on getting married because the Duke’s brother wanted to marry her cousin.” A blonde lady wearing a lemon-yellow gown whispered to her friends excitedly.

“Can you think of anything more romantic?” One of her friends almost swooned as she began to fan herself faster.

Octavia smiled to herself and glanced at Simon out of the corner of her eye. He didn’t seem to be paying the women any mind, yet he seemed to be scanning the room. For what or whom, she wasn’t sure. Her heart fluttered a little when sudden thoughts of jealousy entered her mind. Did he have a lover before she came along?

No.

That wasn’t a likely scenario, given his history with his parents. He was more than likely scanning the room in an attempt to see how people were reacting to their presence.

“Octavia! I’m so happy you could come.” Matilda locked eyes on the couple and rushed forward, flinging her arms around her goddaughter.

“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” Octavia giggled in delight, embracing Matilda.

Taking a step back, Matilda looked her over. “Let’s have a look at you then. I heard a rumor that the dressmaker was seen heading to your estate with the finest silk,” she gushed with a contended sigh as if she were admiring a great work of art.

Octavia gave a small spin and fanned her shawl about her.

Matilda nodded in approval and clapped her hands together gleefully. “Marvelous, you look simply marvelous. Married life is treating you well I can see.” She winked at Simon who seemed to stiffen under the attention.

“I see you have arrived, good. It wouldn’t have been wise to stay away.” Uncle Jack joined Matilda at her side and greeted Octavia and Simon.

“You are looking well, Uncle Jack. Has Matilda been feeding you again?” Octavia teased him gently with a wink at her godmother, hoping to defuse the tension she felt from her husband.

Matilda gave her a knowing smile before looping her arm into Jack’s. The gesture seemed to divert him a little as he smiled down at her, making Octavia wonder again if there wasn’t anything going on between them.

Remembering her cousin, Octavia changed the subject. “Uncle Jack, have you heard anything from Isolde? I was hoping she would have written by now.”

The Earl shook his head sadly before clenching his jaw. “I am afraid not. We need to focus on keeping up appearances with the two of you instead. I am doing all that I can to find them both, but things will only get better once you and the Duke have sired an heir. The ton is beginning to believe that the two of you have indeed been in love. I would like to keep it that way.”

Simon shifted uncomfortably before clearing his throat.

Noticing the change in atmosphere, Matilda bumped his arm. “Let’s not interrogate them, Jack; allow them to settle in first. Don’t spoil the evening when you’ve chosen such a dashing coat.”

To Octavia’s great surprise, her uncle blushed a little and seemed sheepish. She wanted to observe them more when the Dowager Duchess suddenly appeared from among the crowd.

“I see that the armies have gathered; it does warm my heart to see you all getting along.” Bernice stopped in front of the group and leaned on her cane.

“It’s an honor to have you join us this evening, Your Grace.” Matilda curtsied politely along with Octavia.

Having made her introductions, Bernice turned to her grandson and Octavia. “And I am still waiting on an invitation for tea. The gardens looked quite lovely the last time I visited the mansion. I trust that our new duchess has refrained from climbing any more trees?”

Octavia blushed as her godmother shot her a confused frown.

Smirking with a satisfied grin, Bernice turned to Simon. “And you are looking quite dapper this evening, Your Grace. I can see that married life has been treating you well. It’s quite unusual to see you looking so content at a social gathering.” She raised her eyebrow in a question.

Simon narrowed his eyes at his grandmother. “And it is quite astonishing to see you looking so well, especially considering your recent scare with your health, Grandmamma.”

Bernice chuckled and shook her head. “Perhaps it is the glow emanating from you and the new duchess. It does seem to be quite catching.” She winked at Octavia, adding to Simon’s annoyance as he grumbled under his breath.

“They do make quite the fetching pair,” Matilda chimed in, seemingly enjoying the light banter.

Noticing how irritable Simon was getting, Octavia chimed in, “Do you mind if I take a turn about the room with my godmother? There are a few people that I would like to greet.”

She gave her husband an endearing smile, hoping that the mood would lighten if his grandmother stopped her teasing. There was something very endearing about the older woman and the way she teased her grandson, yet Simon seemed to take the bait at every turn.

“I think that would be a good idea, I’ve spotted my good friend, Arthur.” He nodded to Octavia and left the group, making his way across the room.

Matilda exchanged an amused glance with Octavia and hooked their arms, dragging her away when the Dowager Duchess began to tease her uncle.

“It seems as if things are going well between you and the Duke?” she asked Octavia in hushed tones as they made their way through the crowd.

Glancing over her shoulder, Octavia caught a glimpse of her husband’s broad shoulders before he disappeared into the throng.

“We are still getting to know each other.” She turned back to her godmother with a forced smile.

It was still perplexing to her how he was hot one minute and cold the next. Things were good between them when he opened up. She felt as if she knew him a little better after their talk beside the pool.

“That’s all right; it takes time for a couple to truly know one another. The most important thing is that you take time to spend together. Only then, will you truly know one another.” Matilda gave her a reassuring smile.

“We have been spending quite a bit of time together, actually.” Her heart fluttered when she recalled their intimate moments.

“I knew you and the Duke were a good match.” Matilda smiled broadly and gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “It won’t be long now until the first heir is on the way. A baby will truly bring the two of you together.”

Octavia offered her a smile in exchange for the advice, swallowing hard when she glanced back at Simon.

I hope we can truly get to know one another. Even with the absence of a child.