“Ha! You don’t know me as well as you think you do, Maggie,” he said softly, though he drew her even closer still. Had they not been married, their position now would have been completely scandalous for her body was practically pressed against his own.
“Don’t I?” She was still smiling. “You eat dinner as well as breakfast with me now.” She looked down at his chest, her cheeks blushing a deeper shade of red. “I like this version of you.”
Theodore sighed.
This version of me? Or is it just… me?
He’d got used to being alone in this house for so long, the staff his only friends, that it was strange now to think of having a family within these walls.
Unsure what else to say to Maggie, he just turned her in his arms, practically embracing her. His lips came near her forehead, and he so nearly gave into the temptation to kiss the exposed skin there. It was a temptation that thrummed through him. He thought he heard her inhale.
Is she hoping for that kiss, too?
Then it was over. The music came to an end and Theodore was forced to release her and step back, the two of them bowing and curtseying to each other.
Something had changed once again between them in those few minutes. Though they had argued, there was a softness, a presence of something he had not expected to find.
He offered his hand to her, and she took it, without hesitation. He led her toward the end of the floor, as out of the corner of his eye, he saw the business acquaintance arrive that he had been hoping for so long to work with.
“He’s here,” Theodore whispered.
“Who?”
“Mr. Harold Bates. He has big connections in the spice trades in the east.”
“He is the man you have been hoping to do business with?”
“Yes.”
“Then come. Let’s meet him.” Maggie’s determination made him smile.
This is what I wanted. A wife who would not be afraid to help me in this endeavor.
“Mr. Bates?” Theodore called as he drew near to the gentleman.
“Ah, Your Grace.” Mr. Bates turned to face him. The balding man had a rather soft face. His eyes shifted quickly between Theodore and Maggie.
Theodore saw at once what he had suspected the multiple times he had asked for a meeting before. Mr. Bates was a man known for his ethical business practices and as part of that, he never worked with anyone he couldn’t trust. The kindly face had calculating and judging eyes.
“I was surprised to have received your invitation,” Mr. Bates said softly, offering a bow to the two of them.
“You are most welcome here this evening.” Theodore gestured to Maggie. “May I introduce my wife, the Duchess of Thornfield.”
“It is lovely to meet you, sir,” Margaret said, curtseying hurriedly. “I have heard much about you from my husband. I believe he aspires to be quite like you in business.”
“Oh, really?” The compliment did its work for Mr. Bates pinkened a little. “That is most kind. I must admit that I am startled by such a thing. The rumors, Your Grace… well, it would be rude of me to mention them. No, no, forgive me, I should not have spoken thus.”
“Please, do not apologize.” Theodore shook his head. “You would not be the first, nor will you be the last, to fear that my businessinvestments are not entirely reputable. It is not the case, however.” He looked at Margaret, praying that having her at her side would help. “I pray such opinions are about to change.”
“They will.” Maggie spoke with confidence and looped her hand through the crook of his arm.
Mr. Bates smiled as he looked between them.
“Your Grace,” he addressed Margaret. “I believe you are the daughter of Viscount Edlerglen. Such an old family indeed.”
“Yes, I come from a long line, sir.”
Theodore could have sighed at how this apparently made a difference, especially when he was a duke.
