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Five
The sun was high in the sky and warmed Francesca’s skin. She held her parasol over her head to block the light from blinding her and overheating her already strained body. She had somehow managed to hide her sickness and crawl out of bed that morning. For some reason her child had decided to take pity on her, at least for one day. She hadn’t lost the contents of her stomach, but nausea still filled her. Francesca had skipped breakfast and went to the library to read. Her ball was later that night, and she should be resting. Instead, she was walking in Hyde Park with Violet and Iris. She could not take the chance anyone in her family my overhear what they discussed.
“What did the roguish duke have to say for himself?” Violet asked.
If only she’d know his moniker before she’d fallen into his arms… Francesca sighed. She wouldn’t have realized it that night regardless. He hadn’t told her his full name. She should have insisted, but she’d been too taken with him. “He denies responsibility.”
“Of course, he did,” Iris replied, disgust evident in her tone. “He isn’t the type that would. Without telling her why I wanted to know anything about him I asked Lady Calliope Andrews. I acted as if I might be interested in him myself.” She shuddered a little. “Her brother is one of the duke’s closest friends. She has socialized with him often.”
“What did she have to say?” Francesca couldn’t help her curiosity.
“Not much that we do not already know.” Iris frowned. “She believes he had his heart broken once and it has soured him ever since.”
“Did he?” She nibbled on her bottom lip. It might explain why he acted the way he did. Still, she couldn’t let him treat her as if she were nothing. He had no respect for her or her predicament. She carried his child and he had been far too blasé about the situation. Somehow, he had refrained from physically hitting him; however, she did believe she dealt a much harder blow when she dropped her family name. “Do you know who he supposedly loved?” It did hurt a little to believe he might have had feelings for someone else. The same sort she still had for him and he’d done his best to crush out of existence.
Iris shook her head. “No,” she said. “All she could say was she overheard a conversation between her brother, the Earl of Hampstead, and the duke. Lord Hampstead had been berating him about his broken heart, and how he let it rule his decisions.”
“How long ago was this?” Violet asked. “I have difficulty believing he has carried these feelings for years. He’s been a rogue for quite a while now. Mama keeps telling me to steer clear of him while she still carries avarice in her eyes about the very idea of having a duchess for a daughter.”
“On one hand she doesn’t want a scandal,” Iris began. “And the other is wondering if one of us could turn his gaze long enough to lure him down the aisle.” She chuckled lightly. “That’s what most of the marriage minded mama’s have on their agenda. Ours is no different.”
“Except Fran’s mother.” Violet frowned. “She never pressures you, and she might be the one to have a duchess for a daughter.”
“Mother doesn’t care for society rules.” Francesca blew out a breath. “And one day she’ll be a duchess herself. Why should she bother with pushing me toward a specific title? She would rather I found love than a title he can hold over the heads of the matriarchs.”
“That is one of the reasons I adore your mother,” Iris said. “She has a reasonable outlook on life. I do wish our mother could follow her lead.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “This will be our second season, and if we don’t make a match she’ll despair. Two unmarried daughters apparently are the cause for tremendous anxiety…at least for our mother.”
“I’d gladly give you my current dilemma in exchange. Either the duke will have to agree to marry me or I’m going to have to find a different suitor, and fast. I’m going to be ruined if I don’t find a husband.”
“Speaking of the devil…” Violet gestured toward a pair of horses that entered the promenade. One was the duke, and darn it, he looked so handsome it nearly took Francesca’s breath away.
“The gentleman with him looks familiar.” Francesca said absentmindedly. She didn’t care who the other man was because all she really saw was Matthew.
“That is the Marquess of Merrifield,” Iris told her. “He’s the one Violet has her cap set for, but he never notices her.”
“I do not,” Violet protested. Francesca glanced in her direction. Was Iris correct? Did Vi have feelings for the marquess. “He probably looks familiar because he was at the Christmas house party too. All the scandalous gentlemen were.”
“Scandalous gentlemen?” Francesca lifted a brow. “There were five, but one fell in love at the house party. He married your cousin, Adeline.”
“The Earl of Winchester?” Francesca asked. “Who are the others besides the marquess?”
“Your duke is one.” Iris grinned. “They are the unattainable gentleman. Every lady hopes to win their heart, but they have other plans, and none of them include marriage. Instead, they leave scandals in their wake.”
“Hence the nickname,” Violet said. “The other two are Viscount Goodland and Earl Hampstead. We mentioned him earlier.”
“Well, they certainly look good on their mounts,” Francesca said as she stared in their direction. “It’s a pity they’re morally corrupt.”
Matthew turned in her direction and then glanced at her. The moment he realized she was there she should have turned and gone in the opposite direction. She didn’t though. Francesca didn’t want to need him; however, she also realized a woman in her position couldn’t have the luxury of ignoring him. He motioned for his horse to walk toward her, and his friend followed. Francesca smiled. If her friend did have feelings for the marquess she hoped Violet would forgive her. She was about to flirt outrageously with him in an attempt to make Matthew jealous.
Matthew couldn’t believehis luck. He had a marriage license secured, and now his bride-to-be was in the park. He still had to learn some more about her, but he could visit a little with her. It would help him to make a decision. He hadn’t yet told Merrifield he planned to marry her or that he had a special license. He was about to tell him about his impending fatherhood, or the possibility of it when he caught sight of her. He could tell Merrifield everything later.
“Where are we going?” Merrifield asked, surprised at their detour.
“I see a lady I must speak with,” Matthew said. “It shouldn’t take long.” Cesca didn’t appear too pleased to see him, but he could change her mind. Their conversation last night hadn’t ended on a pleasant note, but he’d had time to consider everything. Matthew couldn’t let her go, and she’d know that soon enough.
He stopped when he reached Francesca and the other two ladies by her side. Matthew dismounted, the bowed. “Lady Francesca,” he greeted. “How fortuitous to find you here.”
“Is it?” she lifted a brow mocking him. “Somehow I do not find it so.”
