“You needn’t worry about me, Your Grace.” Nell shook her head and backed up towards the door. “Other than the doors that our very brief association will open for my mama, I will not prevail on his Grace.”
“Why do you say that, Dear?” There was fierce confusion on Duchess Graves’ face.
“I won’t be seen to be after him.” Nell shook her head. “Mama needs friends, and me being out in society on His Grace’s arm will open those doors for her. Other than that, I will simply be a distant acquaintance.”
“You—” there was no relief on Duchess Graves’ face, only confusion and something that couldn’t possibly be sorrow. “Has he done something to make himself unsuitable to you, dear?”
“What?” Nell was completely confused. “He’s a duke, and I’m only the daughter of a minor earl.”
“And your father is a hero.” Duchess Graves said. “My dear, I don’t think you understand how sought after your hand will be once you’ve had your presentation. A line to your father is a direct line to the King.”
“What? No, I’m—”
“Yes, dear,” Duchess Graves gave her a sympathetic look. “You’ll stick close to my Nicholas. He’s under orders from me to see that you are safe while you go through your come out.”
“You—”
“I want you for my son,” Duchess Graves said bluntly enough that Nell almost fell out of the chair. “You would make him a good wife, and you have the skills to help him pull the duchy back to rights.”
Nell might not have fallen over, but her thoughts certainly had. “Your Grace, you cannot possibly want me for your son.”
“Yes, dear, I do.” Duchess Graves nodded. “Now, we will discuss your come out. Lord Graves is ill, so he will not be joining us. You will ride with His Grace and me to the palace; your parents will follow directly behind; and you will allow my son to escort you to your introduction to his Majesty.”
“Yes, your Grace.” Nell couldn’t say anything else; her mama needed her to go through with this. Even though she hadno intention of marrying Nick, he deserved someone who could actually help him with his duties.
“That’s settled then.” Duchess Graves rose and took Nell by the hand. “I promise you, dear, it’s all going to be fine.”
“It is what we make it, Your Grace,” Nell said, swallowing the denial and the panic.
“Just so, dear.”
Duchess Graves took Nell back to her mother, and the two of them went back to their townhouse, where Nell immediately begged off supper and went to her rooms to sort her thoughts into some semblance of order.
* * *
She didn’t sleep, but she’d known she wasn’t going to. So once the townhouse had gone dark and silent, she rose from her bed and pulled her warm clothes back on. It was still snowing outside, and no one with any sense would be out. But the clouds were patchy, and the stars were peeking out.
It was actually quite beautiful. The star-shine on the snow made it look like diamond dust as it fell through the air.
“Nell?” There was a hurried step on the other side of the wall. “Are you all right?”
“I don’t know, Nick.” She replied carefully. “You’re a duke, and I’m just the daughter of a soldier who was elevated three months ago.”
“Did you bring the medicine back last night, Nell?” his voice was so soft she could barely hear it through the snow. “Is that why you were up at dawn?”
“And you were up because you’d just been made Duke.” She sat on the icy bench, immediately feeling the cold seep through her clothing. “We’re a pair, Nick, and you need to speak to your mama.”
“Why?”
“She has this daft notion that you’d ever want to wed me.” Nell laughed.
“What if I do?” He asked.
“You don’t even know me,” she scoffed. “I’m nobody, Nick. I run all over the city in the dead of night to do what no one else will do. I’m no lady.”
“I like that about you.” Nick’s voice was nothing but sincere. “Nell, until yesterday, I was no one. The King demanded that I take the duchy or he would have made my Mama homeless. I know you would have done the same.”
She nodded, remembering that he couldn’t see her. “I don’t know what to do, Nick.”
