Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

"Married life certainly agrees with you," Cassie said, linking her arm in mine as we strolled through Hyde Park on a sunny afternoon about a week after my marriage. Jeffrey had been called away by urgent matters and I took the opportunity to visit with my friend.

"Thank you," I said, suppressing a wide grin. "I am surprisingly happy."

"I am happy for you, your grace," Cassie said.

I stopped short and since we were connected at the elbow, she did as well. "Please, Cassie. You must call me Sarah. I insist."

"It would not be proper," she said. "You are the wife of The Duke of Amherst. Life will never be the way it was before." Her pretty eyes held my gaze. "But we will always be friends, no matter how exalted you become."

"Cassie!" I play-swatted at her arm and we continued our stroll with a laugh.

"So," she whispered to me as we turned the corner into a topiary garden, "is married life everything you… um… hoped it would be?"

I shrugged. "‘Tis too early to say, but I will admit that I enjoy it very much."

Cassie took my arm and dragged me down to sit upon a bench. "I meant…" she blushed, "the things, you know, the things married people do." She was barely able to get the words out but the urgency of her tone gave me pause.

Once I understood her meaning, I blushed as well. "Yes," I said, a smile pulling at my lips. "It is … wonderful."

"Bu-but, what happens? What does it feel like?" Cassie blew out a breath. "I have asked Tallie the same questions but she is vague. I suppose she does not feel it would be a good idea to put such personal matters in a letter, and she is likely correct, but I am most curious, and anxious, to know about these things."

I looked at my sweet friend. I had arrived in my marriage bed a complete innocent about the happenings and now, with nearly a fortnight of experience, I could see how fortunate I was to have a skilled teacher such as Jeffrey. But, what on earth could I tell Cassie without divulging information which Jeffrey would no doubt find too personal to share, not to mention that I did not even have the words to convey the experience properly.

"With the right man," I said, "it is an incredible experience which I cannot adequately describe to you."

Cassie huffed out a breath. "Truly? I thought that if anyone would be able to enlighten me, it would be you."

"I am sorry I cannot say more. Perhaps you could ask Lady Katherine?"

"I would die of embarrassment," Cassie said. "It took all my nerve to ask you and all you can do in response is smile dreamily and tell me it can be incredible. With the right man." Her shoulders slumped.

I felt awful. Not only because she was so discouraged but because I honestly was not sure how to begin to describe the ardent couplings I shared with Jeffrey. Racking my brain, I finally said to her, "When you meet a man whose mere touch sends tingles through your body, then you will know he is the right one."

"I-is that how it was with the Duke?"

"Yes, though I was loath to admit it," I said. "I am sorry I cannot be more helpful. Truly I am."

"I suppose I shall have to find this man whose touch makes me tingle," she said, brightening. "Come along, duchess. We need to be seen on a day like this."

Standing, she tugged on my arm and I stood as well, grateful she had not been upset with me.

As we exited the topiary garden, we turned to the right, heading for the main promenade area. The path was already crowded with fashionably dressed ladies out for the afternoon to see and be seen.

Next to me, Cassie stiffened. "Oh no," she whispered.

I followed the direction of her gaze and my heart sank. The Borden sisters, Lady Lizbeth and Lady Emma, attired head to toe in the latest Paris fashions. Lady Lizbeth twirled a parasol the color of a robin's egg as she smiled and flirted with a bevy of dandies who sought her attention.

"Perhaps they will not see us," Cassie said.

"Can we duck into one of the gardens?" I asked.

"No, we have been seen. Lady Emma is glaring at me. They cannot be avoided. Brace for impact."

Cassie's warning made me giggle. The two sisters were like battleships moving through the ton .

Remembering the last encounter with these hateful sisters, I quickly wiped the smile from my face and prepared to bite back all the things I would like to say to them. I dared not cause trouble nor do anything which might reflect poorly upon Jeffrey. He was more important to me than these sisters ever could be, no matter if they did have some imagined ax to grind.

Though I hated the idea of giving way to them, I knew that the wise thing to do was to take a step to the left in order to allow them to pass us with minimal contact. In just a matter of seconds we would be past them and back to enjoying our afternoon.

I drew in a breath and held it. Cassie did the same. Brace for impact.

"Well, my stars, is that you, Sarah?" Lady Lizbeth Borden stopped in her tracks, blocking my progress. Had she just called me by my name? As though we were most intimate friends?

I glanced from side to side, wondering what trick she had up her lacy sleeve.

With no other option, Cassie and I halted our progress.

"How nice to see you," Emma said, giving a slight curtsy then nodded to Cassie. "And you as well, Miss Primrose." Her words and actions seemed friendly, but her demeanor still wreaked of insolence. Nonetheless, Cassie and I returned their greetings.

"I was exceedingly surprised to learn you had married the Duke of Amherst," Lizbeth said. "Though of course, I am very happy for both you and Jeffrey."

The way she used my husband's Christian name rankled me to no end, but I maintained my composure. I refused to allow these snippy girls to get under my skin.

"You know, we are old family friends with Jeffrey," Emma said.

"Strange," I said, unable to restrain myself, "he has not mentioned you." I looked at Lizbeth, then Emma. "Nor you."

"Well," Emma said, with an acid smile. "You have not been acquainted with him for long, he has probably not had time to share much about himself with you. That happens when a marriage is rushed."

Next to me, Cassie made a noise in her throat that sounded suspiciously like a growl.

Brace for impact, indeed.

However, Cassie got herself under control. "I'm sure her grace has many more things to discuss with her husband than the two of you lovely ladies," she said, with an equally acidic smile and heavy emphasis on my title.

"Of course," Lizbeth said, stepping to the side. "We shall not hold you up any further. Do give our regards to Jeffrey."

Cassie and I took half a dozen steps, moving away from them as quickly as we could without drawing undue attention.

"I know what I'd like to give those two," Cassie said once we were away from prying ears. "The nerve of them. I liked it better when they ignored us, but pretending to be your bosom friend now that you are a duchess, well, it is despicable."

Her indignation on my behalf warmed my heart.

Glancing over my shoulder, I was gratified to see Lady Lizbeth step in horse manure.