She looked beautiful, he was honest enough to admit that, and he would not pretend his heart did not speed up or his stomach did not catch fire for a brief moment or two. Her gown was a rich cream color with a darker overlay, embroidered with a peach shade of flowers on a vine, some metallic in them catching the light. Her right shoulder was draped with an earthy, rose-colored fabric, something sheer and near a shade to her embroidered skirts, giving the entire ensemble a regal air that suited her. About her small waist, a thick lavender ribbon was tied.

Her golden hair was rather loosely piled and pinned, mauve and pale purple ribbons crossing this way and that, pearl pins highlighting the rest and matching the strands of pearls at her throat.

His wife was a beauty that simply had to be appreciated.

“Don’t think your delay was not noted,” Adelaide hissed through her tight smile. “Have you no compassion for my anxieties this evening?”

Perhaps she was better appreciated from a distance.

“I was not aware you were having anxieties, my lady,” Harrison said carefully, not seeing the need to provoke her if she was already feeling on edge. “You present such a confident facade, it is not easily discernible.”

She waved a hand in brisk, dismissive gestures. “I am not prone to displaying discernable failings to the public.”

“I don’t think anxieties would be a failing,” he mused, more to himself than to anyone else, “but I will do my best to anticipate anything of the sort in the future.”

“Basset, stop talking,” Adelaide ordered without any hint she had heard his near-apology or felt any gratitude toward him. “I must speak to you about the image we present to our guests.”

Of course she did. After the effort she had made in the days leading up to their marriage and the wedding itself, she would never put forth less effort with the local society of her new home.

“I realize,” she went on before he could comment, “that I have not done as I ought with your sister, but I do aim to do better by her. If I can ignore everything against her.” She rolled her eyes heavenward and exhaled heavily. “Thank heavens she looks a picture this evening. It will help soften every fault.”

“Your aiming is truly admirable,” Harrison muttered in derision.

Adelaide glanced up at him, missing the sarcasm. “I think we must present an idealistic front to Society. No one will doubt that we married for convenience, but there must be no hint that convenience is all there is. We are a very comfortable, warm, affectionate couple. Do you understand?”

Harrison reared back in surprise. “You want me to pretend we do not fight like cats and dogs? I don’t know if I can manage that far.”