questions I just thought of on the drive here. I think I am nearing the end of my tolerance for the silliness of Society and am thinking that will be one advantage to our marriage. The Season shall not be a necessity once I am off the Marriage Mart.”
She was bemused to see the satisfied smile that crossed his face before he schooled his features once more into a look of patient tolerance for her questions. “Was there a question in there somewhere, my dear lady?” he asked, laughing at her.
Elizabeth huffed but wasn’t really put out by his teasing. Having older brothers, it was actually endearingly familiar to hear the man’s teasing. “I was wondering how much of the Season you will wish to partake of in the future. And as your wife, what will you expect of me in connection with the Season?”
“Well, I would like to take my seat in the House at least for parts of each session. And I would prefer to have my family with me.” Elizabeth felt heat color her cheeks at his veiled reference to future children but waited for him to continue. “But even if you are in London, you needn’t attend any of the ton events if you do not wish. Of course, after a time, you may find that you wish to attend certain select things, just to catch up with old friends or to stave off boredom if I am overly pressed with government business. And, of course, if we are blessed with daughters we will have to keep up certain connections so that we shall be able to launch them successfully into Society. I shall leave that up to you, my dear. Now that I no longer have to search for a bride, I shan’t find it necessary to attend a single event unless you wish for my escort.”
If she did not doubt his sincerity, Elizabeth would have been delighted by his answer. He painted a picture of a wonderful future. She only prayed she could live to see it. She hoped her smile did not look as grim as it felt all of a sudden.
* * *
J ustice once again was left wondering what was going through his future bride’s mind. She had a wonderfully expressive face, but the emotions that crossed it were not always identifiable. He would have sworn she was happy with his reply to her question, but now she appeared worried once more.
“What troubles you now, my lady?” he prompted her.
“All is well, my lord, thank you,” she lied to his face, much to his surprise. He had previously exulted in her honesty. Now he wondered if it had been the figment of his imagination.
Glancing over her head, Justice could feel many curious eyes watching their progress around the dance floor. He had the prickly sensation of being scrutinized. He knew the two of them were the centre of attention due to their sudden betrothal and the events that precipitated it, but this felt like more than that. His protective instincts toward the woman in his arms took over, and he had to fight the urge to pull her closer than propriety would tolerate. His grip on her tightened, and he could feel her stiffen in his arms.
“What is it?” she asked, revealing her awareness of his sudden tension.
Justice glanced down into her searching gaze and decided to make a hypocrite of himself. He may not like her to be dishonest with him, but he was not above doing the same to her. “Nothing at all, my dear lady, I am just enjoying the sensation of having you in my arms.”
He enjoyed the deep blush that flooded her face at his words and had to fight not to laugh with delight. Justice was quite well aware that she was an innocent and he had no wish to discomfit her, particularly not under the watchful eyes of the ton ’s gossips, who were avidly waiting for any misstep they might make. He was just glad that his words made her sufficiently uncomfortable that she would not question him further. In an effort to turn her attention he prompted, “You mentioned you had a few questions for me. Have I sufficiently answered your first one, and do you care to ask me any more?”
When he felt her
She was bemused to see the satisfied smile that crossed his face before he schooled his features once more into a look of patient tolerance for her questions. “Was there a question in there somewhere, my dear lady?” he asked, laughing at her.
Elizabeth huffed but wasn’t really put out by his teasing. Having older brothers, it was actually endearingly familiar to hear the man’s teasing. “I was wondering how much of the Season you will wish to partake of in the future. And as your wife, what will you expect of me in connection with the Season?”
“Well, I would like to take my seat in the House at least for parts of each session. And I would prefer to have my family with me.” Elizabeth felt heat color her cheeks at his veiled reference to future children but waited for him to continue. “But even if you are in London, you needn’t attend any of the ton events if you do not wish. Of course, after a time, you may find that you wish to attend certain select things, just to catch up with old friends or to stave off boredom if I am overly pressed with government business. And, of course, if we are blessed with daughters we will have to keep up certain connections so that we shall be able to launch them successfully into Society. I shall leave that up to you, my dear. Now that I no longer have to search for a bride, I shan’t find it necessary to attend a single event unless you wish for my escort.”
If she did not doubt his sincerity, Elizabeth would have been delighted by his answer. He painted a picture of a wonderful future. She only prayed she could live to see it. She hoped her smile did not look as grim as it felt all of a sudden.
* * *
J ustice once again was left wondering what was going through his future bride’s mind. She had a wonderfully expressive face, but the emotions that crossed it were not always identifiable. He would have sworn she was happy with his reply to her question, but now she appeared worried once more.
“What troubles you now, my lady?” he prompted her.
“All is well, my lord, thank you,” she lied to his face, much to his surprise. He had previously exulted in her honesty. Now he wondered if it had been the figment of his imagination.
Glancing over her head, Justice could feel many curious eyes watching their progress around the dance floor. He had the prickly sensation of being scrutinized. He knew the two of them were the centre of attention due to their sudden betrothal and the events that precipitated it, but this felt like more than that. His protective instincts toward the woman in his arms took over, and he had to fight the urge to pull her closer than propriety would tolerate. His grip on her tightened, and he could feel her stiffen in his arms.
“What is it?” she asked, revealing her awareness of his sudden tension.
Justice glanced down into her searching gaze and decided to make a hypocrite of himself. He may not like her to be dishonest with him, but he was not above doing the same to her. “Nothing at all, my dear lady, I am just enjoying the sensation of having you in my arms.”
He enjoyed the deep blush that flooded her face at his words and had to fight not to laugh with delight. Justice was quite well aware that she was an innocent and he had no wish to discomfit her, particularly not under the watchful eyes of the ton ’s gossips, who were avidly waiting for any misstep they might make. He was just glad that his words made her sufficiently uncomfortable that she would not question him further. In an effort to turn her attention he prompted, “You mentioned you had a few questions for me. Have I sufficiently answered your first one, and do you care to ask me any more?”
When he felt her
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