At least the storm was over.
“Mr. Timmons,” Dominic said around the visiting hour. He beckoned for his butler as he gathered his hat and cane. “I’m off for the day, and then out to my club for the evening should anyone seek me out.”
“Very good, Your Grace,” his head butler acknowledged. “Shall we see you for supper?”
He hesitated before setting his hat on his head. “Don’t hold up for my sake. If I am here, then I am here.”
With a nod, Mr. Timmons opened the door for him. Already a horse was prepared for him. Swinging into the saddle, Dominic thanked the stableboy before taking off down the street.
Getting out of the house was exactly what Dominic needed. It would mean time and space away from his wife. Already he could tell the halls were beginning to smell more and more like her. And soon they would look the way she wanted them to.
Green and yellow, I told her. What was I thinking?
He grimaced over his memory of the late-night conversation with her. He hadn’t meant to dally like that. Though he’denjoyed his fair share of flirtations in previous years, he had set it all aside to sober up his life after seeing that accident almost a year ago.
His hands tightened invariably on the reins, making his horse backpedal before he corrected himself. “Sorry, old chap,” he muttered to the horse and straightened up.
“Goodness me, what a delight,” sang a pretty voice. “It’s the Duke of Wycliffe. How do you do?”
Crossing the street from the nearby gardens was Lady Lucille, a daughter or niece of Lady Hamhearst. He’d never been particularly confident of which since she was often in hand with another spritely young lady of some relation, Lady Helena. The two of them walked arm in arm like a pair with a maid trailing behind them at a distance to act as chaperone.
He refocused his gaze on Lady Lucille. “Good day, my lady. Very well, thank you. And I trust you ladies are in fair spirits?”
As Lady Helena giggled and covered her mouth with a hand, she said, “Fair spirits, indeed. How thoughtful you are to consider us. We worried we might be forgotten now that you are a married man. But who is to say that anything is to change?”
Reconsidering her words, he watched as they stepped up close. While Lucille greeted his horse––they’d encountered each other a few times in the gardens over the years so they were familiar with one another––while Lady Helena scooted closer to him.
He recalled calling on her a time or two. There had been other ladies that were on his mind for a future bride. He’d made sure to include as many possibilities in the beginning as possible, not wishing to limit himself.
Something had steered me away from the two of them. I can’t quite…
“Will you be at the Wilmington ball tonight?” Helena asked, leaning up while her hand rose up to brush against his knee. “I should so like a proper dance partner.”
His gaze shifted down to his leg.
Ah, I recall now.
“It is the Wilmingtons, so I am certain there will be plenty of young bucks in attendance. I wish you the best of luck.” He turned his attention from her toward the path so he might move forward. But Lucille with his horse was blocking the way.
He gritted his teeth in annoyance as Helena simpered. Her hand touched his calf this time under the premise of fixing the loose ribbon from her bonnet. “Are you certain you cannot be persuaded to attend?”
Twice. I visited twice, once under the premise she might very well be young and too anxious to know how forward she might be. Then the second time I left early with no promises or intentions made.
“I’m certain. While I can understand some disappointment, my ladies, I trust you’ll have your hands full with plenty of young gentleman. Now, I must be on my way,” he said with a level of curtness he hoped still fell into the lines of being polite.
Meanwhile, Dominic nudged his horse backward so Lucille was forced to let go of his horse. She looked awfully surprised. Then he nudged the horse to go around her as he said, “Lovely day, ladies. Do take care of yourselves and each other.”
“Farewell!”
“Do visit me soon!”
Verity would never be so apparent and impolite. She doesn’t need to be so transparent to send her message across.
He started to shake his head to himself, supposing he would need to be more mindful around young women and ensure the distance was clear between them. While Society might deem it appropriate for a married man, especially a lord, to have his mistresses and affairs, Dominic would not be amongst those in that party.
Not after all that he knew from his father. He wouldn’t do that to another woman. And he especially wouldn’t be interested in causing a potential scandal with another young lady of note. Those two young women each deserved a proper match with a decent and marriageable fellow.
The sooner, the better, I’d say. I have no interest in them or anyone else now. The sooner I can be left alone with only Verity, the more satisfied I shall surely be.
