Free AgeofInnocence by Eliza Lloyd Page A

just that all I’ve had has been taken away. And I
vowed I would go through life happy as the proverbial lark, so don’t mind the
tears. I was just overcome for a moment.”
    “If I promise to plague you until you’re old and gray will
that relieve your fears?”
    “One day at a time is enough for me.” Lettie was well aware
of the emotional turmoil. She had respected her other husbands and been
thankful for the care and devotion they’d shown her.
    Already she knew something about this marriage would be
different. She was in lust with her husband. And she was going to love him. If
she didn’t already.
    * * * * *
    Two months ago, Ferd had believed his life was over. Caught
and caged, he was sure misery was about to descend upon him. Maybe that was
part of his happiness. No. His delirious happiness.
    Low expectations had yielded an amazing bounty.
    They strolled along the Brighton boardwalk. The wind blew in
from the ocean in fits that caused Lettie to laugh. She’d finally given up and
removed her feathered bonnet, allowing the wind to blow through her hair.
    Her skirts wrapped around his legs as much as they entwined
with hers.
    She laughed again, her face to the wind. “If I suddenly
disappear, you might find me in York,” she said.
    “Perhaps you wish to return to the cottage?”
    “Never. This is glorious. If every day in England were so
full of sunshine and warmth—”
    “We’d all be blown to York.”
    “But we’d be together.”
    “It is nice to have proof that the sun shines in England.”
    “Indeed.”
    Ferd liked the way she gazed at him. It made his rampaging
lust and childish giddiness seem normal—and something akin to utter
contentment.
    When he glanced ahead, amongst the crowd he saw three of his
least favorite people walking toward him. And Lettie. He lowered his hand to
hers—a sad and reassuring gesture for him.
    They were glancing at the women passersby, being the
unmannerly cads he had known they would grow up to be. For his part, he avoided
them after they left school. Ferd wasn’t a titled gentleman so circumventing
their petty jibes and taunts had been as easy as turning down the invitations
to parties where they would be in attendance.
    He was well able to handle them now but they had the uncanny
ability to remind him of his youthful and insecure past.
    Geoffrey Smith-Davis jostled Arthur Lowell who in turn
nudged Wallace Norton. No, it was beyond hope to think they would be anything
but asses.
    He prayed they wouldn’t be uncouth beasts in front of his
wife.
    “Well. Well. What do you know?” Smith-Davis asked, glancing
from him to Lettie.
    “Smith-Davis.”
    “Lord Elder now.”
    The proper etiquette was to introduce his wife. “Gentlemen,
my wife, the former Duchess of Burnham. Mrs. Paulette Ford.”
    He introduced them quickly. They had all inherited their
titles since they’d schooled together. Lettie smiled graciously and curtsied.
“My lords.”
    “You’ve plucked from the highest tree, Ford,” Lowell said.
    “I did not know you were interested in women…of such
stunning beauty.” Norton smirked and the others postured.
    “He was reluctant, my lords, but I finally caught him.”
Lettie smiled, sure that her words were a compliment but only adding to their
secret glee.
    Their grins broadened. “Oh, we don’t doubt that for a
moment, Mrs. Ford. Ferdie was never one to chase skirts. Your pardon, of
course,” Smith-Davis said.
    “Will you be at the Royal Pavilion this evening, Mrs. Ford?”
Lowell asked. “Your invitation didn’t get lost did it, Ford?”
    Ferd had been married less than two weeks. His invitation
would have been sent to his parents’ home. He would have been included on the
family invite. They knew this.
    “We’ve only just married. I would prefer to spend my time
with my lovely wife,” Ferd said.
    “But I’d wager she’d rather be entertained more thoroughly.
You should come, Mrs. Ford. I’m sure we can find a dance partner who