Must Love Dukes (14 page)

Possessing the trinket had seemed so important a year ago, having just lost her father. Now she knew better. It had only brought heartache into her life. In an effort to remind herself of the love that she knew had once existed between her and her father, she’d opened the door to a disastrous future. She closed the small lid with a click and returned the watch to the drawer, taking the spare pins back to her trunk.

With introductions to more suitors and torture at the hands of the Mad Duke ahead of her, she now understood one thing quite clearly: Nothing could change her situation now, least of all a watch.

***

“If I hear one more word about manes and tails, I’m going to expire of boredom.” Sue rested her hands on the stone wall that ran the length of the terrace at Amber Hollow, gazing out over green lawns that cascaded into a grove of trees in the distance.

Lillian shot a sidelong look from the corner of her eye at her friend as she took another sip of tepid lemonade. “Sue, you only arrived an hour ago. You have to last another two days until we can return to the city.” Although Lillian agreed about the excessive degree of horse talk among the crowd milling about the terrace that afternoon, complaining about it would do no good.

“Don’t remind me. Mama tells me every day I should be pleased to still be invited to events such as this after my woefully disappointing seasons, although we both know my invitation was an afterthought. It is Evangeline they truly wanted to invite. I am the side dish next to her roast. No one orders simple greens. But if I am forced to attend country parties so Evangeline might attend, they could at least keep the conversation interesting. Who cares the distance a horse can race unless there are highwaymen at your back? Honestly.”

“Well, I’m happy you came.” Lillian gave Sue a smile and a friendly bump on the arm with her elbow. “Horse discussions aside, I find it refreshing to be back in the country for a few days. If you ignore the company we’re forced to keep, it’s quite lovely here. Did you see the rose garden when you arrived?”

“No, Mama insisted we go straight inside so Evangeline might wash the dust from her face and repair her hair from the journey. Apparently dust and disheveled hair only improve my looks, as Mother and Evangeline are still in the room with the maid.”

Lillian laughed. “Oh my. I don’t believe I would enjoy being Evangeline. So much of life spent before a mirror seeking perfection instead of outside enjoying life. We are the lucky ones, Sue.”

“I agree, but don’t tell my mother I said so. She would think it shameful to desire sunshine on one’s cheeks over powder on one’s nose. Isn’t there a nature walk here? We could escape this horse party for a few minutes, if you wish. I would like to try and find the hidden lake I heard was here.”

A deep voice rumbled from behind them. “I shall take you to see it, then.”

Lillian jumped at the new voice. Turning, she saw Lord Steelings with his eyes set on Sue, who stood there blinking in surprise and unable to answer.

Lillian cleared her throat. “That is very kind, Lord Steelings. However, we were about to partake of some of those lovely sandwiches over on the buffet. I’ve heard wonderful things about the cucumber sandwiches. Have you tried them?”

“Yes. Dreadfully dry. But I wouldn’t want to stand in your way if you wish to try one. Come along, my lady. I’ll show you that hidden lake you wished to see. I’ve been there many times.”

“I shouldn’t go just now,” Sue rushed to say. “I was only thinking…”

“Tomorrow all of our moments will be planned for us as the party begins in earnest. It’s not far.” He extended his arm to Sue.

“Yes, all right. Lillian, I’ll return shortly.”

Lillian gave her a shocked nod. It wasn’t like Sue to wander away with a gentleman. Lillian had a strange feeling there was more to that encounter than met the eye. She was watching their retreating silhouettes round the corner of the house out of view, feeling rather awkward and alone, when someone joined her at the stone wall.

“Lily, imagine seeing you here.” His Grace leaned one hip against the wall in his normal nonchalant stance.

Lillian looked his way long enough to take in his dark windswept hair and tanned skin before returning her gaze to the green lawn before her. He looked as if he had spent all day in the sun. It was a roughened, entirely male look that made her knees turn weak. She stiffened her spine against the impulse to find such a bothersome man attractive.

“Should I feign surprise at seeing you at an event I was forced to attend?”

“Not on my account. But are you implying that I’m following you?” Was there a smile in his voice? She turned toward him to confirm the suspicion. White teeth gleamed against tan skin, matched only by the starkness of his messily tied cravat.

Not for the first time, she asked why her tormentor had to be so handsome. It really was unfair, as it put her at a disadvantage at times such as this. “Yes, of course you are. And it’s quite annoying, so you may leave now.”

“And end this lovely conversation of ours? Never.”

“I was afraid you might feel that way. I was terribly busy enjoying the landscape before you arrived, so if you don’t mind, I will continue to do so in silence.” She stared off at the horizon, ignoring the man at her side.

“You know you tilt your chin to the right when you’re angry?”

“Shhhh. We are enjoying the view in silence,” she replied.

“Right.”

A moment passed and all the while she could feel his gaze on her.

“The Himalayan goral gets a similar peevish look when you near its young.”

Lillian turned back toward him in a huff. He needed to leave soon or she was going to lose what little patience she had left and hit him. “You should go and have a cucumber sandwich. I hear they’re delicious.”

“Yes, that look right there. Very goral. I knew I’d seen it before. And I’ve never been partial to cucumber myself, so I think I’ll stay here.”

“Humph, I am suddenly famished. Until later, Your Grace.” She stormed across the terrace toward the table laden with tea sandwiches and fruit. A goral? Wasn’t that a breed of goat? She had seen a few goats over her lifetime, and she was quite certain she looked nothing like one. He was determined to torment her at every turn. A goral, indeed!

She placed one strawberry along with a prawn salad sandwich on her plate and turned to walk to the far end of the terrace when she was stopped by the dratted duke in her path. “You didn’t get a cucumber sandwich.”

She raised her chin in challenge. “I don’t care for them either, if you must know. Your mother recommended it, so I assumed you would like to try one—on the far side of the terrace—and leave me be.”

“Ah, my mother. She trapped you into this excursion as well, then, didn’t she?”

“How did you know?”

“Let’s call it a lucky guess. She believes there is…” He paused to motion between the two of them with his hand. “Some sentiment between the two of us.”

“How odd. I
am
feeling a few choice sentiments for you at the moment. Would you like to hear them?”

“I fear my pride would not recover from such a blow. Perhaps later.”

“Why would your mother think there is anything between us?”

She watched as his jaw tightened, the muscles working in his neck. “I haven’t the faintest idea,” he returned, looking across the lawn as he answered.

“Oh, I wish I could tell her in extremely clear terms that this is nothing more than a disgusting business arrangement,” she hissed as she shifted the plate in her hand.

“Yes, a business arrangement. On that score…” He dug a small parcel out of his pocket and placed it on her plate, beside the prawn salad sandwich. “You need to feed this to Amberstall’s prize racehorse tomorrow at precisely one o’clock in the afternoon.”

Her jaw dropped for a second before she spoke. “I don’t know what your plan might be this time, but I will not poison a horse for you.”

“Calm down. It isn’t poison. It’s oats and herbs.” He shook his head in clear offense. “It won’t hurt the animal.”

She looked at him suspiciously. “What will it do?”

“Ah, that you will have to wait to see.”

“And if I fail to feed this to Amberstall’s horse tomorrow?”

“Come now, Lily. It’s no great task I ask.”

“Very well.” She slipped the parcel into her pocket. Why did he not answer her question? In the past he had been only too happy to dispense with threats of what he would do to her if she didn’t comply with his wishes. Why not now? Her gaze narrowed on him, yet his eyes revealed nothing.

“Good. I will see you at dinner.” He nodded and left her standing on the terrace, staring after him. This was becoming a tradition of sorts. He forced her to comply with his mad plots, confused her, and then left her standing alone again. She set aside her uneaten plate of food, vowing the Mad Duke would not abandon her on a terrace again. Next time she was going to do the leaving.

***

Lillian arrived early to dinner, seeing no need to sit about her room once she was dressed for the evening. She smoothed the skirts of her peach-colored gown and patted a hand across the back of her head to ensure the knot of her hair was still intact. The parlor where they were to have pre-dinner drinks was empty.

It was a large room for a simple parlor with so little seating, but then the entire home was that way, rather excessive in size yet lacking in ornamentation. She was inspecting one of the two paintings in the room, that of a young blond boy on a horse, when she heard people coming down the hallway toward the parlor.

“That is precisely what I told him, but do you think Thornwood listens to me? Oh no.” The duchess paused in her conversation with two other ladies when she spied Lillian across the room. “Miss Phillips! I’ve been looking forward to seeing you again.” She crossed the room with the other ladies in tow. “Doesn’t she look the very image of Honoria?”

“Oh yes, I noticed the resemblance the instant we met this afternoon,” the hostess of the party returned with an assessing look.

Lillian felt slightly awkward being studied for likeness to her deceased mother. How should she hold her mouth? Should she smile or would that kill the effect? She settled on a bland, inoffensive smile while her toe tapped a violent rhythm under the hem of her dress.

The duchess sighed loudly enough to gain everyone’s attention. “Yes, I am sorry I missed the gathering on the terrace this afternoon. I was running a bit behind upon leaving, only to find all of His Grace’s belongings sitting in the foyer when I arrived downstairs. Can you believe he departed on horseback, leaving his trunk for me to find room for in my carriage?” She laughed as she added in a quiet tone, “He’s fortunate I didn’t leave his clothing behind in London and allow him to find his own means of dressing while here.”

That explained his sun-tanned features this afternoon when he arrived. He had ridden here. She forced the image of him from her mind, focusing on the conversation.

“The gentlemen in our lives would forget their noses if we were not always there to reattach them.” The ladies tittered. Lillian glanced at the door. Where was Sue? At times like these, she could feel her inexperience in society shining through her polished exterior.

“Good evening, Mother.” A tall, blond-haired gentleman entered the room with a smile in their direction. “Your Grace, Lady Snellsgrove, it’s lovely to see you at our party again this year.” He bowed toward the other ladies before turning toward Lillian.

“Amberstall, this is Miss Phillips. I believe you know her family already,” his mother supplied.

“Miss Phillips, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he offered in greeting as he joined the conversation.

“Likewise, Lord Amberstall,” she returned.

The hostess of the event smiled at the two of them. “Your Grace, Lady Snellsgrove, I simply must show you the new vase I purchased for the foyer. Come along.” She looked back at her son before adding, “I don’t think we’re needed here at the moment.”

Amberstall shot a rather dark look at the door as his mother left. Turning back to Lillian on a sigh, he opened his mouth to speak but then closed it again.

Lillian searched for anything to fill this void of silence between them. “You have a lovely home,” she offered. “I’m pleased I received an invitation to a gathering in such a nice setting.”

“Ah, thank you. It is an amusing group assembled here this year. I’m happy you are able to be counted in our numbers,” he replied with a small nod of his golden head. “I trust your accommodations are in order.”

“Oh, yes. Very nice indeed.” Lillian twined her fingers together before her. An awkward silence seemed to be hanging in the air above their heads, threatening to descend on them. One second ticked by, then two.

“I’ve known Solomon for quite a few years, you know. Since school, actually,” Amberstall said with a smile. “If I’d known he had such a beautiful sister hidden away in the country, I would have made it a point to visit him more often.”

“Yes, Solomon does have his secrets.”

“Clearly.” His eyes twinkled at her in jest.

Lillian searched her mind for some way to move the conversation away from Solomon. Her eyes landed on the painting on the wall. “Lord Amberstall, is this portrait of you?”

“Yes, it is. That was my first horse, Piper. She was of marvelous stock. I trained her myself.”

“Really? But you look so young in this portrait.”

“I was seven years there. Piper was two. I first sat a horse at three.”

“Three?”

“Yes, I began building the stables here at ten.” There was obvious pride in his voice but also an edge of something deeper, darker.

“Such a young age.”

“Indeed.” His jaw tightened around the single word for a moment before his expression cleared and he smiled. “This is now the grandest equine facility in all of England.”

Lillian could see her opportunity looming ahead in the conversation to feed Thornwood’s oats and herbs to Amberstall’s horse. As much as she did not care to tour a stable, she gritted her teeth in the semblance of a smile as she surged forward into the discussion. “That is fascinating, Lord Amberstall. I would like to see the stables.”