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"Come along, Your Grace," he said, his eyes carrying the faintest trace of amusement.

Olivia slipped her hand through his arm and leaned closer as they walked. "How did I do?" she whispered, still needing reassurance despite her determination not to ask for it.

"Perfectly well," James replied without hesitation, and the certainty in his voice made her chest tighten unexpectedly. She looked up at him, searching his face for any sign that he was merely being polite, but found none.

Perfectly well.

She wondered if he understood how much those three words meant to her.

They entered the billiards room, and it quickly became a lively gathering. Some of the ladies settled around tables for cards, while several gentlemen gathered around the billiard table, arguing good-naturedly over their shots. Others wandered out onto the veranda with glasses of brandy and cigars, allowing the cool night air to carry their laughter beyond the open doors.

Olivia stood for a moment and watched it all, feeling something strange and wonderful settle over her. This was James' world, yet somehow she was beginning to feel that it might become hers as well. The thought was both thrilling and frightening, because she had spent so much of her life being told she was the wrong sort of girl, by her own mother, that she hardly knew what it meant to belong somewhere.

Louiza appeared beside her, smiling warmly.

"You have made your debut into society very well," she said, giving Olivia's arm a gentle squeeze.

Olivia smiled at her sister, the praise meaning more coming from Louiza than it would have from anyone else.

"Thank you," she replied, glancing around the room with a small laugh. "I was certain I would say something dreadful."

Louiza shook her head as she adjusted one of her gloves. "You did not."

Olivia smiled. "Then perhaps I shall remain a duchess for another evening."

Louiza laughed, and for a moment the room seemed less intimidating simply because her sister was standing beside her.

They had barely finished speaking when Tyler Everson approached them. The young man looked slightly nervous but determined as he bowed politely toward Louiza.

"Lady Shirley," he said, straightening as he glanced toward the card tables, "would you care to join me for a game?"

Louiza immediately turned bright red. She opened her mouth, clearly attempting to formulate an answer, but Olivia could not resist rescuing her.

"She would be delighted," Olivia declared with an encouraging smile.

Louiza shot her a startled look, but Olivia only widened her smile. "Wouldn't you, Louiza?" she added, giving her sister a discreet nudge.

"Yes," Louiza managed, smiling shyly at Tyler. "I should be delighted."

Tyler looked relieved as he offered her his arm, and Olivia watched them walk toward one of the card tables together. Her heart warmed as she saw the nervous little smile on Louiza's face.

Perhaps tonight was not merely her own beginning.

Maybe her sister might find something in this society too, something neither of them had expected when they had arrived at Glenmore with little more than uncertainty and fear.

Feeling content for the first time that evening, Olivia allowed her gaze to wander through the room until she noticed James stepping through the open doors onto the veranda. She watched him for a moment before following.

But her path was cut off by her Aunt Jane.

"Well, do you plan on avoiding me all evening?" Jane said.

"No, Aunt, of course not. I beg your pardon I was busy with greeting all these new people. I am not as acquainted with this society as you are," Olivia said.

"Well, that is true," Jane said with a smugness.

"Now that you are Duchess of Glenmore, I expect you will not forget me. I am the reason you married the duke to begin with after all," she said.

"Are you?" Olivia asked with an arched brow.