Page 21 of The Duke’s Hidden Duchess

He went upstairs to change. In the grey morning light, he passed Selina’s door on the way to his own and neither slowed nor looked towards it. Behind that door, his wife slept, or did not. Their arrangement rested upon his never presuming to enter without invitation. He had given that promise freely; now he carried it past her door without testing its weight.

He changed his clothes and returned downstairs to be observed.

***

Lady Helena was already seated at the breakfast table, upright as a fire iron, with the good coffee at her right hand. Georgiana sat beside her, subdued but hopeful, casting frequent glances towards the door.

The door opened, and Selina entered wearing a morning gown which was not grey. It was the first colour Nathaniel had seen upon her: a soft, unadorned blue which Georgiana had almost certainly pressed upon her. She faltered by half a step at the sight of the assembled table, then continued.

“Good morning, Lady Helena. Georgiana. Your Grace.”

“Duchess,” Lady Helena returned. “I trust we have not deprived you of sleep.”

“Only of a private breakfast. I had not expected company.”

“Nor had I expected a wedding.”

Selina accepted the correction with a slight inclination of her head and took the empty chair beside Georgiana.

Nathaniel reached for the coffee before the footman could do so and filled Selina’s cup. The gesture was instinctive. He became aware of it only when his aunt’s gaze moved from the pot to his hand.

Once the dishes had been arranged, Lady Helena dismissed the servants. The door had scarcely closed before she turned to Nathaniel.

“Why did you marry, nephew?”

He had expected the question, though not quite so early. “Because I judged the marriage right for us both.”

“That is a conclusion, not a reason.”

“Then you must be content with the conclusion.”

Lady Helena regarded him over the rim of her cup. “Was it duty?”

“Duty formed part of it.”

“On both sides,” Selina said. “We understood the nature of the arrangement before entering it, Lady Helena. Neither of us was deceived, and neither was compelled.”

Lady Helena transferred her attention to Selina. “You answer readily for a bride of one day.”

“I have discovered that hesitation is often mistaken for uncertainty.”

“And are you not uncertain?”

Selina glanced once towards Nathaniel. “I am, about many things. Not about having given my word.”

The answer produced a brief silence. Nathaniel raised his coffee, partly to conceal the movement at the corner of his mouth. His aunt observed it but declined to comment.

“You possess some composure, Duchess,” she said.

“It has been useful to me.”

“Hmm.”

Lady Helena buttered her toast with exacting care.

Georgiana, who had been holding her breath for several minutes, set down her fork. “If my opinion is of any consequence, Aunt, I am glad Nathaniel married her.”

Lady Helena turned to her. “That is an expression of affection, not evidence of good judgement.”