The Duke's Divorce (The Reluctant Grooms Series Volume IV) by Anne Gallagher Page A

Edwards, if you please.”
    *****
    Fiona sat, quite exhausted, against the
leather seat in the carriage. Lady Joanna had seen them to over two
dozen houses of the grandest architecture and Fiona’s mind reeled.
The matrons preened over her, and wanted to hear all about the
surprising new wedding. Fiona enjoyed it, for the most part. She
had never felt so welcome in all her life. The matrons seemed
especially receptive to her, and it gave Fiona quite a boost to her
ego – she could not be half as bad as Robert said. However, she
also knew much of it was simply artifice. Robert’s mother had
brought her solely for the purpose of staving off the bad press in
the gossip columns. With the Season about to start, Lady Joanna’s
introductions guaranteed Fiona a place in Society no matter who
gossiped about her.
    The barouche pulled up to Cantin House.
    “Thank you for introducing me to your friends
today,” Fiona said, before the footman opened the door.
    “Oh, you are certainly quite welcome, my
dear. Entirely my pleasure. You made a very good impression on them
I daresay. You should have no trouble in the ballrooms now.”
    Edwards opened the door and Fiona followed
Lady Joanna into the house.
    “Your ladyship,” Edwards addressed Fiona.
“His Grace would like to see you in the library at your earliest
convenience.”
    Fiona looked to her mother-in-law who said
nothing, just smiled, and touched Fiona’s shoulder.
    Fiona turned and walked down the polished
floor feeling like Marie Antoinette on her way to the guillotine.
What had she done this time?
    She knocked once on the door and entered at
his bidding.
    “Ah, you are returned,” he said affably,
rising from his chair. “Did you have a pleasant outing with my
mother?”
    “Yes, I did. Quite lovely, thank you.”
Surprised by his tone, she watched him warily as he made his way to
her and held out his hand. She took it and he led her to the chairs
in front of the long windows.
    She settled in a chair and waited nervously
for him to speak. Obviously, he had something on his mind.
    “Fiona, I would like to apologize for my
behaviour this morning.”
    Fiona sat stunned. This was not what she had
expected.
    “However, if you wish to walk in the early
morning,” Robert said softly, “I would like you to take a maid,
perhaps a footman, as there are unscrupulous people roaming the
city at any time of the day or night. As you are so new to the city
there is no telling what could happen to you.”
    “Yes, of course, my lord. Forgive me for not
realizing this. I’m not used to being told what I may and may not
do, and imposing such a, well, such a ridiculous demand of me first
thing in the morning, I’m afraid I could not help but defy it.”
Fiona hoped that was enough of an apology.
    “Yes, it was rather ridiculous of me, wasn’t
it?” Robert mused. “But I should like you to heed my warning. Being
the Duchess of Cantin, you will be recognized, and although I do
not wish to scare you, London is not all that safe.”
    “Yes, of course, my lord. I shall take my
maid with me from now on.”
    Robert smiled. “Good girl. Now, tell me, how
did you find my mother’s friends? I’m surprised she introduced you
to the lot of them all in one day. Quite overbearing for you, I
trust.”
    Fiona smiled and relaxed. She spent the next
twenty minutes relaying her impressions on those she had met, and
found him agreeing with her assessments of his mother’s friends. He
seemed to enjoy her conversation, and she was quite loathe to leave
him when he implied he needed to finish his paperwork.
    He walked her to the door. “I shall see you
at dinner then.” He took her hand and patted it, as a beneficent
parent might.
    As Fiona walked upstairs to her bedchamber,
she wondered if it were possible they would get along after
all.

Chapter Nine
     
     
    Two weeks passed and Fiona settled in to the
routine set by Robert. Every morning she joined him for breakfast
and then went for a