Page 35 of To Steal a Duchess

“Vallier is said to have been found clinging to one of the wine crates in death, while the other man’s body was never discovered.”

After Dorian finished, the dining table fell silent. The only noise to break up the room’s quietness was the arrival of the first course, an eggplant-flavored soup with small cubes of bread scattered in it.

Her eyes remained on Dorian, her eyes wide and interested, the story having come to life in visual detail in her mind. She could see Captain Vallier. She could see those floating crates.

But more than anything, she could see the passion on Dorian’s face, even as he upheld a nonchalant smirk. Her heart rose with the tale of adventure. He liked it, too, she could hear it.

Her heart hungered for more.

“Well,” Gideon laughed, tapping his fingers on his wine glass. “What a story, I must say.”

“Indeed.” Dorian sipped his wine, a small not-quite smile on his mouth, as though he was pleased to boast his knowledge, as though he was happy Nancy had even asked about the wine. “For what it cost to recover both Vallier’s body and the crates, it has notoriously been named one of the most expensive wines to import.” He gestured at Nancy. “So, if Lord Maystone wishes to add it to his own selection, it will cost a great deal.”

“I am certain he will find such a thing worth it,” Nancy said, her eyes lowered slightly as she smiled at Gideon.

Eloise could no longer keep her questions to herself, and she let her curiosity spike. “Is something going on that I have missed? You and Lord Langford cannot stop glancing at one another; now you seem to be implying your father would need expensive wine for something. Do tell me, Nancy. And if something indeed is going on, I would be rather offended; I do not already know.”

She softened her huff with a mischievous smile, but deep down, she did wonder what she’d missed.

Nancy looked hesitant for a moment, her attention once more finding Gideon. Even Dorian looked between the two of them now, his face a mask of disinterest, but there was a slight narrowing to his eyes, as though he wondered, too, what had been missed.

His eyes found Eloise’s, and her stomach clenched in both a terrifying and exhilarating way at the pinning of his stare, and she averted her gaze quickly.

Neither of them knew what was going on. For once, it was not just Eloise in the dark, or waiting on something. They both were unknowing. For the first time since they had wed, Eloise felt as though there was a bridge connecting them.

“Oh, Eloise, you must promise not to be cross with me if I tell you⁠—”

“When you tell me,” Eloise corrected with a small laugh. “For now I do know there is something.”

“There is,” Gideon said, “and Lady Nancy only restricted from telling you, as we knew you are on your…” He cleared his throat, fixing his cravat. “Your honeymoon.”

“Gideon,” Dorian groaned through clenched teeth, as if the thought of this being their honeymoon was abhorrent.

“What?” Gideon urged. “You are newlyweds, and we did not want to disturb you.”

“You know full well the situation here,” Dorian muttered.

Eloise, pointedly, did not look at him, but she could only focus on the fact that he kept saying⁠—

“We?” she echoed, looking between their two friends. Her focus slid back to Nancy. “Nancy, do tell me what I have clearly missed.”

“I—Well…” Nancy circled her gloved finger around the base of her wine glass. “Well, I am now engaged.” She smiled, and it wasn’t the nervous one of knowing she was keeping something to herself; it was pleased, a lovely smile accompanied by a blush. “I am engaged to Gideon. We’ve become rather well-acquainted in the two weeks since you have left London.”

Eloise could not hold back her surprise. Her mouth parted slightly in wonder, her brows lifting. She looked askance at Dorian, but he was none the wiser. A frown creased his forehead, and his thumb brushed over his lower lip in thought.

He assessed their friends but said nothing for a moment. He didn’t look annoyed, nor angry, just… casual surprise. A more subdued version of Eloise’s own.

“I—” Eloise began, trying to find the words. “Heavens, Nancy, this is wonderful! Wonderful, if not out of the blue.”

“Not unlike your own, no?” Nancy gave her a sheepish grin, and Eloise tried to return it, except she could see the already-growing attraction between her and Gideon.

Even now, their hands were placed on the table, fingers pointing toward one another, and Eloise wondered if they were trying to somehow reach for each other’s hands.

“We are most happy for you, of course!” Eloise said, sounding not quite herself.

She was happy for her friend, but Nancy’s engagement was very different to hers. Her husband could barely stand a dinner with her; Gideon could barely take his eyes off Nancy.

The difference in the men made Eloise’s stomach sink a little.