Page 11 of The Duke’s Matchmaker

“Oh, but of course she would like to go,” Honora said.

Dorothy forced herself not to shoot a glare at her sister. “Actually,” she said, “I’m not sure it’s appropriate for us to go out in public together like that. We’re not engaged in any sort of formal courtship, and if we are seen out together—even with a maid as a chaperone—people will talk. That’s not the sort of thing we want. If you would like to have a discussion, Your Grace, perhaps we ought to do it here.”

“Oh, don’t be silly,” Abigail said. “We’ll all go out for a walk together. All four of us. No one will be able to make any comments about that, Dorothy.”

They’ll find a way. But Dorothy wasn’t really concerned about what people would say. The ton had enough to say about her, given that she had never married or even shown interest in it. She was used to gossip and cruel comments.

But she didn’t want to go walking with Nathaniel today. She didn’t want him to hear what people would no doubt conclude about the reasons they were spending time together, and with her sisters along, things would be that much worse. She was sure that Honora and Abigail would let everyone who would listen know that the Duke of Henshaw had taken an interest in her. Before long it would be the talk of London. And while Dorothy was comfortable with people gossiping about her, there was something about the idea of Nathaniel hearing that gossip that didn’t sit right with her.

“I think we should stay at home,” she said, but everyone else was already up and moving toward the door. Her sisters were arm in arm, and Honora was chatting with Nathaniel about the weather today. “You couldn’t have picked a better occasion for a walk,” she was saying. “The sun is bright and the sky is clear, and I’m sure we’re all going to have a marvelous time.”

Dorothy was less sure. They walked through town on their way to the park, Honora at the front of the group beside Nathaniel. Abigail walked at the back with Dorothy, but the two sisters didn’t speak, allowing Dorothy to get lost in her own thoughts.

What had been the point of this?

She had assumed, when Nathaniel had asked her for this promenade, that he would want to talk about their plan to find him a wife. But they weren’t talking at all. He was talking to Honora, who was no doubt spending all her time and energy on trying to convince him that it would be a good idea to pursue a courtship with Dorothy. That wasn’t something that was going to happen, so wasn’t this a waste of everyone’s time?

At last, Nathaniel slowed his pace so that he came alongside Dorothy. Noticing what was happening, Abigail winked at Dorothy and then hurried forward to walk with Honora.

Although it was obvious what they were doing and why, Dorothy didn’t mind. It was a relief to have her sisters’ eyes off of her for the moment. “I’m so sorry about them,” she said to Nathaniel.

“I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Lady Dorothy,” Nathaniel said. “They’re just trying to do what’s best for you. I completely understand.”

“I did tell them that there wasn’t anything between the two of us,” Dorothy said. “That you hadn’t expressed any interest in me like that.”

“Nor you in me, for that matter, Lady Dorothy,” Nathaniel said with a smirk.

Dorothy sighed. “Why are you doing that?” she asked. “You and I have so many friends in common, we know one another by our given names. There isn’t any need to act formal when it’s just the two of us here on our own.”

He looked at her. “I only meant to be respectful,” he said. “But if you prefer, I’ll simply call you Dorothy.”

“I would prefer that,” she said. “It’s best we go on treating one another as we always have—as friends.”

“Is that what we’ve been to one another?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “It’s a surprise to me, I must say. I wouldn’t have thought we knew the first thing about each other—and how can we call one another friends if we know nothing about each other?”

She looked at him. “Is that the reason you wanted us to go out together today?”

“Yes,” he said simply. “If we’re going to be spending more time in one another’s company, we would do well to familiarize ourselves with each other. It’s not enough that I know you’re the friend of the ladies my best friends married. I need to know that I can trust you, and for that, I need to know more about you.”

“I never asked you to trust me,” Dorothy pointed out. “This whole scheme was your idea.”

“Am I keeping you from somewhere you would rather be?” he asked her. “Is there someone you’d want to be spending your time with if you had the choice? Another gentlemen. A true suitor?”

Dorothy stared at her feet. He was mocking her. She was sure of it. He’d said that because he knew for certain that there was no other such person in her life. It had been a cruel thing to say, and she judged him for having done it. But at the same time, she couldn’t deny that he was right.

“No,” she said quietly. “There isn’t anyone else I would spend my time with.”

He nodded. “Then you can afford to pass the day in my company,” he said. “And while we’re here, perhaps we could look at some of the ladies we see around us—perhaps the one I’m looking for is here with us at this very moment.”

He slowed his pace and watched her expectantly.

Dorothy’s heart quickened.

This, she realized, was the true reason he had brought her here. He expected her to point out ladies who would make ideal brides.

Well, the quicker we settle into that task, the sooner this will be over and done with, she thought, lifting her chin and summoning her confidence. She had thought this activity might be enjoyable, but now that they were here, she realized she had been wrong to think so.

It would be nothing but an ordeal in which her sisters were led to believe something more was happening than ever would.