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"Ready, darling?" Frederick asks, fixing the cuffs of his jacket before looking over at me and offering his arm, a charming smile making its way onto his face as he looks at me. "First ball of the season and you are already outshining all of the debutantes."
I chuckle, shaking my head as I take his arm. "You, my darling, are far too charming for your own good."
"Well, it is a good thing then that I have found my wife in you, my dear," he retorts. "But you need not worry, my heart already belongs to you- as it has since the first moment you ran into me during that ball two seasons ago."
I roll my eyes at his words. "If I remember correctly, it was you who ran into me, dear husband."
"I was merely saving you from the ferocious packs of marriage-minded Mamas and their daughters," he counters smoothly, guiding me out of the house and toward the waiting carriage.
"Of course, you were darling," I say, patting his arm as I step into the carriage. "Of course."
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"Did you hear? Lord Huntingdon has arrived in town... he is apparently attending tonight's ball," one debutante whispered.
The entire group seemed to squeal at her words, eagerly looking around for Henry.
"Is that true?" Frederick asked. "Is Henry going to tonight's ball?"
I shrug. "Mama said that she was going to... urge him to attend-"
"So I will expect to see him," Frederick said simply. "There is simply no way that Henry is going to... not follow your Mama's order."
I chuckle, rolling my eyes as I sigh. "Perhaps."
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"Francesca, how are you?" I ask, looking over at her with a small smile.
She sighed as she sent me a small smile. "I am... well."
I chuckle as I nod in understanding. "Well, you look stunning. If that helps at all..."
She chuckles as she glances down at her gown. "Thank you, Florence."
I smile, content to see her at least smiling as we stand on the edge of the ballroom floor, watching in silence as couples dance past us.
