Page 5 of The Duke and the Spinster

Chapter Three

Garrett had, in the end, stayed far longer at the Ball than he had intended to. Lady Juliana had proven to be capable of intelligent conversation, although she had been, unlike nearly every woman he had ever met, completely self-effacing. She had seemed puzzled that he would wish to converse with her, and had blushed charmingly when he had asked her to dance.

It was almost as if she was not used to receiving such invitations. But that was a ridiculous thought! Certainly, a woman as beautiful as she was would have been frequently sought out by gentlemen. Still, she had been very shy. He had timed his invitation to dance well (if by accident), as the next dance had been a waltz. She had hesitated, but her father had smiled at him, and given her a little push in his direction.

She had taken his offered arm, her hand shaking a little as he led her to the floor. And once he had her in his arms, she had, little by little, relaxed. Her first steps were uncertain, then, as he guided her, she seemed to find the pattern, and became a delight to dance with.

He had asked about her interests and, after looking startled again, she had spoken, tentatively, about reading, and the study of scent making. He was even more intrigued than he had been before. For she was not at all what he had come to expect from young women, especially in her interests. Most women would not admit to liking reading, not wishing to be seen as a bluestocking, and he had never met a woman who was interested in something so close to the scientific as the art of manufacturing scents. They had become engrossed in the conversation, as they danced, and she had become like a feather in his grasp, flowing with him perfectly, an absolute delight. It was as if, once she was not thinking about dancing, her body simply took over, and did what was needed. As if her thoughts actually had been interfering with her dancing, until distracted.

When the music had finally ceased, she had seemed startled to realise that she was on a dance floor. She had blushed prettily again, and allowed him to lead her back to her family. Her mother and sister were waiting with her father, the sister flushed with the effects of dancing. He had been introduced, and had stayed to talk to the family for some time. The younger sister was pretty, but was, in his estimation, just like all of the other hopeful young women – rather boring – all flutter, and flirtation, with very few solid thoughts in her head. But Lady Juliana had seemed surprised when he had continued to focus his attention on her, rather than transferring it to her sister. He suspected that he was seeing the reason for her self-effacing behaviour.

Now, the next morning, as he lay watching the drift of gilded dust in the sunbeam through his window, he found that he wanted to discover more about her.

~~~~~

Juliana woke slowly, for a moment unsure where she was. Then memory returned. Her face heated with a blush, although there was no-one to see. She lay in the comfortable bed in Hardcastle House, considering the previous evening with amazement. It seemed completely impossible, yet it had happened.

She had danced with the Duke of Kilmerstan – a waltz no less! – without disgracing herself. She had conversed with him, at length, and had admitted to her true interests in life, and he had not turned away, had not looked at her as if she were a creature with two heads, as most gentlemen did when a woman admitted to liking reading, and other activities requiring intelligence. And, most important of all, when he had then been introduced to Eleanor, he had not turned that way and abandoned her. He had smiled at Eleanor, then turned back to her, Juliana! As if that was the most natural thing in the world.

She treasured that fact, held the memory to her. For, surely, it was not something that could last. Almost certainly, he would never look at her like that again. But for one night, at least, she had not been clumsy, had not been mocked, had even, perhaps, felt desirable, beautiful. Even if his actions had been purely born of an innate sense of courtesy, she was beyond grateful for it, for him. These memories would transform her perception of the world, for years to come – she was determined of it.

She rose from her bed, and rang for her maid, suddenly far more interested in the next few days of the house party than she had expected to be.

~~~~~

Jasper Numbton, the Earl of Fondleton, had met Viscount Mooresfield in London, in a less than salubrious establishment, before the Viscount’s betrothal. He had, upon hearing of the planned house party, invited himself, turning up on the doorstep and expecting to be housed, with his best aristocratic arrogance on display.

It always worked. Servants seemed unable to argue with an Earl. And this house party was most entertaining. There was so much potential. With a little careful assessment of the other guests, he was certain that he could come out of the week with either financial or other gain. The Ball the previous evening had given him significant insight into the local gentry, and the various attendees. There were men of wealth who could, he was sure, be gulled at cards, there were various young ladies who would provide light entertainment, and there were a few older ladies who might, if handled the right way, provide physical pleasure, without the need for annoying things like marriage.

He had taken particular note of the older unmarried ladies of quality, for those on the edge of spinsterhood were usually ripe for the picking, easily swayed by flattery, and then by the threat of exposure. He believed that he had chosen his target for the week. One Lady Juliana Willoughby. She was, he had determined, twenty-three, with a failed season behind her, a prettier younger sister, and a father who really couldn’t afford more than one dowry. Perfect. Especially as she was rather striking, almost elegant, in a quiet way. Perfectly suited to be his mistress.

He settled to break his fast in Mooresfield’s breakfast room, smiling at the thoughts of the pleasant days ahead, once he had trapped her into his bed.

~~~~~

“I was pleased to see you actually dancing at Mooresfield’s Ball last night! There may be hope for you yet. And you even spent time talking to young ladies, rather than just your men friends.”

Garrett plastered a smile on his face, and provided the minimal required response to his mother’s words.

“I am quite capable of being socially polite, Mother. And, actually, I rather enjoy dancing, if the woman I am dancing with is not incompetent.”

“Well, you were lucky then – for the rumours I’d heard suggested that Lady Juliana Willoughby was beyond incompetent – was, in fact, unutterably clumsy.”

Garrett stared at his mother in bemusement.

“I find that hard to believe, given the very physical evidence to the contrary that I experienced last night.”

“Nonetheless, it’s what the gossips say. She had one Season, a couple of years ago, and it was an unmitigated disaster. So either she has learned a lot since then, or you, my boy, have a miraculous and transformative touch.”

Garrett found himself struggling for a response to that, and the barely repressed giggles emanating from his sisters did not help at all. He glared at Isabelle, who merely giggled more.

In the end, he chose a dignified expression, and completely ignored his sisters.

“If you say so, Mother. Regardless, I am sure that you’ll be pleased to hear that I have decided to actually attend this house party each day. Perhaps meeting more new people is worthwhile – and there are some excursions planned, I believe.”

The Dowager Duchess blinked at him in surprise, processing his words, and lost for a response. She was used to having to nag Garrett to attend social functions – this sudden

co-operation had thrown her completely off balance. Garrett almost laughed at her expression, but decided that would not be wise. He took another sip of his coffee, and attempted to look completely casual. There was no possible way that he would admit to his mother that his decision to go back to Hallingbrook Grange this week was specifically because he wished to discover more about one young lady in particular, to see her, and converse with her, again.