Page 41 of Stealing His Duchess

His colleague held his hands up in surrender.

“Forgive, Your Grace. I was simply... surprised. Pleasantly so. By the remarkable beauty of your wife. I do not understand why you would much rather spend all that time in the ring with me. You are a truly strange individual.” To Anna, he held out a hand to her and said, “Forgive us, Your Grace, for our poor manners. I was simply captivated by your beauty, and well – your husband has no excuse for his despicable lack of manners, but I do implore you to forgive him. My name is Owen – Owen Walters. I have been so excited to meet you for far so long! Hudson has told me a lot about you –”

“That is quite enough,” Hudson snapped, tugging Anna’s hand down as she reached out to accept the offered handshake. “If you would still like to continue speaking, I suggest you hold your tongue.”

Owen frowned, slowly smiling a moment later as though an idea he could not wait to bring to life just occurred to him.

“My apologies, Your Grace. I did not know he was still intent on hiding his admiration from you. After all, it is all he talks about any chance he gets so, I was under the impression that he was just as forthcoming with you as he was with me – given that I have provided him with an honest, open ear. We have known each other for so long, and I know so much about him that I cannot wait to tell you –”

“Anna,” Hudson said suddenly, taking her hands and pulling her to face him. “Will you do me the honor of dancing with me?”

Anna stared at him in surprise, disoriented by the suddenness of the question.

“I-I beg your pardon?”

“Dance with me, duchess. Right now,” he stated, pointedly trying not to look at Owen.

Anna couldn’t help but glance at the stranger before nodding at her husband, unable to say anything as he pulled her towards the dance floor.

She tried not to flinch as his hand rested on the small of her back, while the other led them through the steps, both of them just barely succeeding to move with the music.

Anna couldn’t help but wish she still loved to dance as much as she used to. She had not danced since her wedding breakfast, and had been greatly disappointed by how uncomfortable it had been then.

Now... there was significantly less frigidity in his steps, and he was moving her along fluidly. Anna was doing her best to keep up, but she still felt disconcerted by her appearance.

Her mind was falling apart with scenarios in which he would push her aside in disgust and admit that he was repulsed by her looks. As a result, she kept missing the musical cues and tripping over steps unnecessarily.

“Are you all right? You have been fidgeting all evening,” her husband spoke up gently.

Anna shook her head immediately, startled at the realization that he had noticed her unease.

“It is nothing... I suppose I am simply feeling strange to be out amongst society like this, after staying away for so long,” she replied, her voice low.

He frowned, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“That is not the reason. Yes, you have been out of society for a while, but you have been pleasant and well-mannered all evening. Everyone I introduced you to was utterly taken with you – much to my utter irritation. But you held your own perfectly, nonetheless. There is something else that is bothering you. What is it? Why won’t you tell me?” Hudson pushed.

Anna hesitantly raised her eyes to his, her heart thundering in her chest as he tightened his grip on her, as though he was silently saying that she had nowhere to run.

“It’s... me. I fear that when I was with child, I gained some unflattering weight that I have yet to lose. It was hard to fit into my old dresses. Everything felt uncomfortable or tight and even now... I feel nervous. Because I do not look like I did when we were wed, and people might expect you to have a dainty maiden for a wife instead of me – a woman who yearns for her children every moment she is away from them and despises the discomfort she has had to endure all evening due to her corset.”

Hudson would not have guessed that Anna held such feelings about herself.

She sounded almost reproachful, which was no emotion one should have towards themselves – especially over something they could not control. Suddenly, Hudson could understand why she looked so nervous and startled, each time they were approached. As though she had wanted to hide.

The thought of her struggling with something so deeply made him upset.

“There is no reason for you to feel so nervous about your looks or the state of your body,” Hudson retorted, pulling her closer to him.

Her eyes widened at the lack of proximity between them, but he did not let her retreat, clearing his throat slightly so he could speak softly, only for her ears.

“You have never looked prettier. You were lovely before, but what you have been through in the last year has only caused that to be even more pronounced. Your body is perfect in its current state. After all, it birthed my children, and there is nothing more precious to me than your body.”

Hudson had only intended to say exactly what was on his mind, but the blush that spread across Anna’s cheeks told him that perhaps he should have been less frank. Even more so when she tripped, momentarily causing them to lose the rhythm of the song. Still, the bashful look on her face only spurred him on.

Their relationship might not have any room for such words or interactions; however, he couldn’t help himself.

“You are divine to behold, Anna. I do not care for the differences to your body that you believe are worthy of your scorn. These things have only added to your irresistible charm. I have had to exercise self-restraint all night – in more ways than one, because I cannot have just anyone laying their eyes on you. Neither do I have any interest in looking away from you. These things that bother you... are inconsequential to me. All I see is even more of you to worship,” he stated with a smirk, pleased when she refused to meet his eyes.