The Blind Duke

by Emma Brady

  "Your dance card is full enough now to make up for anything you might have missed then." Sarah gave her a nudge, pulling her away from those sad memories.

  "Only because your card is full and I'm the next available candidate." She tried not to sound bitter when she spoke.

  "It's better than spending the entire night sitting with the other chaperones."

  The corner of the room that was chosen for the chaperons to sit was easily seen from where they stood. A dozen or so old ladies in buttoned up gowns and lace caps with their eyes narrowed as they watched those around them. It was likely watching a flock of vultures looking for prey.

  Eloisa shuddered at the thought of how close she was to becoming one of them. "That's what I’m supposed be doing if I were a proper chaperone." She sighed. "I'm supposed to be assessing the men for their eligibility for you and keeping a close eye on your behavior."

  "Which you can do much better while you're dancing with them than you can while watching from a distance."

  "It gives the mistaken impression that I'm also in the marriage market."

  "What's wrong with that?"

  Eloisa raised one eyebrow at her cousin, letting it say everything for her.

  "You are a lovely young woman who could still find a husband if you wanted to." Sarah pretended not to see the skeptical look Eloisa had.

  "Even if I wasn't a social failure," Eloisa paused for emphasis, "I'm well past the age of coming out."

  "You are barely five and twenty."

  "Which puts me firmly on the shelf."

  "I wish you hadn't waited so long to have your first season. You might have done better if you weren't already twenty."

  "No one ever paid me enough attention to notice my age. I could have been still in the nursery for all they knew."

  Sarah put her hand on her hip and narrowed her eyes. It was a look of determination. "I refuse to give up that easily."

  "I think you and my father have formed some kind of an alliance against me." Eloisa pictured them both conspiring in some darkened corner. "He is equally determined for me to find a husband. Every letter I get from him asks if I have met anyone special."

  "If he had accepted our offer to join you here his assistance might have been better."

  "London reminds him of mother and he isn't ready for that yet." Eloisa didn't blame her father for continuing to hide in a foreign country.

  "At least we can be grateful he let you return."

  That had not been her decision. If she had been able to choose, Eloisa would never have come back to London. Only the promise she had made to her mother brought her here to help Sarah. As soon as her cousin was happily settled she planned to return to her travels permanently.

  "Your father was wrong for keeping you away for so long," said Sarah, "Hardly anyone remembers you now."

  "Another thing to be grateful for."

  Sarah’s swat to Eloisa’s arm stung through the fabric of her evening gloves. She rubbed the sore spot but smiled.

  "If only they knew you the way I know you, they would see how exceptional you are," Sarah said.

  It was a sweet sentiment coming from a naïve girl. Eloisa knew better because she had learned the hard way. Nobody in society wanted to get to know anybody else. The only thing that mattered was the image you presented to them; which was why Sarah was so much more successful at it.

  "You should be more concerned with getting to know these gentlemen," said Eloisa, watching them closely, "One of them might spark your interest if you give them a chance."

  "I have given them all a fair chance and none of them interest me. I'm looking for something more."

  "It would be easier to find if you were more specific."

  "I don't know, something..." Sarah's voice trailed off before she finished.

  Her cousin's attention was focused across the room. Eloisa realized that the crowd was slowly turning in the same direction. They were all staring at the doorway and more importantly the man now standing in it. The Duke of Ashford had finally made his appearance. Seeing him again, Eloisa blushed at the memory of their conversation on the.

  "Do we know him?" Sarah asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

  "Only by reputation."

  "He looks like he has a delicious one." Sarah was always interested in a good mystery.

  He was still so handsome and confident. It wasn't fair that he remained so perfect after all those years. "Scandalous is what I remember."

  "Everyone is watching him, but he doesn't notice." Sarah sounded impressed, not something that happened often.

  “He's accustomed to being the center of attention," Eloisa said, wondering if he could still feel all the eyes that were watching him.

  "Still, his composure is unnatural, like he's made of stone."

  That was what Eloisa had always compared him to, a polished marble statue. He had that kind of beauty without any softness. She wondered if his skin was as smooth under his clothes, and the image made her blush.

  Thomas stood along the edge of the dance floor with a drink in his hand. His head was tilted, trying to listen carefully to the overwhelming noise in the room. He wasn't entering it yet, but was waiting for something.

  "He's only a man," Eloisa said, as much to her cousin as to her own imagination. "A few years ago he was injured in a shocking accident and lost his sight. I believe this is his first season in London since."

  "Has the injury changed him greatly?"

  "Men like that don't change," Eloisa found herself saying. "They simply become subtler in their actions."

  "Nothing about him is subtle," Sarah said. "He looks about as arrogant as a man can be. If his chest puffs out any further he would look like a bird."

  "He hasn't swung you over his shoulder to carry you away, so this is subtle for him."

  Sarah laughed and Eloisa watched as Thomas turned his head toward the sound even from across the room. A look of determination replaced his previously casual expression. Perhaps she had spoken too soon.

  Chapter 2

  HEARING THE FAMILIAR sound of a woman's laughter caught his attention. It reminded him why he was there. This was both his duty and his burden. Hiding outside, engaged in conversation with a mysterious woman wasn't going to help his cause. Especially when she wasn't willing to divulge her name.

  There was something about the woman that was also familiar, but no face came to mind. Admittedly, he hadn't always been observant before the accident, but she should have left an impression. She had left one with him now. Her bold attitude had been refreshing when compared to the rest of the ladies he met in his hunt for a bride. If she was as beautiful as she was charming, he might not have to continue his search for a wife.

  "I should have known you were out there brooding." His mother's gentle voice was a welcome interruption to his thoughts. "You are hardly putting any effort into this."

  He was unable to see her expression, but it was easy to imagine how similar it would be to the one she gave him when he misbehaved as a child. His memory worked well enough to paint a vivid image of it and he smiled.

  "I needed a breath of fresh air. It's unbearably hot in here."

  "That's true." He felt the air move as his mother fanned herself. "The hostess must be mad to have invited so many."

  "I doubt she knew they would all attend. Success has been her downfall."

  "You are partially to blame for that."

  Catherine Powell, the current Duchess of Ashford had always praised her children openly. Most of her peers considered it unfashionable but she never cared.

  "Has my return caused a stir?" He knew she loved a good opportunity to gossip.

  "Of course it has, especially since they know why you're here. Every matchmaking mama in the country is ready to shove their daughter at you."

  "Selection is good, but I have to be careful about my choice. She has to be the perfect one." Thomas had too much at stake to make the wrong choice.

  "Perfection is highly over
rated, dear."

  Her hand came to rest on his arm and knew she was ready for him to escort her around the ballroom. It was purely superficial, since she was leading him. It was an act they had practiced and perfected. Then he felt the hard wood of his cane being pressed into his hand. It was a smooth hardwood with an ornate carving in the shape of a lion's head at the top. He had been told it was dark and expensive but that didn't make him enjoy carrying it any more.

  "You forgot this in the carriage. I thought you might want it." His mother wrapped his fingers around it.

  Thomas ground his teeth in frustration. "I hoped to make my return without it."

  "The doctor told you to use it. It will make it easier for you to get around in new settings."

  "I have been in this ballroom dozens of times."

  "Not blind."

  Thomas let the cane settle into his palm and tapped it on the hard marble floor. He could hear the sound clearly as he moved it around. Hours of practice at home were not the same as using it in the company of members of society.

  "What if I hoped for a life of intrigue? I can never sneak up on a person with this,” Thomas said, knowing he sounded childish.

  "My son, the spy." His mother laughed.

  "I could have had a grand career. Now I will have to settle for the title alone."

  He smiled when she laughed even harder. They started making their entrance into the ballroom, using his cane as a guide.

  "I wish you would tell me what qualities you're looking for in a future duchess." His mother stretched up as she whispered and he leaned down slightly to better hear her. She had always been petite but it was comical when standing next to any of her three sons who were all over six feet.

  "I would if I knew myself." He let the lie slip out easily. "Probably the same qualities all men want, a pretty face and a tolerable personality."

  "You should be looking for a woman with immeasurable patience, if she is going to tolerate you."

  He gave the little hand on his arm a squeeze with his own. "No one has tolerated me as well as you have. You have set the bar high for my future wife."

  He wished he could see her blush, but he knew it was there. His mother had always responded that way to compliments. She had been a beauty when his father married her and never lost that youthful sparkle. It was from her that Thomas got his blond hair and blue eyes, since his father and brothers where dark in both regards.

  "You think by flattering me you can distract me, but I'm not that easy to manipulate. I want to know who it is we're supposed to be looking for."

  "You're looking." He gave her a mischievous smile. "I'm simply listening."

  Through the tumble of noise, the sound of another lady’s laughter caught his attention and he turned his head toward it. It was not the delicate, artificial kind he was used to hearing from ladies. This was a resonating sound that expressed genuine feeling. It was familiar, like the lady from the balcony.

  "Who is that laughing?"

  There was no one in London his mother didn't know, so she would be able to introduce him to his mystery lady.

  "I'm not sure, I can't see very well through the crowd."

  "Then we should get closer."

  Being polite didn't matter, Thomas just pushed his way through the people. He followed the sound, hoping it continued long enough to locate her. The bustles on the ladies’ gowns made it difficult to push past, but wouldn’t stop him. If he got called out in the morning for manhandling them, he would just have to face it.

  "Can you see who it is?" Thomas tried not to sound eager for the answer.

  "Oh, that's Lady Sarah Langston, the daughter of a marquis, I believe, and her cousin, who is acting as her chaperone for the season. One of them must have been laughing."

  "Have I met the lady before?" The name didn't sound familiar at all.

  "No, it's her first season, I believe." That meant she wasn't the mysterious woman who had reprimanded him for not remembering her. "Rumor says she has become this season's biggest success. Even without your sight, you are still drawn to beauty."

  He was disappointed she wasn't the woman from the balcony, but Lady Sarah sounded like someone who belonged on his list of potential brides. It was crucial his wife be beautiful in order to restore his reputation with society. Since his eyesight was no longer reliable to judge that, the opinion of the ton would be his guide. If his mystery woman was her chaperone, then she was strictly out of the question.

  "Does she live up to that description?" Thomas asked his mother.

  "I would say so. She has a face I would have been jealous of in my own season."

  "Then I must have an introduction."

  If his mother believed this girl was the loveliest of the season, he wasn't in a position to argue. He needed to push thoughts of the other woman aside and focus his charm on Lady Sarah. Though he hadn't been using his flirting skills as much during his recovery, he remembered how it was supposed to go. Charming the ladies had always been something he prided himself on.

  "Miss Noble, may I introduce my son to you and your cousin?" His mother's voice was sweet and elegant as she led him by the hand to the group. "I hoped Lady Sarah might be able to get a smile out of him, since she has that effect on all the other young men."

  There was that sound again, the rich sound of laughter. It was close, on the other side of where his mother stood. His spirits lifted at the sound of it.

  "I'm glad you find my sour mood amusing, Miss Noble," Thomas said.

  "My apologies, but your face did look rather serious for being at a social affair." She spoke to him directly, without the slightest hint of apology in her voice. "I'm afraid I find it impossible not to laugh when something strikes me as funny."

  After his mother made the introduction he was embarrassed to realize that even after knowing her name, he still couldn't remember what Eloisa looked like. Nothing about her hair color or even her figure came to mind. He always prided himself on making a note of these details about women. It baffled him that he remembered nothing about her. For the first time in a long time he was freshly disappointed by the loss of his sight.

  "Did you spend a lot of time with my cousin when she had her season?" Lady Sarah asked.

  "Sadly, no. I wish I had been able to get to know her better." Thomas didn't want to offend anyone by admitting the truth.

  "How odd that I never knew." Eloisa had a mocking tone. "I must not have been paying close attention."

  “I won’t make the same mistake again.” Turning in the direction of Lady Sarah, he bowed graciously. "I'm glad to finally meet you, Lady Sarah. Everyone has said such wonderful things about you."

  "Such as?"

  "That you are a beauty beyond compare." It was a little overly dramatic, but in his experience women liked that.

  "Is beauty the only thing you value in a woman? That is absurd considering your condition." Sarah's voice was tart.

  Thomas was not prepared for her sharp reply. He was struck dumb, not sure how to defend himself.

  "Beauty can be appreciated, even by those who can't see it." His tone was rough even to his own ears.

  "I doubt you clearly saw it even before you lost your eyesight."

  Anger rose up inside him, pumping through his blood. Sarah gave him an insult in front of everyone, daring to imply that he was arrogant. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Thomas reminded himself that he needed to win her over. An argument was not a good way to start.

  "I apologize if my compliment offended you." His temper was firmly in check again. "I was simply hoping my flattery would gain me a dance. Will you forgive me and allow me that?"

  She was quiet for a moment and he felt the tension around him as everyone waited for the answer. Years ago his request would have been viewed as a privilege and women would have eagerly agreed. That didn't mean as much now.

  "I'm afraid my dances are already taken, but I believe my cousin might have one to spare." Her voice was sweet but too sweet. She ga
ve him a clear dismissal. This was the first time a woman had denied him anything since he left the nursery.

  Through gritted teeth, he tried to keep his voice even but he was angry at her treatment of him. "If I had wanted to dance with her, I would have asked her myself. My request was for you and you alone."

  "Then I'm afraid there are no partners available for you."

  Smugness resonated from the silly girl, who didn't realize how dangerously close he was to losing his temper. Making a scene in the crowded ballroom would only cause embarrassment, which he tried to avoid at all costs.

  "Then I won't bother you any longer." That was the end of the conversation as far as he was concerned.

  Pulling free of his mother's hand, Thomas stalked off, letting his cane swing out in front of him to clear the way. His mother would be angry about his rude behavior but he didn't care. That chit had infuriated him with her refusal. No one turned down the Duke of Ashford or handed him off to a spinster. It was unheard of.

  He felt a small hand grabbing him by the elbow, stopping him only a short distance away. A woman's body was pressed against his and there was the faint smell of oranges. His mystery lady, who was no longer a mystery, prevented him from rushing out.

  "I apologize if my cousin's rude behavior has offended you. She can be a bit harsh in her dealings with men," said Miss Noble, speaking softly so no one around them would hear.

  "She is here to find a husband is she not?" There was only one reason for a lady to be in London during the season and that was to make a good match. "She talks as though she doesn't want any of us."

  There was a tiny noise, like Miss Noble was trying to stifle a laugh. "That's only because she has never met a man who didn't want her. Too many choices can ruin a girl."

  "You don't seem to be ruined."

  "No, I'm not."

  There had been a light hearted tone in her voice that was gone now. Of course Thomas would say the wrong thing. He thought it would be a compliment but he could see now it was taken as the opposite. Perhaps he was a little rusty when it came to women.