A Brazen Lady And The Shunned Duke (Faces of Love Series #3) (2 page)

* * *

T
he following day
, the Duchess of Bellingham invited me to attend afternoon tea at the home of Lady Withington. It was to be a charity event for orphaned children. I was excited to go since I had already made a connection with their second eldest daughter, Lady Julia.

The last I saw of her was when she and my beloved brother, Colonel Henry Fitzwilliam, were married. I had heard that she had come to town with her family while Henry was away with his regiment.

I entered the drawing room, which was tastefully decked out in fragrant bouquets of pink and red roses. There were several tables set up with delectables decorating the centerpieces. I couldn’t help but think that for the price of this event alone, we could have housed an orphan for the remainder of his or her life.

“She is making up for her lack of money,” the duchess whispered in my ear as we entered. “It is well known that her husband squandered it all in his youth. Ever since her oldest daughter married the Duke of Gaffton, she thinks she has re-entered the portion of society that had thus far been kept from her.”

I looked over at my companion questioningly.
Certainly the wife of an earl couldn’t be shunned just because of money.

“I would never dream of coming to such an event, even in her current fortune, but since Fitzwilliam married her daughter, it is my duty to show face here. Stay close though, we will be leaving shortly.”

I couldn’t believe that all women of her stature were so full of themselves. I wanted to say something to her, but before I could, we were interrupted by our hostess.

“Your Grace, it is such a joy to have you attend today,” Lady Withington cooed a little too loudly. She was clearly making a show of the duchess’ presence at the event.

“Yes, well, we are practically family now, aren’t we?” the Duchess returned with an indifferent look on her face. “Let me introduce my companion also, this is Miss Scarlett. She is a relation of my husband.”

“Oh yes, my Julia has spoken quite highly of you,” she said as I bowed to her. “Though her words don’t do justice to your beauty.”

“Thank you, Lady Withington, you are very kind.”

“Julia is here with us,” she waved, looking around the room. “The colonel, as you know, has been called back to the front lines. Julia has been staying with us as she prepares for motherhood.”

“I was not aware that she was with child,” I said, surprised.

I had gotten to know Julia very well when I took a trip with her and Fitzwilliam to a horse auction. I absolutely adored her. She was the sister I’d never had.

“It is a rather new development,” a voice called from behind me.

I turned to see Julia standing there. She was her same rose-cheeked golden-haired self. She couldn’t have been that far along, because she didn’t show at all. We embraced each other in greeting before her mother cleared her throat. She then made introductions to the duchess.

Finally, I was left alone with Julia as the other two went off to meet other prominent ladies.

“I am so happy to see you here,” I said at last. “I had no idea you were pregnant though. Why did you not say in your last letter?”

“I didn’t know then. Henry was home on holiday when I wrote it, if you remember. I found out probably only a few weeks after I sent it. I knew you would be here in London for the season, so I figured I would get the chance to tell you in person.”

Over the last year since Julia had married my brother, we had devout correspondences to each other. It was nice that even though I hadn’t seen her in a year, we were still able to pick up right where we had left off.

“So how do you like living with the Duke and Duchess of Bellingham?” Julia asked as we sat at a small table with tea.

I gave a very un-ladylike sigh.

“That good?”

“Well, it has only been a few days.”

“But,” Julia prodded.

“I think they will be the death of me,” I whispered. “They are so quiet and refined. I don’t think either one of them has ever smiled.”

Julia did her best to hide a giggle. “Henry and I spent last Christmas with them. It was awful,” she said with a bright smile.

“I know Henry can be on the serious side too, but the duke…I can’t believe we come from the same stock,” I retorted.

“Well, perhaps he is more your father than your mother.”

I nodded in agreement. “Her Grace has taken it upon herself to chaperone me around to make sure I don’t make a fool of myself apparently. Or, even worse than that, attach myself to someone she might find inappropriate.”

“There is a rumor going around that you already have a match in place. I could see them wanting to keep you close so as not to fumble that.”

“How do you even know about that? The duke just told me last night.”

“This is society in London. We have nothing better to do than sit in drawing rooms and gossip.”

We both laughed, since it was exactly what we were doing right now.

“Well, what do the rumors say about me and my match then?” I asked.

“I heard that they have prepared the Earl of Milford for you.”

“Well, then you heard right,” I said with a slouch. “I don’t know who that is. Do you know anything about him?”

Julia shook her head to indicate the negative. “But you never know; it might work out in the end.”

I rolled my eyes. “If it is someone that my brother wants me to be attached to, I can almost be sure he will be a horribly dull man.”

* * *

J
ulia
and I sat contently drinking or tea while all the other ladies socialized around us. Soon thereafter, Julia saw someone that she knew and waved her over.

She was a slightly plump girl with fiery red hair and a freckled face. She was wearing a pale green dress that actually made her skin look a little sickly. I thought to myself that she would look beautiful in a dark green velvet, but that would be inappropriate for a day event, even for a maiden.

“Scarlett, I want you to meet my friend. This is Lady Henrietta Middleton.”

“Please, just call me Ettie, everyone else does,” she said, coming to sit with us.

Introductions were made, as well as our connections to each other. Julia and Ettie had met while she was staying with her oldest sister. Ettie was the sister of the Duke of Kent, a very good friend of the Duke and Duchess of Gaffton.

“I don’t mean to be forward, but I did happen to hear some interesting news about you before meeting you today,” Ettie started.

“I am sure it is about my presumed marriage to an earl I have never met,” I said.

“That is exactly it. Though why you would pick him is beyond me. It seems that a woman of your means, well if the rumors are true that is, could pick someone so much better.”

“I have never met the gentleman. It is a suitor my older brother has picked for me. I can tell you with certainty that if he is a dishonorable man, I won’t agree to the arrangement.”

“Oh, it’s nothing like that,” Ettie said with a wave of her plump hand. “He is a very honorable man, he is just…” she trailed off with a raised brow.

“Well, spit it out,” Julia chimed in. Apparently, we were both dying to know what this earl was like.

“Let’s just say he is very
different
.”

“Different how?” Julia encouraged.

“Slow.”

“Slow,” we answered in unison.

“Yes, I guess it would be better to say he is very gullible. I was once at a ball where he asked me to dance. He spent the entire set discussing how he had confused Churchill Manor with an actual church on a hill. He went on and on about why they would call an estate Churchill when it was clearly not a church,” she said with a roll of her eyes.

“Oh dear,” was all that Julia could say.

“Perhaps he was just nervous due to the dance though,” Ettie said, trying to wash away the worried looks on both of our faces. “Though I am not someone that gentlemen would worry about dancing with usually. To be honest, most don't even ask to dance with me.”

She fiddled with the lace covering at the front of her dress. It wasn’t easy to hide such a buxom chest. She may have been on the slightly larger side, but she certainly seemed like a wonderful woman to me. She was also the sister of a duke apparently; this should have had some sway for her. I wondered why she wasn’t married herself. Her brotherly connections alone should have sealed the deal, despite any reservations men might have about the fullness of her chest.

“Well then, we must stand together at our next ball,” I said, doing my best to cheer up the mood. “That way we can be together, and perhaps you can warn me when the Earl of Milford is near so we can hide.”

Ettie brightened up at my remark. I was again taken aback by her beauty. She had emerald green eyes that contrasted perfectly to her hair. I could already tell she had a wonderful personality to match, unlike my sister-in-law, who was pretty on the outside and cold on the inside. I was happy to know that I had already made a good friendship.

“Scarlett, I hate to interrupt, but we must go if I am to make my fitting,” the duchess called. She eyed my companions suspiciously. The fact that she clearly didn’t approve only made me dig my heels in more.

We sat quietly on the carriage ride to Madame Palmer’s shop. The fitting itself was uneventful. The duchess did insist that I get a new evening gown for myself as well. I had plenty of dresses; I think it was more to make her feel important. To show that she had to guide me in matters of dress and etiquette.

“I must warn you,” she said on the ride back to the town house. “Henrietta Middleton is not a good start for your first week in town.”

“What are you talking about? She was a very kind lady.”

“I am sure she is,” the duchess said with a wave of her hand, “but she is not a good social association.”

“I can’t see how. Julia said her brother is the Duke of Kent.”

“Yes he is, by title.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that they are completely impoverished. I mean, did you not notice that of the dress she was wearing, that neckline was completely out of fashion, even for last season?”

“I’m not sure what you are saying. I shouldn’t be her friend because they are poor?”

“I am saying that if you want to establish yourself as a serious member of the peerage and not some scandalous lady looking for the fastest and highest title you can snatch up, you should stay clear of Lady Henrietta and her brother.”