AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The Dowager sniffed, flinty gaze still fixed on Richard.
“Er, yes, our pleasure.” Richard bowed, backing away.
Samuel and his brother fell in step as they left the two matrons to speak. The farther they walked from the Dowager, the brighter the afternoon became. Soon, Samuel recalled that the sky remained exceptionally blue for London, the sun shone bright, and a fine breeze cooled the air.
“Well, this was a spectacular waste of time,” Richard muttered. “I assume you can see Mother home?”
“Leaving?”
Should he take Richard aside and attempt to instil reason over his plan to drag an innocent young miss into his upcoming scandal?
“I can think of far more entertaining ways to spend the afternoon than playing croquet with a gaggle of matrons and virgins.” Richard grimaced. “And gads, that Duchess. What a mouse. What was Mclintock thinking?”
Mouse? Samuel found her stunning, but he said only, “Most likely, His Grace is well enough acquainted with his bride to appreciate her admirable qualities.”
Richard snorted. “I prefer women whose admirable qualities are right out where I can see them.” He stopped, bringing Samuel to a halt in the middle of the bright green lawn. “And I’m off to stare at some until I find a pair I like.” Richard slapped Samuel on the shoulder. “Have fun escorting our mother about.” He pivoted in the direction of the garden entrance and strode away.
Samuel watched his brother go, deciding not to pursue instilling reason. It would be best not to attempt to dissuade Richard from Miss Marie. Pushing Richard usually produced the opposite effect to that which one desired.
A pair of lovely grey eyes flashed through Samuel’s mind.
The Duchess, though hesitant, struck him as kind, and anyone who dedicated her time to reading and knowledge must be reasonable. Instead of arguing with Richard, Samuel would find the Duchess of Aspen and warn her of her sister’s impending peril. Not of Richard’s possibly treasonous crime, of which she would be duty bound to inform her husband, but of his character. Richard had enough undesirable qualities, in so far as being a husband went, that Samuel wouldn’t need to divulge his brother’s misdeed to convince the Duchess to warn off her sister.
Chapter Five
Ellie strode across an open stretch of lawn, moving away from the central throng of the garden party and the punch she’d claimed to want. When a still ill Lizzy May had sent for their mother for urgent assistance, spoiling their sisters’ plans to attend the garden party, it hadn’t once occurred to Ellie that people would wonder why the Duchess of Aspen wouldn’t chaperone her unmarried sisters. Which of course, Ellie couldn’t. Marie might go along with the ruse, but Roslyn never would. Mr. Richard Carmichael’s questions had caught Ellie completely by surprise.
But did she truly need to worry that people would note her sisters’ absence as odd? They weren’t really of enough consequence for most to care. How many gentlemen at the party could possibly intend to ask after Marie?
Ellie grimaced down at the green lawn. With the spectacle Marie generally made, coupled with her younger sister’s glowing beauty and midnight locks, half the single men in attendance likely sought her.
Halting, Ellie permitted herself a gleeful smile. Marie must be fuming to be stuck home because Lizzy May was ill, especially when the Dowager had taken Ellie out as her special companion. Marie would be imagining all these gentlemen, and Ellie able to mingle with them when Marie could not. Of course, Ellie couldn’t mingle with them in the way Marie thought, the courting sort of way. Everyone believed her a married woman.
Which garnered her the freedom to wander Lady Krestlin’s garden alone. She suppressed a shiver, unsure if her freedom worried or delighted her. If anyone ever found out about her ruse and recalled her unchaperoned meanderings, she’d be ruined.
She looked about. Perhaps she should take her musings somewhere more discreet, so fewer people would see the Duchess of Aspen ambling about alone? She didn’t wish to give the impression that Lizzy May didn’t have anyone with whom to speak or, worse, felt too elevated to speak with anyone. Spotting a hedge maze, Ellie turned towards the entrance.
She stepped between the two stone urns which flanked the entrance and into the shade of walls which soared several feet over her head. A fresh shiver threatened, this one of the common variety, for the spring air remained cool where not directly heated by the sun. Ellie paused, unsure that she wished to freeze simply for discretion’s sake.
A high-pitched giggle sounded somewhere deeper in the maze. A rumbling male baritone answered, the words indistinct but the tone heating Ellie’s cheeks. Perhaps the hedge maze was not for her after all. She whirled and hurried back between the urns. Maybe the propriety she sought could be best found by returning to the Dowager. Ellie would have to endure more looks of disgust for her performance as Duchess, but those looks weren’t so very awful. In truth, they differed little from the Dowager’s usual expression of general disappointment.
Ellie went back across the open stretch of lawn between the maze and the bulk of the gathering. A tall, bespectacled gentleman broke free of the gaggle, his long strides quickly diminishing the distance between them. Ellie smiled. The younger Mr. Carmichael had such a kind, earnest intensity about him. Nothing like his older brother.
“Mr. Carmichael,” she greeted as he came to a halt before her.
He folded his long form into a bow.
“Your Grace. I’m pleased to have caught you before you re-join the Dowager. I’ve a delicate topic I feel obligated to broach.”
Ellie raised her eyebrows.
“As we’ve only this hour met, I am exceedingly curious as to the topic, sir.”
He smiled slightly and pushed his glasses up on his nose.
“I can imagine, and I do not mean to be forward, but it would be kind of you to hear me out.”
“Cheerfully,” Ellie replied, thoroughly intrigued.
