Chapter 45

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 immediately

in the affirmative, and then return to me at lunch to beg and sweet talk and cajole until I agree that you mu