Page 36 of The Duke and the Spinster

Chapter Fourteen

Isabelle’s prediction was accurate. Garrett and Juliana found themselves swept along by their mothers in a whirlwind of planning. By the evening of the next day, when everyone gathered at Hallingbrook Grange for the last evening of the organised activities of the house party, the gossip had run ahead of them.

Everyone knew of the Duke’s betrothal to the previously somewhat scorned Lady Juliana, and everyone also knew of the forced betrothal of Lady Prudence and Lord Fondleton – the scandal of which made for far better gossip material than the more ordinary situation of the Duke. Lady Juliana became someone to be nice to - after all, one did not want to upset a future Duchess!

To Juliana, the whole evening seemed like the conclusion of a farce presented on the stage, with all of the twists and turns revealed – well… not all. No-one knew of her time in the carriage with the Duke, of her trip to Bath.

What a difference a betrothal had made – perhaps, if that was all it took to cause people to be pleasant to her, she might have considered marriage far earlier. She was still unsure in some ways – still, deep inside, believed that he was only marrying her because he felt that was the honourable thing to do. But how could she question him? He would deny it. And the selfish part of her wanted him anyway, wanted this magical change in her life. But a small core of guilt tugged at her.

Later in the evening, they stood at the end of the terrace at Hallingbrook Grange, the soft summer breeze bringing the scent of roses from the garden, and he slipped his arm around her. She leant against him, savouring that remarkable scent, which was his beautiful cologne, and something more, something that was purely his own scent. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, and she sighed.

“Are you happy, Juliana?”

She turned a little, looking up into his eyes. There was heat there, and something more – love? Surely not… but a small hope began to grown in her heart.

“I… think so. I am not used to being well regarded.”

His fingers brushed the curve of her cheek.

“We will change that. I will not tolerate anyone treating you with anything other than the utmost respect.”

She nodded, unable to find words.

Further along the terrace, a door opened, and another couple stepped through. Juliana tensed instantly. It was Lady Prudence and Lord Fondleton. Lady Prudence’s sharp voice came to them clearly.

“It’s all your fault! How could you do this to me, for a silly moment’s pleasure because you were annoyed! Now I will never be Duchess, as I was fated to be!”

“Surely, my dear betrothed, being a Countess is not such a terrible fate? And it cannot be entirely my fault – if you had not been sneaking about in a stable like a common servant girl, you would never have been there for me to run into! If you remember, you did not exactly fight me, you seemed to take some pleasure from the kiss, if my memory serves me right.”

Fondleton’s voice was full of an almost malicious delight in Lady Prudence’s annoyance. Juliana remembered his odd words about a little fight giving him pleasure, and concluded that, in Lady Prudence, he would certainly get that. Lady Prudence spun to face Lord Fondleton, her voice quite low for her.

“How dare you imply that I would…”

Her words were cut off as Fondleton dragged her against him, sealing her mouth with his lips. He had spoken truly, she did not seem to be fighting him. Juliana felt like retching at the memory of the man’s touch – how could she…? Lady Prudence suddenly wrenched herself from his arms, and stormed blindly away along the terrace. The speed of her movement brought her to within a small distance of Garrett and Juliana before she realised that they were there. She halted, glaring.

“You! You ruined my life! I’ll…”

“You will do nothing, Lady Prudence, but marry your betrothed and leave this district for your new home. Unless both of you would like your indiscretions to become known to the ton at large?”

The Duke’s voice was implacable. He sounded, Juliana thought, infinitely dangerous. That he should sound so when protecting her amazed her. When Lady Prudence had begun to speak, she had flinched back. Now, she drew herself up and spoke calmly.

“Lady Prudence, do not blame me for your own failings. I have never attempted to force myself upon anyone – unlike you. We must each live with the situation we find ourselves in. I wish you well of your marriage.”

Lord Fondleton had approached along the terrace as she spoke. He took Lady Prudence’s arm, and pulled her away.

“Come my dear, let us seek out other company, for I find present company unpleasant.”

They both turned, and walked away, looking stiff and pompous. Juliana watched them, and her whole world shifted – three days before, both of those people had held her terrified, now, she saw them as ridiculous, petty, and self-important, without any real power to affect her. A small laugh escaped her, and she spun to bury her face against the Duke’s – Garrett’s, she must get used to thinking of him as Garrett! – shoulder to stifle the sound.

Once she regained her composure, he tilted her face up, raising an eyebrow in enquiry.

“I finally saw them for how petty, ridiculous and small minded they are. Thank you, thank you, for giving me the courage to choose to ignore the gossip from now on!”

His face broke into a delighted smile.

“My pleasure, my Lady.”

He bent his head and kissed her, softly, slowly, a kiss full of promise and care. She allowed herself to melt against him, and let the world dissolve away for a blissful moment of pure joy.