Chapter 16

Our next few days in Bath pass in an easy peace. I've tentatively started spending more time with William, since that evening after my visit to the modiste we haven't spoken of our baby again. We haven't spoken of the reason for our argument that night either.

I desperately want to tell him that Mrs Merrick has tricked him but he didn't believe me the first time and isn't likely to now. As far as he's concerned the evidence she forged proves me to be a liar so nothing I say will be believed. William seems content now to ignore what happened, perhaps out of pity, but eventually his refusal to trust my word will create more problems.

Tonight though I've agreed to attend a concert with him. Madame Corbin had almost finished one of the evening dresses we ordered and soon had it finished once I'd come in for a final fitting. It's a truly beautiful dress and I can't wait to wear it. An embroidered blue silk dress with a lighter blue and silver over dress, expertly finished with lace and other embellishments.

Having such a beautiful dress ready to wear eliminated my last reason to refuse to attend the concert with William. I'd been able to put it off until now due to my lack of an appropriate wardrobe for such an event. Now I'm happy to attend knowing that I won't be the subject of further ridicule. I will always be the notorious woman who created a compromise to marry a Duke but I'm determined not to be a further embarrassment.

Marguerite helps me dress and the entire time I can't stop smiling as I'm slowly transformed from the average Baron's sister that I usually see in the mirror into a beautiful and gracefully Duchess. Not even on my wedding day did I feel as confident as I do wearing this dress.

"You look perfect your Grace," Marguerite declares taking a step back to look me over as she finishes my hair, "I'm sure his Grace will be speechless."

"Thank you Marguerite," I reply grateful once again for her work. Without her help I wouldn't have looked half as well in this dress without her expert touch.

Not wanting to keep William waiting any longer I head downstairs to where I've been told he's waiting for me. He'd sent a maid upstairs to inform me of that just as Marguerite had started on my hair so by now he must be getting impatient to leave. There is still plenty of time before the concert starts though so we won't miss any of it.

"You look… exquisite," William breathes out as I reach the bottom of the stairs. The look in his eyes and the compliment bring a blush to my cheeks that I can't control.

"Thank you. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"You were worth the wait," He takes my hand and presses a kiss to the back of it before gentle placing it in the crook of his elbow, "Now let us be off."

Together we leave the house to where our carriage is waiting for us. It's not too far a journey to the theatre where the concert is taking place, easily within walking distance, but arriving with dusty clothes wouldn't do. While most of the Ton is London the others in attendance will still be influential people that we can't afford to embarrass ourselves in front of.

"Do you know what they'll be playing at the concert?" I ask as the carriage starts to move. He hadn't mentioned anything more about it when he'd invited me, simply requesting that I attend with him.

"Beethoven. I remember you saying that you're quite fond of his work," He tells me with a smile, "I thought that you'd enjoy it when I heard what they'd be playing. It worked quite well with Madame Corbin finishing a suitable dress in time." He ends with a small smirk on his face.

"You planned this," I state letting a small laugh.

"I may have paid Madame Corbin more to have this dress finished in time for the concert. It was a close thing but she managed it. And as beautiful as you look you're missing something," He replies reaching into a pocket and pulling out a small box that he offers to me.

Surprised it takes me a moment to reach out and take it. Not sure what he could have given me I open it gently. He may have paid for my new dresses but this is the first gift that I've received from his own hands. Removing the lid I stare in shock at the delicate, beautiful necklace within. A gold chain decorated with five gold flowers that have diamonds hanging from them with a loop of chain between each one.

"Oh William," I breathe out not sure what else to say, "It's beautiful. Please will you help me put it on." Nodding he moves to sit next to me then takes the necklace from me. Bringing it gently around my neck he does up the necklace before returning to the other side of the carriage.

"Perfect," He states admiring the necklace now that it's on, making me blush once again.

"You really didn't have to. You've already spent so much on new dresses," I tell him reaching a hand up to touch the necklace overwhelmed by his generosity.

"I wanted to. You deserve many beautiful things," He replies firmly leaving me with nothing more to say. We spend the last few minutes of our journey to the theatre in silence, the soft smiles we share say more than enough though.

As our carriage approaches the theatre so are many others so we have to wait for those ahead of us to leave their carriages before we can. With the concert starting soon no one lingers longer than they need to so it doesn't take long before we're close enough to the entrance to exit our carriage.

Stepping inside the theatre I'm not surprised at the noise inside. Not everyone has taken their seats yet and those who haven't are lingering in the foyer making conversation to occupy their time until the concert begins. It's the most people I've been around since the ball in London, and I know none of them which makes me even more nervous.

Surely they'll have heard the gossip from London by now so I won't be unknown to them. As a Duke William is easily recognised, as we walk inside others are already starting to take notice, and unless he does have a known mistress they'll come to the conclusion of who I am.

"Breathe," William whispers to me as my hand tightens on his arm, "Everything will be fine." I take a deep breath following his advice to try and calm down.

"Dorset!" Someone calls out and William must have spotted who as he leads us over, "I didn't know you'd be coming tonight." The unknown man, perhaps a few years older than William, claps a hand onto his shoulder in greeting.

"Hartington." William greets in return, "We only decided today. May I introduce my wife, Eleanor. Eleanor this is Richard Heldringe, the Marquess of Hartington." I don't miss the look that he shoots towards William nor the stern look and slight shake of William's head in return.

"A pleasure to meet you, your Grace," The Marquess says in a slightly tense tone taking my free hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it.

"And you Lord Hartington," I reply with a slight nod of my head.

"I'd have thought you'd be in London," William says taking the attention away from me. It's a relief as it seems the Marquess to have already formed an opinion of me, he appears to be a friend of William's so it's not surprising.

"Ah," Richard groans, "It's Lucretia's second season and Mama is determined that she be married by the end of it. With Florence coming of age soon she doesn't want to have to have two daughters out at the same time. It means attending every gathering which all come with match making Mama's who are far more terrifying than their daughters. I could no longer take and fled London altogether."

"My sympathies my friend," William chuckles at the show of despair Richard puts on and even I can't stop the smile on my face, "Although I'm sure that it won't be long before your Mama summons you back."

"She shall have to find me first," Richard replies with a smirk.

"So by the morning," William quips with a smirk, "She knows everything."

"That she does," Richard sighs, "I should be able to buy myself a few days here though, perhaps we could have dinner before I have to leave?" He suggests getting a nod from Willima in agreement, "At least I'll have had a bit of peace here without the not so subtle hints of how suitable each lady is. I dread the day when both my sisters are married. Then Mama will dedicate all her energy to my marriage."

"Marriage is not all bad," William states smiling at me. I can't help but to return it and squeeze his arm gently in thanks. It may have taken us some time to get here yet surely if things continue the way they have over the past few days we'll be okay.

"Even after the…" He trails off at the end clearly not wanting to say it out loud.

"Yes," William replies firmly, "Even after the… circumstances of our start. We have come to understand one another and now I can't imagine not sharing my life with Emilia." I look at him in shock not expecting such an honest declaration in public, or at all.

Before Richard can recover from his shock at that statement the start of the concert is announced. A brief farewell is given as we head inside to take our seats. I can still hear the whispers of others around us as they notice William and I but after hearing his thoughts on our marriage they don't bother me as much as they had before.

"Thank you," I whisper as we sit down waiting for the concert to start, "You didn't have to say that."

"It's the truth. I truly enjoy spending time with you," He replies just as quietly as the curtains open and the concert begins filling the theatre with music.

The musicians all play very well but after such a revelation from William I can barely think of anything else. My thoughts all circle around what he'd said preventing me from truly hearing the music, it fades into the background as I think. Before I know it the concert comes to an end and William is leading me outside, I must have taken his hand instinctively as I don't consciously remember doing it.

"I can't imagine being married to anyone else either," I blurt out suddenly in the middle of our carriage ride home. It had occurred to me during the concert that it had been a long time since I'd imagined what my life would have been like if I'd married the Earl of Bedford as originally planned.

"I'm glad," William replies moving to sit next to me in the carriage, "I know that nothing has been easy between us. But now, I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. You are the only woman I can imagine being my wife and mother of my children."

Blushing I can't stop myself from moving closer to him, pressing myself as close as I can. I keep my gaze on my hands in my lap unable to bring myself to look at him after such a heartfelt declaration. He brings one of his hands to my cheek though gently guiding my head up until we're looking each other in the eye.

"I believe that I'm falling in love with you Eleanor," He says quietly so that neither the coachman or footman accompanying us can hear them, the words only meant for me. Then he's moving his head slowly closer until he's pressing a gentle kiss to my lips that fills me with warmth. Our first kiss despite us being married for close to half a year now.