Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

T he weeks went by quickly and soon guests were filling the hall of the Devlin estate in an array of colorful evening gowns. Victoria was very nervous up until the moment she had to descend the stairs.

Everything had gone well during the planning and execution of her plans but she knew that events always came with a surprising twist of events.

Anthony had told her she worried too much but he too had been worried, hosting so many people in his family’s home after spending so long away from society and while she knew his reasons were grounded, she tried to tamp down her fear for his sake.

They had been a great deal of comfort for each other and even the dowager duchess had proven a great help, proffering knowledge and pointing out things she may have missed as well as reassuring her that they had a good plan.

"My!" the dowager duchess exclaimed. "You look beautiful."

Victoria smiled and looked down at her dress, thanking her once she reached the foot of the stairs.

"You look as regal as ever, Your Grace," she complimented. "Where is Anthony?"

He had given her permission to use his given name now and even though it had been uncomfortable at first, there was something about moaning a man’s name that made it easier on the tongue.

"Oh he went to change his cravat." She laughed like it was a joke but meeting Victoria’s confused face, she explained. "Anthony has always been nervous about going out into society and it was always evident in how many times he made changes to his outfit. I used to have to drag him out of his chambers when he was younger but that will be your job now."

Victoria laughed and shook her head, returning to his chamber and truly, there he was, trying out different cravats.

So focused was he that he had not noticed her presence so she leaned against the wall, watching him as he struggled to tie and retie the chosen cloth.

"Damn it!" He groaned throwing the offending garment down.

She laughed despite herself startling him.

"How long have you been standing there?" he asked running a hand through his carefully styled hair.

"Long enough."

He sighed and handed her another carefully ironed cravat.

"Help me."

She nodded and took the garment from him, pushing him to sit at the edge of the bed. He obeyed and had a look on his face that reminded her of Diana as a child.

She smiled fondly and ruffled his hair with her hands as she would a child. She wondered for a brief moment if this was how his child would be.

When she was done tying it, she stepped back to admire her handiwork and smiled to herself.

"You look handsome."

He smiled and rose to fix his hair in the mirror.

"Thank you." He said.

She half expected a compliment but he said nothing and her face fell.

"Where is my mother?" he asked, turning to her and she fixed her face.

"She’s waiting in the parlor. I’m sure guests are arriving now. We need to head downstairs."

"Alright." He told her, leading the way.

He led her down the stairs and kissed his mother’s cheek.

"You look divine." He complimented and the woman tittered like a little girl.

Victoria tried not to feel bad but she couldn’t help the pang of hurt that crossed her heart. He had not even noticed the effort she had put into her outfit but she couldn’t dwell on the negative feelings because her sister and father arrived with her sister’s baron in tow.

"Father! Charity!" She cried rushing to hug them.

"Victoria!" they answered, hugging her.

"You look wonderful!" Charity cried.

"Thank you, sister."

"How are you, Father?" Victoria asked, still nervous about meeting his eyes.

They had not really talked much since before the wedding and she knew she had shamed him immensely.

"I am well, daughter." He smiled at her. "You look wonderful. I am glad the duke is taking good care of you."

"He is." She smiled.

"Your Grace, it was a pleasure to receive an invitation to your home."

She turned back to see Robert, the Baron of Wentford, and her sister’s love, greet Anthony. He was young and handsome and had an awed look on his face as he shook her husband’s hand.

"It is my pleasure to have you here as well, Lord…"

"Wentford, Your Grace," he answered, eyes wide. "The Baron of Wentford."

Her husband nodded.

"I hope you enjoy the party." He told him.

The baron nodded and let himself be led in by an excited looking Charity and she smiled as she watched them.

They were both so excited that Charity had forgotten to introduce him to her. She would get around to greeting them later.

"Oh Theo." She smiled pleasantly as he stepped through the doors. "Are you here alone?"

She did not notice his wife. Perhaps she had chosen to stay back for the baby’s sake.

"Yes, I am." He answered smiling at her then turning to the duke. "Good evening, Your Grace. I must say you have a beautiful home and an even more beautiful wife. You’re a lucky man."

"I thank you, Lord…"

"Seton. The Earl of Seton." Theo answered looking visibly ruffled her husband had not known him.

"Oh. I knew your father an age ago." Anthony answered.

"I am sorry for your loss,," Anthony said honestly with a sad look on his face. "Please accept my condolences."

"I thank you, Your Grace." Theo bowed. "I should go in now so you can welcome your other guests. I will be seeing you later."

"Alright, Theo. It’s a pleasure having you." Victoria added as he walked off.

They greeted a number of guests and then when it seemed they had welcomed every one, she and Anthony returned inside and she stole away briefly to sort some small inconvenience with the maids, returning promptly to her husband’s side.

She was surprised at the turn out and considering the crush, she could say that their ball was a success by many standards. She had ordered the footmen to open the garden doors so the air would not be stifling and so far she was thankful that the dowager duchess had advised her to prepare for the large number of guests.

She would have to find the woman and thank her later but first, she had to help her husband entertain their guests.

"Is everything alright?" He asked when she inserted herself by his side.

"Yes. I just wanted to ensure everything was well." She answered with a sigh.

"Have some punch." He said, procuring her a glass.

She nodded her thanks.

They took a turn about the room and when she caught her Father’s eye, they glistened with a smile and she smiled back.

"Would you like to dance?" He asked soon.

She nodded in surprise and placed her hand in his.

He led her out to the floor as the instrumentalist started a new tune and she smiled in surprise as he moved gracefully to the tune.

"I did not know you liked to dance, husband." She stated with a smile as they fell into step.

"There are a lot of things you are yet to know about me, wife." He smiled.

He was in a visibly good mood and for that she was thankful as she knew he did not like being in crowds and he had confessed being nervous the night before but he had done quite well, even smiling and making small talk with the members of the ton she had steered him to and even those that had braved their fear to come up to him.

Overall, the whispers she had overheard all said the same things. That the Duke of Devlin was not the devil he was rumored to be. She had even heard one matron telling the others that he was positively charming.

She smiled then causing him to send her a questioning look.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I was just thinking about how many women have described you as charming tonight." She answered. "If you weren’t already married, I would be fighting of women for your attention. Have you noticed the number of adoring eyes on you?"

He looked around and sighed, shaking his head with a small laugh.

"I see what you mean." He alluded. "You’re fulfilling your end of the bargain quite well."

She beamed at the compliment.

"Thank you, husband."

He nodded and leaned closer to her ear.

"I haven’t told you yet but you look absolutely beautiful tonight."

She blushed and lowered her eyes.

She had hoped to impress him when she had commissioned the dress; an elegant evening gown in a forest green silk with gold embroideries around the hem and neckline which was lower than she preferred. It had been an extravagant purchase but she hoped it would gain her favor with him.

"I thank you."

He smiled softly at her and turned her about again.

She had never particularly enjoyed dancing but she found herself flowing from one song to the next, completely content in his arms and she couldn’t deny it then.

She had fallen for her husband.

He had been thoroughly supportive while preparations for the ball had been underway and she had come to see new sides of him with each day that passed.

He had been quirky, funny, sweet and thoughtful, sitting through boring conversations including colors of curtains and at night, he had touched in ways and places that had her blushing when he caught her gaze.

Even now with his hands on her hips, she felt the stirrings of desire and turned away to hide her eyes from him but it appeared she did it a minute too late because he whispered in her ears words that had her reddening.

"I know what you’re thinking and if you can wait the next few hours, I can bring it to pass."

She blushed and slapped his chest.

"You’re very naughty." She told him. "Someone could have overheard you."

"And they would have gone on their merry way because we are married." He reminded her and spun her, pulling her closer than was appropriate to his body as if proving a point. "You see. No one even bats an eye."

True to his word, she was overreacting.

She let herself get lost in him and the music and for a moment, it seemed she was in a fairytale.

* * *

The Viscount of Wynten watch his daughters take a turn about the room with the men they loved and he could be sure Victoria had come to love her husband from the way she held on to him and smiled so affectionately with her eyes.

It was nothing like the practiced smiles he had seen her give rude mamas or even the soft smiles reserved for her friends her sisters.

She laughed fully and smiled brightly, her face transforming to reveal how young she actually was.

A tear came to his eye as he saw just how much she resembled her mother. He was happy that she had found love in her husband after she had looked like she would be resigned to a life of spinsterhood.

He had not been proud of the way she had gotten him to marry her but she could see that even the Duke was taken with his wife.

He too had been unable to keep his eyes off her over the course of the evening and now as they danced, he even noticed him flirt and charm Victoria. It did not take him much to know he had something entirely inappropriate as his daughter reddened.

He was grateful their relationship seemed to be progressing healthily and could only hope his other daughters would enjoy the same in their marriages.

Speaking of his other daughter…

He turned to find Charity, who had a penchant for mischief and caught her sneaking out of the ballroom and could only guess as to why.

He pursued after her because he did not want another scandal on his hand. It would not be seemly if two of his daughters had their reputations ruined before eventually getting married.

Diana’s reputation might not recover from the scandal and he did not want to have to deal with that.