An afternoon’s rest had done wonders for her mood. Of course, discovering that Lord Archie had lied in nearly every conversation they’d had might have done something to ease her worries. Her husband had no mistress. And hated the silkin the dining room as well. He taken time to show her, before the footman removed it, the place where, as a boy, he’d made charcoal alterations to the anatomy of one of the shepherdesses and expressed some relief that the evidence would be permanently removed by the redecorating.She touched a curl. And Authur liked her hair. She glanced down at the ring on her finger and smiled again. He hadn’t abandoned her at all, but had been thinking of her while in London. And he’d remembered the ring. It was a sentimental choice for a man she’d thought cared only for obedience and appearance. And he’d kissed it as he had the ring he put on her finger the day they were married.She hid a blush. Perhaps it was foolish and courting disappointment to spin fancies abou

She toyed with the keys on her chain, watching them shine in the morning sunlight. It had been a lovely gift, but what did it mean? It made her happy to look at them, but was Authur happy that she wore them?Perhaps she should be more like Lucille. He’d never suggested it, but if he could have a happier, kinder, more devoted version of his first wife, Authur might not look so sad and brood so on the past. If she were someone who could embroider useless frills and paint inferior watercolours, and sit at the spinet in the evenings, singing tedious songs in bad French, someone who could display her good breeding to the best advantage of her husband.She sighed. If she could be someone she could never be. The servants in this house knew their place better than she did. Of course they hadn’t known it until she’d arrived and taken charge of them, but what did that prove? That she’d make a better housekeeper than a duchess, she supposed.And what was left to her now?Gardening, perhaps. She

When she seated herself at breakfast, her husband was, as usual, working his way through a stack of letters. He glanced up and passed an elegant engraved card down the table to her.‘Did you sleep well?’ he inquired.‘Yes. Thank you.’ And it was yet another lie. She had tossed and turned all night. Thinking of him.If he was aware of her troubled mind as she drank her coffee, he concealed it well. ‘It seems we have been invited to our first ball. An old family friend. I am sure he and his wife are most eager to meet the new duchess. Please see to the response.’She stared blankly down at the invitation. ‘I suppose we must attend?’He glanced back at her, arching an eyebrow. ‘I am surprised, madam, that is not the response I expected from you. You are supposed to go into raptures at the chance to finally have a social life in this Godforsaken county.You will answer immediatelyin the affirmative, and then return to me at lunch to beg and sweet talk and cajole until I agree that you mu

She woke the next morning in a fog of confusion. Even before opening her eyes she realised that things were different. The smells were wrong. And she was warmer than she had been in her own cold white sheets.Then she remembered. And opened her eyes. He was already awake, leaning against one arm and smiling down at her. Outside the hangings of the bed she could hear the personal attendant moving around, readying to receive the duke‘Good morning,’ he whispered. ‘Did you sleep well?’‘Yes, thank you.’ She had, she realised, and the fact surprised her. She had been restless ever since coming here, and her easiest nights had been in the first weeks, when she’d,worked herself to exhaustion and fallen into bed. But last night, after forcing herself into his bed to grant his request,she’d found more peace than she’d felt in a long time. It seemed there was even less to be afraid of than she thought.‘And you? Did you sleep well?’He stretched and yawned. ‘That was the best night’s rest I’v

Parton supervised her dressing, which was just as well since Gwen was in such a state as to hardly know her own body.Every part of her felt new and tingling. The gown set off the emeralds. Her hair was piled high on her head and dressed with tiny diamond clips that sparkled in the firelight.When it was time to go, there was a knock on the front door of her room. Parton opened it and her husband stood, framed in the doorway, staring at her.She turned in a circle before him. When she faced him again, his eyes devoured her. ‘Magnificent.’ He complimented.‘Do I please you?’ She asked shyly‘Very much so.’ He took her hand and stroked it before bringing it to his lips. Then he escorted her to the carriage, handed her in and seated himself across from her.She glanced at the seat beside her and wondered why he chose to be so far away.As if reading her mind he answered, ‘Parton’s handiwork will be safer if I keep my distance from you, my dear.’‘In what way?’‘In the privacy of this car