Chapter 26
“We don’t have to stay very long,” Cecily told her husband as their carriage rolled along the London streets toward Caruthers House in Mayfair. “I know you are not fond of social events.”
She glanced briefly at his dark features from where she sat opposite, as far away as she could get.
“I can endure a charity ball for a good cause,” he assured her in a neutral tone. “Lady Caruthers does a great deal for the new children’s hospital. That is worth a small amount of boredom and annoyance.”
“Yes,” she agreed tersely and then fell silent again.
They had been cold and distant toward each other for days, ever since Nathaniel had failed to show up for Lilian’s recital.
The mood between them saddened Cecily, especially after that special moment they had shared in the kitchens while kneading bread together. At the same time, her heart still burned with indignation and disappointment on Lilian’s behalf.
How would it end for them? Nathaniel clearly did not understand how to apologize, or maybe even what to apologize for, and she was not ready to forgive him yet. At the same time, she knew he was not a bad man and that he loved his daughter.
At Caruthers House, coats and hats were discarded in the cloakroom before they proceeded to the receiving line to greet their hosts, the Marquess and Marchioness of Caruthers.
Cecily glanced at her husband. In a well-fitting dark suit, blue silk waistcoat, and neatly pinned white stock, his appearance matched his rank.
She was also glad that she and Gertie had fussed over her dress tonight.
In a low-cut white silk with golden embroidery and her mother’s pearls, she was a more than adequate complement to her handsome husband.
“I must congratulate you both on your marriage,” Lady Caruthers told them with a smile after pleasantries had been exchanged.
“If domestic responsibilities allow, Your Grace, I should like to invite Her Grace to sit on the charity board of the children’s hospital.
We presently have a vacancy, and I have heard of your interest in such works. ”
“Her Grace may do as she sees fit,” Nathaniel had answered with a shrug and indifferent smile, leaving this entirely in Cecily’s hands.
“I would be happy to join you, My Lady,” Cecily answered politely.
It felt strange to her to be congratulated on their marriage. While the ceremony had been only weeks ago, it already felt like the distant past, or perhaps like something that had never happened at all.
With an uncomfortable twinge, she reflected on the fact that Nathaniel had not yet taken her to his bed. Or taken her anywhere else, for that matter. Would things never settle between them?
As they moved into the reception room, the Duke of Mildenhall greeted them both with more smiles and jarring congratulations.
“May I borrow your husband for a few minutes, Duchess? I promise I shall return him in very little time.”
Cecily smiled back and tried to answer as casually as Nathaniel had done only moments ago. “Of course. I shall be here by the refreshments table.”
She had no desire to proceed alone into the ballroom, or at all, if she were being honest. How would they even dance together tonight with such a cold, impassable distance between them?
She found it hard even to look him in the eye at the moment, afraid both of the desire that it might spark and the disappointment that must follow.
Taking up a flute of champagne, she sipped at it absently and looked around at the other guests, recognizing some, although they were hardly more than acquaintances.
“Your Grace, I would like to wish you joy in your marriage,” said a woman’s voice. “I wish you luck, too. You will need it.”
Cecily turned her head to see a striking blonde woman standing beside her, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at her. Wearing a pale blue satin gown, with a diamond and sapphire pendant resting against her chest, she looked somewhat familiar, though Cecily could not quite place her.
“Thank you,” she said as the woman dropped into a small curtsy, reminding her again of her new rank. “You are very kind. I do not believe we have met before, although you have the advantage of me.”
“Lady Mountingdon,” the woman introduced herself. “You may call me Lucinda.”
Cecily nodded, feeling a bit cautious about this invitation to closeness given their shallow acquaintance. What was this woman really after?
“I am glad to meet you, Lady Mountingdon,” she returned politely, watching the woman’s face and seeing her blue eyes turn toward where Nathaniel was deep in conversation with his friend.
“Your marriage was so sudden, Your Grace. So very unexpected,” Lady Mountingdon commented. “The Duke of Greyhaven was a widower for so long that no one expected him to marry again.”
“You know my husband?” Cecily inquired with an unease that seemed to spring out of nowhere.
“We all know your husband,” Lady Mountingdon replied with a low laugh. “Yet you were the only one to catch him. How did you do that, I wonder?”
Cecily heard the note of insolence in the woman’s voice. Lady Mountingdon was asserting a claim of some kind to Nathaniel, and Cecily did not like it at all.
“I do not think Nathaniel is a man who can be caught,” she retorted sharply. “If you know him, you know that much.”
That seemed to goad Lady Mountingdon for some reason. Her smile became almost a sneer.
“Oh, your Duke burns hot at first, doesn’t he? But keeping his interest is the real challenge. Do you think you are up for it, Your Grace?”
It took all of Cecily’s self-control not to throw the contents of her champagne flute into Lady Mountingdon’s disrespectful face.
“Excuse me,” she said icily. “I… I must go.”
Discarding her glass, she walked away toward the doors of the ballroom, hoping that the music would soothe her spirit.
How dare that woman speak as she did about Nathaniel! What right did she think she had to take such liberties? He was Cecily’s husband, not hers.
Again, Cecily remembered that they still had not consummated their marriage, now with a growing sense of uncertainty. Were they really even married?
Then, an even more unsettling thought struck her, like a bolt out of the blue. That horrible woman knew Nathaniel better than Cecily did. She probably had done everything with him that Cecily had, and more besides. Maybe they were still intimate with each other?
Cecily’s stomach lurched at the thought. It could not be, could it? Not so soon after their wedding. Yet it made so much sense. Why else was Nathaniel still so distant from her most of the time? Why had he not taken her to his bed, as was his right? Why had he remained unmarried for so long?
Images of Lady Mountingdon and Nathaniel flooded her mind. Had he been writing to that woman? Meeting her? Bedding her?
Remembering how neatly dressed he had been for his club, and how vague his answers had been about his time in London the day she and Mary met their grandmother, it was all too plausible. Cecily had known he was hiding something, but had not pursued it.
“Leaving you and going off to his club so early in your marriage…”
Her grandmother’s pitying words echoed in her mind, turning her upset into outrage.
If even her grandmother knew that her husband was dallying with another woman, then Cecily might be the laughing stock of the whole ton. Would Nathaniel do this to her?
“I see you tapping your foot to the music, My Lady. I would be no gentleman if I did not ask you to dance.”
Cecily spun around and found a tall blond-haired man of amiable countenance standing before her. He bowed respectfully as she regarded him, having no idea of the tumult of emotions inside her.
“May I have the honor?” he asked and held out a gloved hand.
“Yes, you may,” she told him, placing her hand in his.
Should she ask Nathaniel before accepting this dance?
If they were ordinary newlyweds, he might have wanted her first dance. As things were, however, she was too angry to care about what he might want. If he was going to dally publicly with big-breasted and brazen women like Lady Mountingdon, then she could dance with a charming stranger.
She fought the urge to look around and see whether he was watching. The worst thing of all was that he likely wouldn’t even care.