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

walk with Merry. Lady Joanna took her about to
the shops, or made appointments with her modiste, and in the
afternoons, calls to more friends, or at-homes at Cantin House.
Sometimes Robert joined them for lunch, other days Fiona did not
see him until dinner. Then he would go off and leave her at home –
alone.
    Until tonight. Tonight was the first official
ball of the season. Lady Berringbourne’s invitation had arrived the
day after her first outing with Lady Joanna and Fiona was quite
overwhelmed. Her first ball. Would it be all that she dreamed? Her
gown hung in linen in her bedchamber, and every night before bed,
Fiona undid the ribbons and gazed at it. Dark green silk, with a
daring neckline, which had made her gasp when she saw herself in
the mirror at the modiste. What would Robert say? Would he even
notice?
    She doubted it. His polite reserve suggested
that he wanted nothing more than to keep her at arm’s length. She
had been married exactly one month today. With only five more
remaining until their annulment, she hoped the companionship she’d
found with the few friends she’d made in Society to be enough to
sustain her after the end of her marriage.
    Her first impressions of Robert had slowly
dissolved as she found out more about him. Lady Joanna, had of
course, told Fiona all his childhood secrets, but she found the
servants shared more of his adult life with her. One wouldn’t call
it gossip if Fiona asked the questions a certain way. And they were
more than happy to tell her about Robert.
    He was a good master, and treated his
servants well. He was also somewhat of a philanthropist, giving
money to charity and he stood on several boards to help the
oppressed and exploited. Children were his primary concern and he
maintained several orphanages through a trust he ran with his
cousins, William, and Ellis, the Marquess of Haverlane. Penny also
sat on the board and invited Fiona to join. Fiona didn’t quite know
what to say, as her tenure as Duchess of Cantin would be short
lived. She promised Penny she would discuss it with Robert. So far,
she hadn’t broached the subject.
    Robert also maintained a fleet of ships
bringing goods, to and from the West Indies and America. Her
respect for him grew when she found he also maintained an annuity
for survivors of those who’d been injured or lost at sea.
    He was a good and decent man, kind and
benevolent and would do anything for his friends. He deserved to be
married to a woman who would fulfill all he desired in a wife.
Fiona knew she could never be that particular woman, but wanted to
show she could at least try to be a good duchess for the next five
months.
    As she soaked in the bath, Fiona pondered
everything Lady Joanna had taught her thus far. As a duchess, Fiona
couldn’t get over the fact that people would bow and curtsy to her.
Of course, she needed to remember just whom she needed to
curtsy to. The list seemed endless, but Lady Joanna assured her,
there was no need to worry. “If they outrank you, you will be able
to tell by their jewels.” Fiona had laughed, but indeed, it seemed
so. The older the society ladies were, the larger their gems, the
more impressive their lineage.
    Merry seemed more nervous than Fiona about
the ball. As she dressed her hair, the poor girl kept dropping
hairpins.
    “I’m so sorry, my lady. My fingers just ain’t
working the way they should.”
    “’Tis all right, Merry. I’m sure no one will
notice my hair.”
    Merry stepped back and giggled. “My lady,
tonight the whole of society will notice everything about you and I
want to make sure you are perfect.”
    Fiona didn’t think so, but she indulged her
maid. Merry, finished with her hair, helped Fiona into the
luxurious gown. Standing in front of the cheval glass, Fiona
couldn’t stop staring at her reflection. That could not be her.
    Her hair, upswept in the front, adorned with
pearl pins, fell in one long curl over her bare shoulder. The fall
of the gown emphasized