Chapter 12

Daniel forced himself to break the kiss. If he had not, he reckoned the ladies who were bullying his wife would have had to witness an even more inappropriate scene. Magnolia's forehead fell on his chest.

"Please, do not let go," she murmured. "I think my legs will give in if you do." Her revelation drew a smile on Daniel's face, and he tightened his arms around her.

Magnolia was out of breath. It was not her first kiss, but she did not understand why the feelings were dramatically different.

In the past, when the baron kissed her, she felt revolted and cringed away from his touch. His kisses were violent and demanding. But why did she enjoy Daniel's? Why did she want him to kiss her more? Why did she want to stay in his arms forever?

The thoughts created chaos in her head, they went against everything she had promised herself when she was finally free from the baron. Why was she letting a man touch her and worse, she enjoyed it?

"Can you walk now?" Daniel asked with a gentle voice.

"I believe so," Magnolia felt shy.

He guided her back inside the ballroom, and when they entered, they got no break from socializing. It seemed that all the guests were taking turns to meet them. Magnolia was thankful for the distraction, otherwise she would have driven herself crazy, thinking about that kiss.

Her face hurt from smiling and her legs from standing. But thankfully, she could lean on Daniel whose arm never left her waist.

"I think it is time for a dance, don't you agree, love?" The endearments still caused a reaction from Magnolia every time he used one.

"I think it is as well." She smiled sweetly at him.

"Excuse us, ladies, gentlemen." They finally escaped.

"Thank you." Magnolia sighed.

"They will be watching our dancing very closely though." He winked at her.

"I don't mind, I would rather dance until my feet bleed than spend one more second making pleasantries with strangers."

Daniel laughed so loudly that a few heads turned. Very few people had ever seen the Duke of Salicera smile, let alone laugh. Now almost everyone's eyes were on the couple.

The duke led his wife to the dance floor. They bowed to each other and then Daniel took Magnolia in his arms, ready for the music to begin.

"Nervous?" he asked.

"For some reason, I am no." She felt very calm in Daniel's arms.

When the music started, their bodies moved harmoniously. It felt as if they had danced together thousands of times. Like fairies, flying around a field of flowers, everyone who watched them was enchanted.

Even Magnolia and Daniel felt it. As they twirled around the ballroom holding each other's gaze, Daniel's magical powers were heightened, and Magnolia's body temperature was rising continuously.

The emotions spreading through their bodies were new to both of them, strange, but soothing at the same time. It felt natural, like this was exactly where they were supposed to be. It was almost as if they were born for this very moment.

When the music stopped, the guests applauded as if they had just attended an opera show. The cheers brought back the couple from their fantasy world. They were both out of breath, unable to look away from each other, unable to fathom what had just happened.

Daniel finally averted his eyes and bowed his head to some of the guests who were applauding.

He leaned closer to Magnolia who was still a bit disoriented. "I think we can leave now." Before she even agreed, he put his arm around her waist and guided her through the crowd, toward the doors.

The ride home was silent and awkward. They were both lost in their thoughts.

"Good night," was all Daniel uttered before walking away from Magnolia.

Later, she pretended to be asleep while waiting for him to sneak into their bedroom–like he had been doing every night they had been at the capital. But the duke never came.

THE NEXT MORNING, Magnolia entered an empty dining room. "Has the duke had breakfast already?" she asked one of the footmen.

"Yes, Your Grace." She could not help but feel down.

'Is he avoiding me? Did I do something at the ball?' She pressed her lips together. 'I should be the one angry with him, after that kiss last night.' Her face turned red as soon as she remembered his soft lips on hers.

After breakfast, she took a walk with Geoffrey in a nearby park. She only caught a glimpse of Daniel as he was getting into the carriage to leave the house.

When her son left for his classes, she went back to her room and found a pile of envelopes on the desk. Dozens of letters, all intended to her. As she started opening them, she realized that they were all invitations to social events from people she had met at the ball the night before.

'These people don't waste any time. I should probably ask Henry how to respond and which invitations I should accept.' As soon as she stood from her chair, somebody knocked and then opened the door.

"Your Grace, I am sorry to interrupt, but you have received another letter." As Clara handed it to her, Magnolia recognized the royal seal immediately. She opened the letter quickly and read it.

'So even the princess wants me to have tea with her.' Then she remembered what those ladies were saying the night before.

"Clara, can I ask you a question?"

"Anything, Your Grace."

Magnolia hesitated for a moment. "Was the duke close to any women?"

"Not particularly," Clara answered with a nonchalant tone.

"What about…" Magnolia lowered her voice. "The princess?"

Clara's eyes widened. She looked puzzled and uncomfortable. She took a few steps closer.

"Your Grace, there have been rumors that the princess fancied His Grace. But those are just rumors, so you do not have to concern yourself. What's more, he has married you, so all that is in the past anyway."

Magnolia was not sure whether Clara's speech was out of loyalty to the duke, or because her face looked too pitiful from learning about the princess. "Thank you, Clara. Can you please send Henry over when you get a chance?"

"Of course, Your Grace."

Magnolia sighed. Her thoughts were scrambled.

'If the princess loves the duke, why would he not marry her? Why would he make a contractual marriage with someone like me?'

Henry arrived a few minutes later, interrupting her thoughts by his knocking.

"Come in."

"Your Grace, you have asked for me?"

"Yes, Lord Flock, I have received a few invitations and I wanted to make sure I accepted them in the right order."

Henry was impressed that Magnolia even knew there was an order to accepting invitations according to titles. "May I have a look, Your Grace?" He took a step closer.

"Of course." She motioned to the letters on the desk. "Obviously, the first invitation to accept should be the one from Princess Aurora."

"Her Highness invited you?" He looked surprised.

"Yes, she did. She has invited me to tea." Magnolia eyed him for a moment.

'If there is anyone who would have the answers to my questions, it would be Henry.' But she could not ask him. She could not risk the duke finding out that she was curious about him–or about his love life to be more accurate. She also knew that Henry was loyal to her husband as his assistant and as his friend.

"Could you please show me how to write an appropriate response?"

"Of course, my lady."

After helping Magnolia, Henry walked back to the duke's office, where he found Daniel waiting for him.

"You are back." Henry said as he closed the door behind him.

"Yes, the meeting did not take as long as I expected. Have you finished the documents I left you earlier?"

"I'm sorry, I was called by the duchess to help her with some letters."

"What letters?"

"Well after yesterday, everyone wants to meet the duchess. I helped her answer the invitations." Henry hesitated for a minute. "Princess Aurora sent her an invitation too." A shocked look crossed Daniel's face, but it disappeared as fast as it had appeared.

"I see. It is only natural that she wants to meet her." Daniel shrugged. "She is the new Duchess of Salicera after all."

"You do not think she means to harm Her Grace?" Henry dug a little deeper.

"Why would she?" Daniel seemed a little angry.

"Well, as one of the people who saw your dancing last night, I can assure you that the princess is fuming with jealousy."

Daniel was silent for a moment. "I do not think the princess is stupid enough to do anything to the duchess when she is the one who invited her. Plus, I don't know what you mean by our dancing."

Henry smiled. "Is that why you have been avoiding her?"

"I don't know what you are talking about. I have been busy, that is all. Speaking of which, do you not have work to do too?"

"Sure, sure." Henry's smile got bigger. "I will take my leave then."

"And stop smiling like an idiot," Daniel yelled as Henry closed the door. He leaned back in his chair and covered his face.

'Well, I did not expect things to get complicated this fast.'