AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There it was again—the whole matter with Lord Edon. Eleanor bit her tongue so she wouldn’t ask about it. She glanced at Mr. Tumilson and saw that he was studying the Duke of Winnett. Was he curious about Lord Edon, too?
“Oh, I thought perhaps that’s why you decided not to go to White’s,” the Duke of Winnett told her father. “You haven’t been there as much since the vote.”
“The reason for my absence has to do with my daughter,” her father replied. “I have to see to it that she finds a respectable husband.”
“Of course. If I had a daughter, I’d do the same thing. If you don’t have time to go to White’s, would you mind my coming to your townhouse for a visit? I have something I want to discuss with you.”
“You’re welcome to come by later this afternoon.”
The duke nodded, wished Eleanor and Mr. Tumilson a pleasant day, and left.
“Do you talk to him often at White’s?” Mr. Tumilson asked her father.
“We play a game of cards if we happen to be there at the same time,” her father began, “but he doesn’t go there much. He has more important things to worry about.”
“What kind of things?”
“He enjoys travel and educational pursuits. White’s is a place to relax and make friendships, but it’s hardly a place that will improve a gentleman’s intellectual life or his reputation. On some days, I’m not sure why I wanted to be a member there. I suppose in my youth I thought it would greatly improve my social standing.”
“Has it done that?”
Her father paused for a long moment. “I think it helped to a point. Other gentlemen wish to belong to an exclusive gentlemen’s club. It’s a badge of honor to be accepted into a place that isn’t open to everyone. But when you consider how many hours are spent there wasting time…” He shrugged. “The older you get, the more you value things that really matter.”
Mr. Tumilson looked in her direction, and she noted the sympathetic expression on his face. She had no idea what to make of that. What was he thinking? What did she have to do with White’s?
Her father cleared his throat. “We ought to continue with our walk. I notice a couple of gentlemen taking note of my daughter. I think the fact that she has a suitor is getting their attention.” He smiled at her. “I dare say gentlemen will be lining up to dance with you at Lord Roderick’s ball.”
Eleanor wasn’t sure if that would be the case, but she would see soon enough.
***
That evening right before dinner, Eleanor was reading a book when her father came into the drawing room with an excited look on his face. She perked up in interest. DidLadies of Gracedecide to include her as a member?
He sat next to her. “We have a suitor for you!”
She blinked in surprise. “We do?”
He nodded. “It turns out that you’ve caught the Duke of Winnett’s attention. I told him he’s welcome to start coming by to visit you but that you have other suitors as well, so we’ll have to work on a schedule. We can’t make things too easy. Besides, there will be other suitors now.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. Oh good. Her father wasn’t going to insist she marry him. She was allowed to pursue other prospects. She could only hope those other prospects would be coming. The Duke of Winnett was fine, but she couldn’t imagine spending the rest of her life with him, especially when that life had to do with kissing and touching him. She was going to have to put all of the duchess’ advice to good use at the next ball. The sooner she got more suitors, the better.
“Oh, and there is one other thing we need to discuss,” her father added.
Her eyebrows furrowed at the hesitant tone in his voice. Had she unwittingly done something wrong and he wished to reprimand her for it?
“Mr. Tumilson thinks you might benefit from a friendship with his sister,” her father continued. “I don’t know anything about his sister. Mr. Tumilson said she’s married to Mr. Duff. He does well financially, but he isn’t a member of White’s. I don’t think he’s even connected to any members there, but I intend to stop by White’s to find out.”
“What could be wrong with me being friends with his sister?”
“I want to make sure you have friends who will help your standing in the Ton. The people you associate with in London are very important.”
“I can understand why marrying a suitable gentleman is necessary, but I see no reason why it should matter who my friends are.”
He offered her an understanding smile and patted her hand. “It’s to my detriment that I didn’t bring you to London sooner. All of this is new to you. Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now, is there? I can’t go back and change things. I will ask around about Mr. Duff to make sure he has the lifestyle compatible with us. Despite his insufficient social standing, having Mr. Tumilson around is necessary since he’s doing a job. I will let you know whether or not I approve of the friendship in a few days. Until then, we might hear good news fromLadies of Grace.” He patted her hand again. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
She watched as he left the room. She could argue with him, but what would be the point? He never listened to her. She should just be grateful he wasn’t going to demand she marry the Duke of Winnett. Things could be worse. Taking comfort in this, she turned her attention back to the book.
