The Duke Dilemma (26 page)

Louise had barely disembarked from Lady Gelsthorpe’s carriage and relayed her thanks when Augusta came out of nowhere. “How very fortuitous this is!” she exclaimed.

“What is it, Gusta?” The young man escorting her paused, glancing past Louise and her newly arrived party.

“There is my friend, Lady Vernon,” Augusta said to her distracted companion.

“Off with you, then. I daresay I can find Fieldstone on my own.” The young man released Augusta, who approached Louise. “Good day to you, Lady Vernon.”

“And to you as well.”

“I am so very glad to have found you. You must come with me at once.” Augusta took up Louise’s arm and linked it with her own.

“I am happy to see you as well.” Louise chuckled and willingly went with her friend, who was dressed in a similar warm pelisse. “Who was that young man?”

“That was my brother, Freddie.” Augusta amended, “Lord Brent.”

“It was too bad of you to send him off before you could introduce us.” She would like to have had the opportunity.

“There will be time enough for a proper introduction.” Augusta drew Louise down the path, away from her brother, which must have been the very same from which she had originally come. “I am a little bit curious, my lady…”

“About what, my dear?” Louise contrasted her wool bonnet with her friend’s typical summer straw poke. The headwear choice was a last-minute decision, made when Louise spied the overcast sky just before her departure.

“The missive from Papa.” Augusta proceeded somewhat timidly. “He asked me to see to its delivery since he did not know your direction. I was very happy to be of assistance, of course.”

“I am sure His Grace is most appreciative.” Louise would not offer any further information. If the Duke had not, neither should she.

“And I cannot help being most curious. I can scarcely believe the two of you only met yesterday.” Augusta sounded far too excited. “What was of such importance he needed to write to you?”

Certainly she had given up any idea of playing matchmaker. “We are not complete strangers, you know. We are known to one another through you and Sir Samuel.” Louise needed to choose her words carefully.

“I suppose that is true.” Augusta produced the slightest of frowns. “Still…I cannot imagine why he needed to send you a message on such a short acquaintance unless…” Her eyes went wide and she brightened. “He desires your company, and perhaps he even fancies you!”

“Now, Augusta, you know that is not possible.” Nothing could be further from the truth. How could Louise ever convince her friend of that?

“Oh, rubbish. In fact I believe there is a very good chance—”

“I have already made my thoughts on that subject quite clear, have I not?” Louise would not be party to any matchmaking scheme.

“Yes, you have, but what if Papa has formed an instant
tendre
?” Augusta’s excitement dimmed but still existed and probably would continue until she could see for herself no such thing had happened.

As if that could be true! Not only had the Duke wished to escape female attachments, he did not want to give anyone the slightest encouragement.
That
was why he had asked her to accompany him, so he would have someone to escort and
appear
to be occupied with her company.

“I thought you did not believe in such things? Did you not tell me only yesterday that your brother foolishly had the very same notion?”

“I do not mean to say he might be correct, but I cannot think that possible.” Augusta made a face and shook her head.

“If His Grace has, indeed, been struck with Cupid’s arrow, you would gladly accept the notion?” Louise would keep the Duke’s confidence but could not allow his daughter to continue to believe such nonsense. “I
can
assure you that is not the case. Let this be the end to your questions.”

“Then what did he write? Why…” Augusta stopped, held tight to Louise’s arm, and peered into her face. “What—”

“It is impossible.” Louise could not, in all good conscience, reveal his message.

“What am I to think, then?” Augusta’s slightly insistent tone told of her growing frustration. “He was very anxious for his letter to be delivered first thing this morning. What can I think?”

“Augusta—his message is not mine to reveal. If you wish to know, you must ask your father.”

“Oh, he will never tell me!”

“Then you must accept that fate or wait until he decides otherwise and takes you into his confidence.”

“I do not wish to insult you, but—” Augusta paused to rein in her displeasure. “I daresay you are as vexing as my father.” She stepped forward, urging Louise with her captured arm.

“Papa, look who I have found!” Augusta approached Edward, her arm linked with Lady Vernon’s.

The other guests seemed to dissolve from Edward’s sight upon Lady Vernon’s approach. Her smile was genuine and cheerful.

“Good afternoon, Your Grace.” She curtsied.

“My lady.” He touched the brim of his hat and bowed. “How delightful it is to see you again.” Edward imagined she was the solution to his difficulties. If only he could devise a way to rid himself of the company of his daughter.

Oh, that did sound harsh.

“I see Constance with her fiancé.” Augusta had no trouble finding her relatives as an excuse to leave him alone with her friend. “I must congratulate them on their engagement. Be a dear, Papa, and keep Lady Vernon company, if you please?”

“It would be my most sincere pleasure.” He could not imagine any situation turning out better. Focusing on said lady, Edward thought he detected the slightest flush wash across her cheeks, an easy enough accomplishment for a schoolgirl, not so common in a woman of sense and maturity.

“Do excuse me, my lady.” Augusta smiled and with a knowing look soon departed.

Edward offered Lady Vernon his escort.

“Thank you, sir.” She slipped her gloved hand through his arm.

“I should be the one thanking you for accepting my invitation.” Edward led her down the path. Augusta was now far enough away he could speak to his companion freely. “I am ashamed to say that it was very last-minute, and I would have understood if you had declined.”

“Think nothing of it, Your Grace.” Lady Vernon’s radiant smile reached her eyes, and at that moment the significance of her sincerity struck him. “I am gratified that I should be of some service to you.”

Service?
was that what she thought this was? “Ma’am, you do me the greatest honor, truly.” Edward leaned away and bowed his head. “At least you could have allowed me to send a coach to transport you.”

“Oh, no. I had, by chance, already been offered conveyance to the party. I had not thought I would attend, you see. Not until I received your note, and, after reading it, I could not refuse.”

It occurred to him there was something familiar about her beyond their last encounter, although he could not say what it was, and he allowed the thought to pass. “Excellent. This all works out well, really. I’ve decided that I rather enjoy myself when in your company.”

“Oh?” She appeared a bit shocked at his statement.

“I don’t feel as if I need to avoid you or deflect your attention, you see.” He smiled, hoping to put her at ease. “Which, I must admit, makes me very comfortable. You may be the only person who truly understands my position.”

“Then you are welcome to find a respite whenever I am about,” she assured him. “I must warn you, though. I do not go out much. My attendance at such gatherings is very rare, indeed.”

“Well, then, I suppose I must see if I can tempt you to join us more often, if not for yourself then for my benefit.” He laid his free hand upon hers with optimistic thoughts for the remainder of the day.

“Do you like flowers, Lady Vernon?” he asked.

“Flowers?” Louise nearly choked. Was this a trap where His Grace would catch her in her deception as the Conduit Street gardener? She remained calm and answered, “I adore flowers, just as all females do, I imagine.”

“Excellent, then we shall follow the path ahead, accompany the long line of guests on their turn about the garden, and if we are fortunate—
if
, I say, because as you can see Mother Nature has not been cooperative—we may be lucky enough to find a snowdrop or two.”

“A snowdrop? At this time of year?” Louise could not believe he was teasing her.

“You must admit the weather has been so abysmally cold, nothing else could bloom.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re correct,” she confessed, relieved he meant nothing by his statement. “I had given half a thought to bringing my umbrella.”

“I thought planning a garden party daring, at best.” The Duke pulled his coat snugly around him. “Are you certain you are warm enough, my lady?”

“What a question to ask in the middle of June.”

“I do not wish you to be doused with liquid sunshine.” He gazed at the gray clouds above him and laughed. “It is entirely possible we could be caught in a downpour and catch our deaths this very fine summer afternoon.”

She giggled despite herself. “If it rains then I suppose we could find shelter in the conservatory yonder.”

“Two hundred people in that tiny glass structure trying to remain dry? That would be something to see.” He laughed again.

At this moment he was so very happy to share in her company. He enjoyed walking beside her regardless of the gray and damp that surrounded them. Edward felt an unusual glow of warmth within.

He laid his free hand over hers, which rested in his elbow, and pressed it with affection.

A gasp of surprise escaped from her lips. “What is it? Is there something amiss, sir?”

“No, I just realized—” Chuckling at his good fortune, he was actually enjoying himself.

“You are appearing too well satisfied. I daresay you will give anyone who observes you the wrong idea of what goes on between us, and your children false hope,” she said, concerned. “You must not show that you are so glad of sidestepping matrimony.”

All mirth fled from his face. “You are quite right. I must be aware of my actions.”

“Your Grace! Y
OUR
G
RACE
!” an elderly woman’s quaver called out to him.

Edward led Lady Vernon out of the procession and looked about, discovering Lady Gelsthorpe and Miss Dillingham quickly approaching.

“Ladies”—the Duke touched the brim of his hat and inclined his head—“good afternoon.”

“We are delighted to see you again.” Lady Gelsthorpe turned to Lady Vernon.

Miss Dillingham remained quiet, only glancing at Lady Vernon, not even daring an attempt to gaze upon the Duke.

“
We
had some notion you had been abandoned, Lady Vernon, but
we
see now you are in very good company.” It was clear Lady Gelsthorpe had something in mind, and Louise would not for the world interfere in her plans.

“Yes, the Duke has been kind enough to occupy my time until the return of Lady Augusta,” she informed the Dowager.

“Oh,
we
saw her conclude her conversation with her relatives as
we
passed by. If
we
are not mistaken, she was heading in this direction and will soon be among us.”

“Well, I suppose I must find her, then.” Lady Vernon glanced at the Duke, and he sensed she could somehow see his displeasure through his well-practiced impassive expression.

“
We
shall be delighted to accompany you.” As if an afterthought, she seemed to notice Miss Dillingham. “Oh, Effie! You cannot remain here by yourself.”

“No, my lady,” was Miss Dillingham’s soft reply.

“Duke, would you oblige
us
by keeping
our
goddaughter company? A walk to the conservatory, perhaps, while
we
accompany Lady Vernon to dear Lady Augusta’s side?” The offer was not as magnanimous as it had sounded. But the Duke was too much a gentleman to decline.

Reluctantly, Edward relinquished Lady Vernon’s hand. “We shall continue our discussion some other time, my lady.”

“As you say, Your Grace. I shall look forward to it.” Lady Vernon stepped away and bowed her head.

“Miss Dillingham, if you please.” Edward offered his arm.

“Excellent,” Lady Gelsthorpe intoned. “Shall we go, Louise?”

Lady Vernon straightened, and time appeared to slow to a stop as her russet-colored bonnet tilted away from him. Edward caught the sigh of…of…and he stilled, unable to look away from her.

The slowly rising brim of a hat revealed Lady Vernon’s deep brown, wide-open eyes, gazing up at him.

Edward swallowed; his breath caught.

He knew those eyes…they were so very familiar to him. The shape, the color, the expressions…of course! They were the very same ones he had sketched.

How had he not realized before now?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The two halves of his world were coming together. Edward’s experience with Lady Vernon as the gardener and as the widow, good friend to his daughter—Augusta, not Muriel as he had first thought—and favorite aunt of his well-regarded friend Sir Samuel Pruitt, instantly melded into one woman. Edward found it difficult to imagine they were one and the same. But it was true.

Instead of attending to the female on his arm, he glanced over his shoulder, wanting to chase after Lady Vernon and make certain this notion of his was not some mad make-believe fancy.