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“Aye, there is that. But, Flip, dragging me about is what you do most of the time,” he barked. “Don’t deny it.”
She sighed. “I suppose that is the truth of it.”
“Well, things have now turned around, haven’t they? Your guardian is not the old grumpy fellow attempting to bury you in some absurd town, is he? You shall go off to London and have a glorious season, won’t you,” Becky said.
“Becky, I thought you would understand,” Felicia said dolefully.
Becky got up and went to the edge of the bed where Felicia sat and hugged her. “I do, dearest, I do.”
A sound at the open doorway turned their heads, and Felicia felt her heart sink. The duke was looking coldly stoic, and his sister, who Felicia had thought a magnificent figure from the moment she had clapped eyes on her in the parlor, also had a ‘no nonsense’ aura about herself.
Life would now drastically change.
She had made love with a man she had hoped to wed. That hope was forever blasted off into the universe, for that man was her guardian and a duke. He would not want her … a country bumpkin who was also his ward.
Lady Daphne stepped into the room and swept her gaze over the young people while Felicia eyed her warily. She could also see that Ashton, as she would always think of him, seemed to soften as he glanced her way.
A touch of pity lined Lady Daphne’s words as she said, “Please, everyone, I am not an ogre about to eat you all. Do relax, and we shall do.”
“Shall we? Not sure exactly what that means,” Felicia answered, determined not to be ‘handled’.
“I think, first, introductions are in order,” said Ashton as he stood, looking withdrawn and somewhat grim. “I am the Duke of Somerset and your guardian, Felicia, and this is my sister, Lady Daphne Waverly.”
No one spoke, and he swallowed a long breath of air and turned to his sister. “Apparently, Daffy, this is my ward, Felicia Easton, and her friends, Scott Hanover and Rebecca Wilson.”
Felicia was not going to allow this new spoke in her weathered wheel to discompose her. Her life was falling apart around her ears in very quick order, but she would manage. She had to manage. She didn’t know how it was that Ashton had somehow turned into her guardian. She was sure it had not always been, and it did render her situation most uncomfortable, but she was, as ever, an optimist. She was sure that somehow she would survive this and find a way to mend this new and enormous problem.
Her chin was well up as her mind raced, and she said, “Lady Daphne, I am very pleased to meet you, but first I should like to inquire how the deuce is Ashton the Duke of Somerset?”
Lady Daphne put a hand to her mouth, and Felicia could see she was trying to keep down a laugh, but she turned her gaze to Ashton, who now blinked and inclined his head.
When he spoke she saw a twinkle in his silver eyes. “As it happens, my uncle, who was both the previous duke and your guardian, passed on two months ago. That left me the title, the estates, and you.”
She almost choked on this and bit back a smile. Becky interrupted and said, “I think it is time for me to go home.”
“No, Becky, you must not.” Felicia grabbed for her hand and held her fast as her eyes pleaded for her friend to stay.
Becky looked from Scott to Felicia and apparently was unable to do what she obviously wanted to do, which was escape. She sighed and said, “Very well …”
“I have explained how it is that I am your guardian,” the duke said quietly, also looking from Scott to Felicia. “Now, it is your turn to do some explaining.”
Scott cleared his throat and offered, “I … I may be able to help with that.”
“There is no need,” Felicia said, getting to her feet. “My guardian here carried on with a lie … no different, no better than what we did. It is all done now. What is, apparently, is.”
The duke’s laugh was harsh, and he took a step towards her. “You silly madcap … do you never give anything any thought whatsoever?”
“Whatever can you mean, Your Grace?” she said, one shoulder going up as she looked away.
She looked back at him and found his eyes narrowing as he said, “It is my intention to do what I started out to do when I was originally headed for Easton.”
“I shall never go to Swindon with you!” retorted Felicia.
He shook his head. “Blast Swindon, blast this notion you have of me taking you off to hide you away and marry you off to some nonexistent relative, blast, blast, blast!”
Felicia’s temper exploded into a fit of the giggles.
Everyone else blanched.
