Chapter 35
Kalina
The luncheon at Windham House was exceptional. It was also far more exclusive than she’d realized it would be. Dukes, duchesses, and the Windhams’ close circle. Thankfully, that meant several of her own friends were there as well, or the experience would have been far more terrifying.
Though all of those present very quickly reverted to a first-name basis, Kalina could not help but feel like an imposter among the haut ton. She had not been born to the title, nor had her husband chosen her to receive it. Her father had tricked him into giving it to her.
The lingering pain in her bottom was a stark reminder of that fact.
Though she also smiled every time she was reminded.
That interlude with her husband had been…
entirely different. The carriage ride to Windham house had been far more comfortable.
They had not spoken of her spanking or the immediate aftermath, but had companionably discussed Fiona and Miss Temple before reaching the house.
It had been rather lovely.
Of course, once they’d arrived, they’d been unable to have any further private discussion, but she had hopes for the future.
Tiffany seemed to notice the difference between them, her eyes widening with question for Kalina before Kalina nodded back.
She could not keep the smile from her face as she did so.
Despite any lingering discomfort, which was as much a reminder of pleasure as anything else, Kalina would have done such a spanking three times over for the change it had effected between her and Nathanial.
After the luncheon, the gentlemen and ladies separated.
The ladies went to the garden rather than the drawing room, as it was a lovely day outside, and Lydia, the Duchess of Windham, apparently wanted to show it off.
It was a truly lovely garden. To Kalina’s surprise, she found herself walking arm in arm with their hostess.
Nerves fluttered through her when the stately blonde tugged her off to the side, away from Tiffany and Lady Astrid, who were bent over an exotic-looking orange bloom.
Kalina could see why it had drawn Lady Astrid’s attention.
She rather wished she was over there with them.
Their elegant hostess was more than a little intimidating.
“I am so glad you and Nathanial came today. I was hoping to speak with you privately,” the duchess said, once they were out of earshot of the others.
Immediately, Kalina steeled herself for some kind of rebuke.
She could only imagine what an established duchess might have to say to a new one who had attained her position by trickery and deceit.
“There are rumors that Nathanial was trapped into marriage with you.”
Kalina did not respond. She did not know what she could say.
It was true. There was very little defense she could make, and trying to explain what had really happened felt like a betrayal of her father.
Besides, saying anything at all would go against the plan Nathanial had outlined for dealing with the ton.
Just because Lydia was a duchess, as far as Kalina knew, that did not change the way he would want her to behave. No one else had made such a blunt statement, which bordered on rudeness and so had always been easy to sidestep.
While she knew her silence damned her, there did not seem to be anything else she could say instead.
To her surprise, Lydia patted her arm where they were entwined, in a kind of consoling gesture.
“Ah. I’d wondered if it was true. If you ever need to speak to anyone who will understand, please feel free to come to me.
” Her smile brightened when Kalina’s head snapped around to stare at her.
“You did not know?” She leaned in, whispering.
“Rumor has it, the Duchess of Windham trapped her duke into marriage as well. And at a house party no less.”
Kalina’s mouth dropped open in shock.
“You?”
“Me,” Lydia confirmed with a nod, then her attention was drawn to another woman coming down the pathway toward them with a mulish expression on her face.
Dressed in a pretty dark pink gown that dipped daringly low in front, almost scandalously low for a daytime dress, the pretty brunette was obviously on a mission.
The Countess of Spencer had quite the reputation as an Original—though cut from a very different cloth than Lady Astrid—and despite her lesser rank, she was even more intimidating than some of the duchesses.
“Yes, Cynthia, can I help you?”
“Are we done with the gardens now? I want to play cards.” Cynthia glanced at Kalina. “Do you know how to play cards?”
“It depends on which game.” Kalina loved playing cards, but there were very few people who would ever play with her. Ashwin had quit in disgust years ago, which quite limited the options of games she could play with her parents.
“Have you ever played American poker?” Cynthia cocked her head.
“Yes… but I do not think my husband would approve of my gambling.” Now that matters seemed to have improved between them, she did not want to risk any act that might upset the boat again.
“Oh, we do not play for money,” Cynthia said, turning and gesturing for Lydia and Kalina to precede her. “We play for secrets and favors.” She winked, though she was obviously feeling impatient. Lydia just laughed and smoothly moved forward, pulling Kalina with her.
It did not take long to install themselves in the card room.
Kalina found herself at a table with Cynthia and Arabella, the Duchess of Windham’s sister-in-law, and Tiffany.
Cynthia and Arabella were clearly very close and both eager to play cards.
At the other table, Lady Astrid had joined Lydia and Lydia’s other sister-in-law, Christina, as well as Lady Marley, whose first name was Daphne.
Kalina had not had the opportunity to speak with either of them for more than a greeting, but it was clear the two were as close as Cynthia and Arabella were.
After winning several rounds of poker, Kalina made sure to lose one. Cynthia was beginning to look a bit pouty, as was Arabella, and even Tiffany was eyeing her a bit askance.
“How are you doing that?” Tiffany murmured when Kalina won the round after that—she truly had intended to lose, but Arabella had done a better job of bluffing than usual, and she had not realized the other woman had nothing in her hand.
“I’ve always been good at card games,” Kalina admitted, though she did not explain that such a statement was vastly understating her skill.
Games of pure luck were not her forte, but if there were skill and an element of chance…
somehow she’d always been able to keep track of the cards.
Which had been played, which had yet to be played.
She had not realized that it was not a universal skill at first, though she’d quickly learned.
Her father had always warned her not to boast about it.
“I would very much like to see you play cards with Matthew sometime,” Tiffany muttered, frowning down at her own hand.
It did not take long before Cynthia decided they should move on to whist—and she insisted on pairing with Kalina. Arabella, on the other hand, seemed to take the tack of wanting to beat Kalina after being so badly trounced at poker. Bemused, Kalina almost felt bad when she and Cynthia handily won.
By that time, masculine voices were coming closer, the gentlemen returning to join the ladies.
Kalina could not help but tense when the men began to filter into the room and saw the ladies playing cards.
She immediately sought out her own husband from the small crowd.
Though he frowned when he saw the cards, his gaze lifted to hers and relaxed, as if he understood that she had not gambled away anything they needed.
She could only imagine how he felt about such things, considering his father’s reputation.
Knowing what she now did about the Duke and Duchess of Windham, she watched closely as the duke moved to stand beside his wife, his hand on the back of her chair. Though he was imposing in stature, the moment his gaze met hers, it softened. There was real warmth between them. Affection.
Maybe even love?
But Lydia had said she’d trapped him into marriage with her.
She’d offered to speak with Kalina, but she’d already given Kalina something far more important than advice or even a listening ear.
She’d given Kalina hope.
Nathanial
Unlike the luncheon earlier in the day, the Camden ballroom was packed, which came as no surprise.
As a major event of the Season, everyone who could attend did attend.
The crush of people being masked also meant there was a sense of gaiety and freedom that came with identities being marginally hidden.
Of course, most everyone was recognizable despite the masks, but they pretended not to be.
His wife clung to his arm, which he was not unhappy about.
As he did not want the ton speculating over his emotions, especially when he had barely recognized them himself, the masquerade meant he did not have to pretend indifference or contentment. No one would comment that he and Kalina spent their entire evening together if they so chose.
The only one who might have questions about it was Kalina herself.
Nathanial did not know if he was ready to answer those questions.
Neither did he want to quit his wife’s side.
Especially when he saw more than one rake eyeing her low-cut decolletage.
Masquerades, though they allowed for couples to cleave to each other without comment, also tended toward all sorts of licentious behavior.
Normally, as Kalina had not yet borne him an heir, she would be considered off limits for a flirtation or affair by the vast majority of the ton…
but not all of them. And if Nathanial wanted to keep his and Kalina’s names out of the gossips’ mouths, punching a man for flirting with his wife at the Camden Masquerade was hardly the way to do it.