Page 9 of The Duke and the Spinster

“I believe that a blessing, perhaps. For I am all too used to being sought out. Usually by young ladies who care nothing for what sort of man I am, and everything for the possibility of becoming a Duchess. I generally avoid social occasions as a result.”

She considered a moment, then laughed herself, her whole manner brightening.

“Oh, yes, that is funny. Here we are, both avoiding the social occasion – you due to being pursued, and me, due to being so very tired of being ignored. Two opposite things, producing the same result.”

“Yes – but, funny or not, I am glad it happened, glad that I am here, talking to you. For I find that I enjoy your conversation. Perhaps we can assist each other, over the remaining days of this house party? For if we spend time together, others will hopefully not pursue me as much, and may treat you with better regard.”

She nodded, smiling, and he felt his heart lift. He would be able to spend time with her. She tilted her head a little to one side, looking almost bird like for a moment, her eyes filled with a sparkle of humour.

“But, if you avoid social occasions, it occurs to me to ask – why are you attending this house party at all?”

“Ah! You have hit upon the key issue. I am here to placate my mother, who sees it as her duty to drive me to marriage, and the production of an heir, as soon as possible.” She nodded, obviously seeing the logic of his answer. “But, Lady Juliana, your question leads me to ask the same of you – if you so abhor social occasions, why are you here, at this house party, providing the boorish with an opportunity to treat you with disregard?”

Lady Juliana shook her head a little, causing loose tendrils of rich gold hair to move and glint in the dappled light.

“Why I am here, as you are, to placate my mother. It is her highest hope that Eleanor will make a good match, and that I might at least eventually marry. So I was commanded to be present, in the faint hope that I might meet an eligible man who did not find me unbearable.”

“So, we are similar again.”

“We are. And I find that I am enjoying this conversation far too much – for it has tempted me to stay away from the picnic for too long. Eventually, my father will begin to wonder where I am. I had best return.”

Garrett smiled at her, repressing the urge to take her hands, to pull her to him. Instead he bowed, at his most elegant.

“Until this evening, then, my Lady.”

He watched her walk away, a woodland nymph fading into the trees, and wondered what had happened to him. For he had not wanted her to leave.

~~~~~

Juliana walked calmly, but her heart was pounding in her chest. All of her practice at moving smoothly, no matter what the circumstance, was needed at that moment. Unbidden, her hand rose to touch her cheek, tracing the path that his fingers had travelled. She had not wanted to leave him, yet sense had finally prevailed. She could not risk her reputation, or his, for that matter, by being found alone with him in such a secluded location. She had felt perfectly safe with him, at all times, but the gossips would never believe that a man and a woman might be alone together, and not be tempted to impropriety. And she would not risk a situation where he might be forced to marry her – for that would be a recipe for a lifetime of resentment.

Although, she thought wistfully, he was a man that she could stand to marry, perhaps the first that she had met of whom she could say that. She would treasure this interlude amongst the sun-drenched trees. His scent had surrounded her, dizzying in its complexity. But his words had been more dizzying still. He thought her beautiful! It was the oddest sensation, most disconcerting. But he had seemed absolutely sincere in his words.

She stepped from amongst the trees, to see that little had changed. Scattered across the grass, people sat or reclined on blankets, with food and drink before them, and the rumble of conversation came from all directions.

Her family were no different. It appeared that no-one had noticed her extended absence. She sighed – she should have expected that to be the case. But… perhaps this demonstrated that there might actually, occasionally, be an advantage to going largely unnoticed.

She dropped onto the blankets near her father, who looked up, almost as if surprised to see her.

“Oh, there you are Juliana. Do have some food – the kitchen staff have outdone themselves – this is truly delicious.”

She selected a sandwich, and ate in silence, mulling over the fact that it seemed no one cared enough for her reputation to even ask where she had been.

~~~~~

Garrett prepared for the evening’s entertainment – cards and conversation back at Hallingbrook Grange – with far more care than he might usually have given to such an occasion. He found himself wanting to look his best, dare he say it, to impress. But there was only one person he wanted to impress. And she, given what he had already discovered of her, would most likely not be impressed by something so superficial as his attire.

He almost laughed at himself, but repressed the urge, lest Timms become confused, or, worse yet, ask him what he laughed at. Timms was an excellent valet, but rather prone to curiosity. Once ready, he went downstairs, careful to appear casual and unconcerned, lest his mother suspect his motives more than she already did.

His mother, fortunately, had other concerns. She was extolling the virtues of their local dressmakers to his sister. Which was actually remarkable – for his mother was quite the fussiest person when it came to her gowns, and few London modistes could satisfy her, so for the Upper Nettlefold dressmakers to do so was most worthy of note. He would add a little extra to the Merton sisters’ payment, when they sent the bill.

As they walked out to the carriage, his sisters were chattering excitedly. Isabelle seemed quieter than Eugenia – but then she was older.

“Kilmerstan, are there any gentlemen there that I might like, who might also be acceptable?”

Eugenia gave Isabelle an odd sideways look as she asked the question of Garrett, and he wondered what that was about, before consigning it to the impenetrable thing that was sisters.

“Eugenia, do you expect me to know what you might like? For I fear I cannot predict that. But yes, there are some acceptable gentlemen there, some of whom even have reasonable fortunes and are not prone to gambling, or affected attitudes.”