Edward was sure that Margaret was just as irritated by him as he was by her. A part of him wanted to demand to know what the problem was, but another part of him had no intention of giving her the satisfaction of asking. She was the one who had insisted that she should come along to this ball. She had no right to complain about anything now.
Of course, I’m sure that isn’t going to stop her.
They pulled up to Hartford Manor and got out of the carriage. Almost at once, Margaret was distracted by some friends of hers, and Edward was glad. They were going to get a reprieve from her, even if it was destined to be a short one.
He spotted Lord Kennilworth just inside the front door. “Come,” he said to Lydia. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
Lydia looked a bit uneasy, but she also looked eager. “All right,” she agreed. “Who is it?”
They had reached the door. “This is Lord Kennilworth,” he said. “He’s one of my business associates. Lord Kennilworth, you remember my wife, I believe, the new Duchess of Westfrey?”
“Ah, yes,” Lord Kennilworth said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you in person, Your Grace. You looked lovely on your wedding day, but we didn’t get to have a conversation.”
“Yes, it’s a pity,” Lydia agreed. “But I’m glad we’re having the chance to get to know one another a little bit better now.”
“And this is my wife, Lady Kennilworth,” Lord Kennilworth said.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Lady Kennilworth beamed.
“I must say, we wouldn’t have expected to see the two of you here,” Lord Kennilworth said.
“I’m getting that impression!” Lydia laughed. “Tell me, does my husbandeverattend parties?”
“Only very rarely,” Lord Kennilworth replied. “But you must bring it out in him, I suppose. Well done, Your Grace. Everyone’s wondered for a long time whether there was anything that might compel the Duke to leave his isolation and mingle with Society, and I suppose now we’ve finally found that thing. He was seeking the approval of a lady all this time.”
“I was doing no such thing,” Edward objected.
“Oh, Your Grace, don’t be shy about it,” Lady Kennilworth said. “To long for the approval of your wife is an admirable thing. And what’s more, it’s obvious by the expression on her face that you’ve earned it. The two of you make a wonderful pair. And you’re a delight,” she added to Lydia. “I won’t try to take up too much of your time just now, but I look forward to spending more time with the both of you later.” She took her husband’s arm. “Let’s mingle.”
“That seemed to go well,” Lydia said as Lord and Lady Kennilworth walked away. “Did you think so?”
“They certainly liked you,” Edward agreed.
“And that was what you were hoping for when we got married,” she pointed out. “That you would be able to bring me in front of your business associates, and that they would like me.”
“It does help to see them find favor with you,” Edward admitted. “I may need to start bringing you along when I travel for business.”
“Do you mean that?”
“If it’s going to serve my interests, of course I mean it,” Edward said. “You know that this is the most important thing to me.”
“I do know,” Lydia agreed. “And it’s exciting. I always dreamed of traveling.”
“Did you, really? You never told me that.”
“I’ve never told you much at all,” she said. “We hardly know one another.”
“Well, I’m glad to know this about you now,” Edward replied. “I do think we’ll be able to be friends. It seems we share a common interest.”
“You like to travel?”
“That surprises you?”
“I didn’t think you liked anything as much as you liked work.”
He laughed. “You ought to be careful,” he said. “Teasing me like that.”
“Being careful has never been my strength.”
