Page 7 of The Duke and the Spinster

Juliana, watching the Duke, unable, in fact, to remove her eyes from him, was quite sure that he actually winced at Eleanor’s words. Curious. Could it be that he genuinely did not like ‘typical young ladies’? For surely what Eleanor had just said was exactly what most men would expect of a young woman in such a situation. But his face was now calm and all evidence of that previous expression was gone – had she imagined it?

“You will simply have to come back to this location on another day, Lady Eleanor, and do just that.”

“Ah, but, Your Grace, on another day, it is unlikely that the weather will be as perfect as today. I will simply have to imprint it upon my memory, and try to paint it from that memory.” Eleanor sighed dramatically, then looked up at him, as if coming to a sudden realisation. “Your Grace, would you consider escorting me for a walk around the lake, that I might study the scene from all angles, the better to memorise it?”

Juliana cringed internally. How obvious a ploy! For a tiny moment, a flicker of something crossed the Duke’s face again. Then that calm smile was back, and he rose, offering his hand to help Eleanor up.

“Of course, Lady Eleanor, it would be my pleasure.”

Juliana had the distinct feeling that he lied when he said those words. But he was the consummate gentleman – he could not refuse a Lady a polite request. Eleanor took his hand and allowed him to draw her to her feet, and to settle her hand on his arm. As she rose, she cast a sly glance at her sister, which Juliana could only describe, even if it was uncharitable of her, as gloating.

Juliana watched them walk away, and felt as if the day had somehow become less bright, less warm, without his close presence. Her father spoke softly.

“Clever girl, our Eleanor, clever girl.”

Suddenly Juliana found herself on the edge of tears. She could not, simply could not, find it in herself to regard such manipulation of a man as good. She would never be the daughter that her parents wanted, never be the kind of woman that society wanted. Never be the kind of woman that a man like the Duke of Kilmerstan would want, no matter what sense of connection with him she had felt. It was best that she kept that very firmly in mind.

Still, she could not help herself. She watched her sister and the Duke as they walked around the lake, her sister no doubt nattering away about inanities, watched as other women cast envious glances that way too. When they had crossed the bridge over the stream, and were on their way back, Juliana could not bear it. She rose quickly, and brushed down her skirts.

“I believe I will walk a little too, perhaps to that copse of trees over there.”

The trees she pointed to were in the opposite direction from where the Duke and Eleanor approached.

Her father nodded, and her mother did not even acknowledge her words, so focussed was she on watching Eleanor and the Duke. It obviously meant that they did not regard her as needing an escort, to wander around in the light of day, with so many people about. She sighed, and walked away, as always, concentrating on moving smoothly, on keeping her footing steady on the uneven ground. She refused to look clumsy, if she could possibly avoid it.

She reached the trees, and the cool shade was welcome, tempting her a little further in amongst the leafy shelter, away from the sight of her sister charming the only man that Juliana had ever found truly interesting.

~~~~~

The Earl of Fondleton, whilst chatting idly with a few of the young men, discovering who might be easiest to fleece at cards, was also watching the other guests as they lounged about on blankets, eating and drinking. Lady Juliana was with her family, and he wondered if she ever left them, if he would have a chance, soon, to get her alone, to put his plans for seduction into effect. He chided himself for impatience. But, the more he watched her, the more he wanted her. She might, as the gossips suggested, have been a gawky and awkward girl, three years before, but she was far more than that now. He licked his lips, and took a large swallow from his drink.

By the time that she finally moved, almost half an hour had passed, and he had arranged a card game for that evening. When she stood, and walked off alone, he rose also, sauntering casually off across the lawn, as if just going for a stroll.

She was going towards a copse of trees, some distance from the picnickers, and heat rushed through him at the thought that he might get her alone, in a secluded spot amongst the trees. It was a perfect situation for his first moves.

Ahead of him, he saw her sister return to the family picnic spot, on the arm of the Duke. The Duke appeared to speak further with her family for some little while, as Fondleton got closer and closer to the trees, his approach off to one side from where the picnic was laid out. The Duke bowed to them all, apparently taking his leave of them, then turned away – in the wrong damn direction! If he kept going as he was, the Duke would arrive at the trees before Fondleton.

If that was the case, then he would have to simply turn and proceed as it he was just walking randomly. He could not risk anyone intruding on his seduction. He walked on, hopeful, but already feeling frustrated.

~~~~~

Garrett was astounded by how different the sisters were. By the time that they were halfway around the lake, he could quite cheerfully have pushed Lady Eleanor in. Her continuous chatter was utterly devoid of true content, and totally uninteresting. Still, he gritted his teeth, and kept the smile on his face. This was reminding him of exactly why he had avoided social engagements for so long. He discovered quite rapidly that Eleanor did not require much input from him - if he kept smiling and nodding, and spoke the occasional word, that seemed to be enough. She did not appear to study her surrounds at all, so he suspected that no painting would ever happen.

He was grateful for only one thing – when they passed the group of picnickers where Lady Prudence sat, she glared at him, but did not move – he was quite sure that, had he been alone, she would have found a way to detain him. He looked about him, his eyes drawn repeatedly back to where Lady Juliana sat with her parents. She seemed so still, so peaceful, compared to the other people around him.

Then, as he finally approached the family’s blankets again, she rose, with a smooth elegance and economy of motion that was beautiful to watch, and turned away, walking alone towards a copse of trees some distance away. In that instant, he knew that he was going to follow her. He wanted to speak to her alone, however inappropriate that might be. He tracked her movements, as he delivered Lady Eleanor back to her parents and endured their compliments and banal conversation. As rapidly as possible, he excused himself, promising to see them again that evening, and walked away, drifting, a little indirectly, in the direction that Lady Juliana had taken.

He looked about him, and was amused to see that most of the guests were now well into their stride with food and drink, and paying little attention to anything else. The one, somewhat surprising, exception was Fondleton, who was walking across the lawns as if with some purpose, but without company. He could not like the man – he was usually first amongst those wanting to eat and drink at others expense, and gambled at every opportunity. Garrett was almost certain that he cheated at cards. Why was he wandering about alone?

In the end, he ignored the man, and returned his attention to Lady Juliana, just in time to see her slip in amongst the trees, and out of sight.