“I did notice that,” Owen said. “Then again, I believe everybody noticed that.”
Graham only ignored his friend. “After the tea, I went into the hedge maze. Nobody else sought that place out except for Amelia. She saw me,knew it was me, and she did not leave. The next minute, a large group discovered us. She could have walked out and saved herself a scandal.”
“As could have you.”
“But what if she purposefully waited for us to be discovered?”
“She is known for finding quieter places,” Owen said. “Who says you were not the only person she trusted to remain quiet with her? And Lady Cassandra found you, indeed, but when have they ever been friends? If anything the rumours and what Lady Eleanor has told me points to anything but. In fact, Lady Eleanor seems to think Lady Cassandra had her eye on you.”
“Which could prove more desperate efforts for Amelia to secureme,” Graham insisted. “It all makes sense, Owen! Lady Cassandra is the daughter of a marquess with better standing, more outgoing, utterly wrong for me. Amelia would have known she would lose. In her third Season, against women like Lady Cassandra, she would have known that she needed to resort to desperate measures.”
“Graham, I know you do not like being challenged but I believe you are viewing this from the wrong standpoint,” Owen countered gently. “I do not think Amelia knew of Lady Cassandra’s affection for you. And if she did, she likely thought she was not entitled to even be looking at you. You said she seemed honestly confused at you asking her to dance, and then surprised at finding you in the maze.”
“Yes, but the scandal sheet says she is a fine actress. A seductress.”
“And has she tried to trick you into her chambers? Has she tried to request money, demand more possessions?”
Graham hesitated before shaking his head. “All she has mostly asked for is a tour of the house and unlimited use of the library in the late hours of the night, should she wish. Other than that, she has tried to resist the things I have offered.”
“Does that not say much to you about the type of person she is?”
“And if she is merely a good actress?” he insisted. “And I let myself believe she is honest, and then before I know it my father’s legacy has gone, and Amelia has risen above me in power, trapped me in this marriage, and become some tyrant duchess that sullies the Blackthorn name.”
Owen barked a laugh. “Listen to yourself, friend! Your name is already sullied due to your own reputation. You have been in those gossip columns more times than I can count. Yes, you are a duke and that precedes a lot of your poor reputation, but if Her Grace was to pick a man to swindle then she would choose another, more upstanding male of the ton, no?”
“But nobody was looking her way,” he said. “She told me so. I was the only man who saw her.”
“And I think that makes her feel admired, not powerful,” Owen pointed out. “She went down just as much as you did. She gambled her family’s name to marry you. She was ashamed of the garden discovery—not because it was you but because of what it would do to you and your family. Trust in that, Graham. I understand why you are doubting but remember that although the scandal sheets can tell truths, it can make heinous lies based on speculation. The writer is good at twisting the perspective. They feed off gossip to circulate around the ton. The more dramatic the better. Amelia has been an easy target for it is known she has not been able to stand up for herself.” Owen cocked his head at him, pausing for a moment to drink. “I believe you may have emboldened her.Lady Eleanor certainly thinks so, and I am inclined to trust her implicitly.”
Graham, thoroughly ashamed for doubting, for his outburst at breakfast, could only nod. He truly did doubt that she was capable of such a thing but perhaps he had convinced himself of it all for the sake of building his walls.
“I was vulnerable with her last night in the carriage,” he said quietly.
“And there is your answer as to why you wish to portray her as a villain,” Owen sighed, shaking his head. “You are scared of having opened up so you need a reason to shut back down on her. You are the Duke of Blackthorn, Graham. The past is buried; it cannot be undone. The only thing it can be is mourned, honoured, and wept over if you need to. You have a wife who can be your confidante as well. I do not mean to lecture you but it is high time somebody did.”
Chastised, Graham nodded again. “I believe you are right.”
“IknowI am. Now, do you mind if we recall that other men exist apart from yourself? I wish to tell you about Lady Eleanor and me.”
Graham gestured for his friend to go on, and Owen sat up straighter, excited at the prospect of talking about Lady Eleanor.
“We have danced many a time,” he told Graham, laughing quietly. “I must say, she is a terrific dancer. She knows all of them! There was your aunt’s ball, and then there was the garden party, where, although we did not dance we did have a terribly fun game of shuttlecock. I am surprised we have not been written about in those columns.”
“Be grateful you are not for it means you are doing wrong,” Graham countered.
“Or something right,” Owen suggested. “I wish for Lady Eleanor to have a whirlwind courtship.”
“You do intend to court her, then?”
Owen grinned. “I am an eligible man of the ton, you know. We are not all dukes.”
“You are a viscount,” Graham uttered. “That is not important enough for you?”
Owen only laughed, the sound high and bright. “I enjoy her company, Graham. It is refreshing. I believe that she is not like other ladies of the ton.”
“She is an earl’s daughter,” Graham hedged. “Be careful, Owen. Her parents seem like very friendly people but you are also below their status. They might be unpleasant about that.”
“I believe they are good enough people that they could see this to be a love match.”
