The Duke's Divorce (The Reluctant Grooms Series Volume IV) (30 page)

When Robert came home late that afternoon,
Fiona tried not to appear too giddy in his presence. His smile
nearly brought her to her knees.

“How are you, darling?” he asked and kissed
her, in front of James the Younger and Edwards.

Fiona stuttered a greeting in return. Oh how
she wanted to throw her arms around him and take him up to her
bedchamber, but that would look ridiculous. Then again, she was his
wife and now they had finally come together, why couldn't she?

Robert took her hand and led her down the
hall away from prying eyes. He brought her into his library.

“Fiona, I know what you are thinking,” he
said with a smile, “However, I do not believe we have time for such
an interlude. And you must take into consideration how you will
feel afterward. Last night was your first time and I do not wish
to, how shall I say this delicately, break you. As much as I would
like nothing better than to take you upstairs and ravage you.” He
kissed her palm.

Fiona stifled a giggle. “Perhaps after the
ball then?”

Robert threw back his head and laughed. “I
knew you would share my healthy appetite for lovemaking. Here, give
us a kiss to last until then, and I promise I will do my best to
satisfy your every whim later.”

He kissed her and left her breathless.
“There, how was that, my lusty Scottish wench?”

Fiona giggled again. “’Twill do for now.”

“Good, let us raid the kitchen. I find myself
with an appetite. And then we must prepare for the ball. Are you
sure you are ready for the event? All that bowing and
scraping.”

“As long as I do not fall over in a curtsy, I
should not mind at all.” Fiona laughed.

“Oh, I forgot to mention,” Robert said as
they made their way to the back of the house. “The Regent said he
may put in an appearance.”

“What!”

“You know, George. I invited him last week
when I dined at Carlton House.”

“And you wait until now to inform me. Robert,
what am I to do?” Fiona wailed.

“To do?” He smiled. “Why there is nothing
to do
. George will either show or he will not, and I, as a
betting men, believe he will not, so do not worry your pretty
little head over it. Besides, my mother will keep him entertained.
You only have to make the pretty once.”

Fiona stood horrified at the thought the
Prince Regent might be in her home in less than three hours and she
was not prepared. “Where is Edwards, I must inform Edwards.” Fiona
turned and was half-way up the hall before Robert caught up to
her.

“Dearest, I have already informed Edwards of
George’s invitation. There is nothing to fear. He has, I’m sure,
taken care of everything. Now come, let us away to the kitchen
where you can feed me.”

Robert stood at the top of the stairs with
his mother and Fiona greeting the long line of guests. Fiona looked
absolutely stunning in her red silk ball gown, her mother’s pearls
around her neck. She also wore his gifts of the bracelet and
earbobs. Robert had never felt so right in his skin, so deserving
of his father’s title, Duke of Cantin, as he did this night.

Friends and acquaintance greeted him and
Fiona warmly, and his mother made introductions when necessary.
Edwards hovered on the landing. When the steady stream seemed to
dissipate, Robert sent word to the musicians to begin the first
dance. He led Fiona out to the floor and took her in is arms.

“Well, madam wife, shall we?” he asked and
then bowed.

“By all means,” she replied and curtsied.

When the dance ended, Robert led Fiona in the
direction of his mother who sat with the dowagers. He hadn’t had
the chance to speak with Lady Olivia and wished to do so now.

“Ah, here you are,” she said upon seeing them
together. “Tell me, how do you like the evening so far, Fiona?”

“’Tis everything I could have ever imagined,
Lady Olivia. How do you find your situation? Are you comfortable?
Is there anything you require?”

“No, although I do thank you for asking.” She
peered at Robert with a discerning eye. “Cantin, you seem to have
swallowed a canary. I trust everything is going according to plan
at last.”

He bowed. “As usual, Lady Olivia, your advice
was well worth heeding, and I thank you for pointing out the error
of my ways.”

Lady Olivia thumped her cane on the floor.
“’Twould do you good to remember, Cantin, I am always right.”

At that moment, the musicians struck the
opening notes to
God Save the King
. Robert bowed to all the
women sitting together. “If you would excuse us ladies, I believe
His Royal Highness has arrived.”

He turned toward the doorway and there stood
Prinny with his usual entourage. “Come, my dear," he said to Fiona.
“I shall introduce you to His Royal Highness.” As Robert led Fiona
away, he overheard Lady Olivia say to his mother, “About time they
found their way.”

Fiona did exceptionally well with Prince
George, rising from her curtsy without fainting as Robert feared
she would do. Visibly shaken upon meeting the heir to the throne,
Fiona lost some of her anxiety when George complimented her on her
necklace.

“If I were but the smallest pearl about your
throat, Lady Fiona, I should die a happy man.”

Fiona blushed as deeply as the color of her
gown. George then asked Fiona to escort him around the room and
when they stopped and spoke with Penny and William, Robert relaxed.
Fiona would be at ease now, for he knew Penny would charm the
Regent as she always did.

Robert looked around the room with a
self-satisfied smile. It had been too many years since his family
hosted a ball, and seeing his mother so happy tonight, he hoped it
would be the first of many more to come. As he watched a group of
dancers, he caught a glimpse of a woman across the room who looked
painfully familiar, although he couldn’t be sure. It had been
almost eleven years since he had seen Mary Elizabeth. Perhaps his
mind played tricks on him. Why would she be here at his ball?

He made his way through the throng to where
he had last seen her. She wasn’t there. He looked around and found
himself with a knot in his stomach. Could it really be Mary
Elizabeth? He shook his head. For all he knew she was probably
still on the Continent with the fop Binghamton she had married. He
had not heard she’d returned.

“Robert,” Davingdale touched his shoulder.
“Robert old man, are you all right? You look as if you’ve seen a
ghost. I’ve been speaking to you for some time.”

“Thomas, forgive me.” Robert sighed and ran a
hand through his hair. “I thought for a moment….no, it was
nothing.” He shrugged. “How are you? Enjoying yourself?”

Davingdale snorted. “Trying to escape Lady
Pen. Why must she insist on making me a match when I have explained
to her I do not wish one?”

Robert smiled. “I believe she acquired that
particular trait from her aunt.”

Davingdale smirked. “Well, perhaps you would
be so kind when next you meet, to explain to Lady Pen again, I do
not wish a wife.”

“I shall, but I will also say, it will not do
any good. Once Penny has her mind made up, she is a veritable
bull.”

“Well, perhaps a word with William then.”

“That plea will fall on deaf ears as well.
William would do anything for Penny.” Robert slapped his old friend
on the shoulder. “Come, I am in need of a fine libation. Shall you
join me in the library?”

“I believe I shall.”

As the two men walked out of the ballroom,
Robert turned back and gave the room a quick glance. He swore he
felt someone watching him.

*****

Fiona watched Robert leave the ballroom with
Davingdale and wished she could go as well. She had circulated with
Penny, made her way around the room with the Regent, spoke to
dozens of people, laughed and smiled until her face ached, chatted
‘til she was hoarse, and declared her feet were actually bruised
from all the dancing. She now wanted a quiet place to sit, relax,
and maybe take a short catnap. Last night with Robert had caught up
to her.

Greenleigh approached. “How do you do, Lady
Fiona?”

“Greenleigh, how nice to see you. Are you
only just arrived?”

“Yes, sad to say. My elderly aunt and uncle
showed up unannounced just as I was leaving. Tell me, what have I
missed? Any delicious bits of gossip you wish to share? The latest
on dit
to pass along?”

Fiona laughed. “Greenleigh, since when do you
enjoy gossip? I thought you were above all that.”

“I must confess, I find I do love a good
intrigue every once in awhile. So tell me, has nothing been offered
up this evening?”

“Only that the Regent arrived and I almost
fainted during my curtsy,” Fiona said.

“I will tell you a secret. Upon my
introduction, I almost fainted as well.” Greenleigh smiled. “It
seems we are both frightened of His Highness.” Greenleigh looked
over the sea of dancers. “Would you care to take a turn, your
ladyship? Are you otherwise engaged?”

“Why no. That would be lovely, Greenleigh,
thank you.” Fiona thought about her aching feet, but could not
refuse Greenleigh. He was such a dear friend.

As they were dancing, Fiona happened to catch
of glimpse of her husband speaking with a lovely woman to whom she
had not been introduced. Fair and slender, the woman held herself
with an air of regal propriety Fiona could never hope to acquire.
Robert seemed to be in thrall of her, and stood inordinately close,
whispering into her ear. The look on his face was one she had never
seen before, certainly he had never bestowed it upon her. Who was
she?

She waited until the dance ended before she
asked, “Greenleigh, tell me, do you know that woman with whom my
husband is speaking?” Fiona pointed to the corner of the
ballroom.

Greenleigh’s smile slowly faded. He looked
down at Fiona and in his eyes, found sympathy.

“I’m afraid I cannot tell you,” Greenleigh
responded. “I’m sure Lady Olivia would know, and certainly Lady
Joanna.” He took up her hand and kissed it. “Lady Fiona, I am your
faithful servant and if you should ever need anything, I remain at
your disposal. If you would excuse me.” Greenleigh bowed and
quickly walked away, heading straight for the dowager corner.

Fiona wondered at Greenleigh’s mysterious
choice of words and sudden departure. However, Edwards stood
nearby, and requested her assistance in the dining room.

When she returned to the ballroom, she found
people stared at her with the same look of sympathy Greenleigh had.
She glanced down at her gown and found nothing amiss. Several older
women she knew, friends of Lady Joanna, reached out their hands to
her as she passed and gave her fingers a quick squeeze. What were
they about? Fiona looked for Robert, but did not see him anywhere.
She found William and inquired if he had seen her husband.

“The musicians are tuning up for a waltz and
Robert and I always dance together,” Fiona said.

“I’m sorry, Fiona, I do not know where Robby
is. As a matter of fact, I have not seen him since he and
Davingdale joined us in the library.”

“Thank you, William. Perhaps my mother-in-law
would know. If you should run across him, please tell him I am
looking for him.”

William nodded. “Of course.”

Fiona made her way to the dowager corner and
found Lady Joanna and Lady Olivia speaking in hushed tones. When
Fiona reached them, they both stood. They also wore an expression
of compassion, although Lady Olivia seemed more in a pique.

“Could you tell me if you have seen Robert?”
Fiona asked. “The waltz has started and I simply cannot find him
anywhere.”

Lady Joanna took up her hand. “Oh dearest,”
she said. “I do not know how to tell you this.”

Lady Olivia muttered under her breath.
“Damned stupid fool.”

“What is it? What do you not wish to tell
me?” Fiona’s stomach tightened. Both women looked over the dance
floor. Fiona turned and found Robert dancing the waltz with the
woman she had seen him talking to earlier. Her heart cracked.

“Who is she?” Fiona whispered. Though in some
deep place in her soul she knew.

“Mary Elizabeth,” Lady Joanna said.

Fiona’s heart broke wide open.

After several drinks with Davingdale in the
library, Robert went upstairs to find Fiona. He hadn’t meant to
take so long, but with William joining them, he could not escape as
soon as he wished. He knew he shouldn’t have imbibed so much, but
he was celebrating his new life with Fiona. Exceedingly happy for
the first time in a long time, Robert felt nothing could ruin this
perfect night.

On his way to the dining room to have a small
bite to eat, he gained the landing outside the ballroom. His
muddled brain brought his eyes to a sight he could not believe.
Mary Elizabeth stood there, looking every bit the girl he had once
known. Robert’s heart stopped beating. He gasped for breath.

She approached him with her hand
outstretched. “Robby,” she crooned.

Gaining what little of his wits he had,
Robert took her hand and kissed it. “Lady Binghamton, to what do I
owe the unusual pleasure of seeing you again?” He tried to keep his
composure as the emotions of a decade ago ran wild through the
liquor in his veins.

“Robby, please, do not be so formal. However,
I am no longer Lady Binghamton. I am Countess de Lavallier now.”
She took his arm and proceeded to walk him into the ballroom. “Tell
me, are you not happy to see me?” They walked toward the back of
the room and stood in front of the open windows.

His mind raced. He searched the ballroom for
Fiona. “I do not know what to feel, Beth,” Robert said, his use of
her pet name slipping easily off his tongue. “It has been a long
time.”