“Not in the least,” she answered with a slight smile and a nod of her head.
“Did you not realize this might happen if you were to go driving with me?”
“I was fairly certain it would.” The cheerful expression on her face was belied by the doom-filled tone of her voice as she admitted as much.
“Then why did you not send one of your footmen to decline my invitation?”
“I knew when you invited me what the consequence would be. There are always consequences, Your Grace. Mine were either this or facing my mother.”
“And you would rather face the hordes than your mother?” James was rather surprised that she would decide in his favour if she hadn’t actually wanted to be seen with a duke.
“You have met the Countess of Sherton, have you not?” Her dry tone brought another chuckle from James.
“I see your point.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “Well, there’s nothing much for it, then. We might as well enjoy ourselves, since we’re sure to be gossiped about either way.”
A genuine smile split her face, and James felt as though the sun had burst forth upon him even though it had already been a fairly pleasant day. He almost had to blink from its brilliance.
“How do you propose we go about enjoying ourselves even more, Your Grace? I had been quite enjoying your company, I must say. You might be the most reasonable gentleman I’ve conversed with this month.”
James was almost distracted by the latter part of her statement, but he wanted to answer the first part before he basked in the second.
“I say, let’s return to the carriage and then drive through the main thoroughfare nodding to all and sundry while making our own commentary about everyone and what we think they might decide to say about us.”
She actually laughed in response before she turned a serious expression upon him. “But I think I’ve decided that I want to care about others’ feelings. I wouldn’t want to be catty even in jest. Will that take the fun out of it for you?”
“Not in the least. In fact, it might make it even more fun. I look forward to hearing what you can come up with that will be witty without being hurtful.” He suddenly felt as though his heart clenched in sympathy for the young woman, which made him wonder for a moment if his health was failing. It would not do to have a heart attack while escorting a female on the Grand Promenade.
Handing her back up into his high carriage, he again appreciated her slender form. It was a distraction from the lovely person within. James rather suspected that was why the girl was still unattached. No one could see past her beauty.
“So, is it true that you have refused to accept any gentleman without a coronet?”
They were back in his curricle, and he couldn’t watch her closely, but he noticed the twitch of her features. He couldn’t decide if it was amusement or annoyance.
“I do believe we’ve had this conversation already, Your Grace. Are you offering me yours?”
“That doesn’t answer my question, my lady. I thought we had become friendly enough that you could tell me why you are so set on rank. You don’t strike me as the sort who wishes to be so much on display as would be required of a duchess.”
He was surprised to hear a soft sigh escape her when a quick glance showed that her face was as serene as always.
“You are correct. I have absolutely no ambition toward being a duchess. In fact, I rather think it would be lovely to marry a mere mister. But even if I were to do so, I’m fairly certain I would remain Lady Rosabel. I don’t mind that so much. But no, I am not the Sherton sister most desirous of a coronet. That title belongs squarely with Hilaria. No one can say how it became ascribed to me. But that is how gossip works. The truth of the matter is rarely taken into consideration.”
“And I suppose no one ever bothers to ask.”
“No, you’re the first in two years.” The mixture of amusement and hurt in her eyes when she turned her gaze to meet his made him react again. Why did he like her so?
“Have you any idea why your sister is so set on becoming a duchess? Does she realize how few opportunities she might have?”
“I’m afraid she might not have actually meant it when she made that declaration. It was in her first Season, and I believe she felt it would make her more interesting. Hilaria doesn’t love being my younger sister. She resented being recognized as my sister or our father’s daughter rather than her own self. I can’t blame her, I suppose. I probably wouldn’t have liked that either. But it wasn’t the best way to handle it. And of course, I don’t appreciate that it somehow got credited to me.”
“Perhaps no one thought she would have the audacity.”
“And I would?” Her incredulity caused genuine feeling to imprint upon her face. James appreciated being able to read her expression readily.
“Your beauty makes it more believable.”
She actually snorted. “That’s ridiculous. Being pretty doesn’t give one license to be insufferable.”
“It doesn’t seem as though most would agree with you.”
“Well most are ridiculous.” She said it with such disdain that James laughed loudly, bringing even more attention to them. “Behave yourself, Your Grace.” This didn’t help him with his amusement, but he managed to choke back the rest of his laughter.
“I would have to agree with you,” James finally said. “Really, no one should have license to be insufferable.”
“I think perhaps my sister hasn’t felt well received by Society so, she thinks if she were a duchess everyone would have to be nice to her. But from what I can see, it doesn’t work that way, does it?”
Now James sighed. “No, you’re right. Your sister is mistaken. There are a great many benefits to being a duke, do not mistake the matter. I have absolutely no intention of complaining about my lot, nor, as I previously mentioned, do I wish to trade it in to become a farmer. But most see the advantages as reason to resent and ignore all the responsibilities.”
“That sounds most unpleasant. My mystery mister is sounding better and better.”
James was surprised by a sense of pique over her words. “Have you found any misters to suit your fancy?”
“Not a single mister has offered for me, if you can believe it.”
James smiled at her exaggeratedly disappointed tone. “But were there any that you wished would?”
“Not in particular, sad to say.” He could actually hear a wistful note in her voice and wished she would entrust him with her true thoughts. Perhaps she still didn’t feel sufficiently comfortable with him.
“Come now, we were supposed to be amusing each other, not becoming melancholy over our respective unwed states.”
He took her soft exhalation to be a substitute for laughter and smiled. There was a pause while she glanced around. He almost choked when she finally spoke.
“Oh, deary me, look at that fast Sherton girl setting her cap at Wexford. She’ll be next to impossible now.” The croaking voice was almost identical to that of the Viscountess Whitney.
James managed to prevent his shout of laughter. It came out as more of a snort. But it was worth it to hear his companion choking to hold in her own laughter.
When they had settled down again, rather than making a mockery of their fellow members of the ton, James almost squirmed under Rosabel’s steady perusal.
“As a matter of fact, Your Grace, you didn’t actually speak at all about your own unwed state. Shall I assist you in finding your duchess? Considering what we’ve discussed about all the attention she will garner, she will need to be a lady of some constitution. While I must out of loyalty offer you my sister as an option, as your friend, I would advise you to look elsewhere.”
“I am much obliged, but I’m fairly certain this would not be an appropriate subject for us to discuss.”
“Why ever not? We discussed my ideal mister. What’s your ideal? A simpering debutante? A mature widow? A bluestocking?”
“You’re rather extreme in your suggestions, are you
not?”
She giggled and smiled, more natural than he had yet seen her. “Not at all. You know you could have your pick of any available woman, noble or gentry or otherwise. So, it just leaves you to decide what you’re looking for in a duchess.”
James smiled. “That’s just it. The requirements for a duchess might be different from that of my choice of wife.”
She tilted her head and examined his face for a moment before nodding, even as her face turned a slight pink. “I suppose I can see your point. You might enjoy the company of a certain type of female that wouldn’t be in the least appropriate for the role of your duchess.”
James’ shout of laughter once again drew the attention of everyone within range, even those who had previously been trying to appear as though they weren’t paying attention to the duke and his companion.
“Wexford, behave,” she hissed at him, making it even harder for him to stop laughing.
“I do apologize, but perhaps you should be the one told to behave. What do you know about females inappropriate to be a duchess?”
He had to work hard to not laugh again as her face turned a deeper red. She almost sputtered as she replied but managed to hold onto her dignity.
“I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about nor why it would cause you such amusement. Any manner of women might not be suited to the role of duchess. A school room miss fresh from the highlands, for example, might be pleasant company but would struggle with the task of helping you shoulder your responsibilities.”
James blinked at her and could barely keep his attention on what his horses were doing. It was a relief they had already worked out their fidgets as he couldn’t take his eyes off Rosabel, he was so arrested by her words.
“Do you really think my wife would consider taking on any of my responsibilities?” He hardly recognized his own voice, and he gave in to the urge to clear his throat.
Now she was staring at him in confusion. “Well, I would think so. Isn’t that the point of marriage?”
“Well, there is the succession.”
“Surely, that isn’t the only thing. And besides, as my mother can attest to, the male child is not guaranteed.”
James tilted his head in question of her slightly bitter tone. She was a surprisingly pleasant companion. He had not heard her utter a negative word before then.
“Does it bother you that you don’t have a brother?”
“It doesn’t bother me in the least, but I know it bothers my mother. And one of my sisters. Well, more accurately, Hilaria is bothered by the fact that she isn’t my brother. For some reason, she has always felt that she should have been our father’s son and therefore the heir. It might be part of why she’s so obsessed with becoming a duchess. Somehow, that would redeem her for having been born a girl, in her mind. Or so it seems to me. We have never actually discussed it, as she refuses to do so.”
There was a lull while they both thought about their own concerns. Finally, James broke the silence.
“It’s quite a novel idea to me that my duchess could be my partner. It adds an entirely new dimension to the thought of marriage.”
“I’m quite surprised by this. Did your mother not assist your father? I could be completely wrong about this as, of course, I am not in very close association with any dukes, but I can attest to the fact that my mother does a great deal to assist my father. Perhaps it is merely her temperament, but I always thought it was the way of things.” Her slight smile was self-deprecating before she continued. “I suppose that’s how everyone is. We always think our own childhood was the norm.”
“I was exposed to my friends’ families during school holidays, so I was already aware that my childhood wasn’t necessarily the norm, but I haven’t witnessed many ladies taking on much of a household role besides decorating and child-bearing.”
Again, Rosabel’s cheeks coloured, but she offered him a slight smile. “Well, then, perhaps it’s just Lady Sherton.” She seemed embarrassed for a moment but then brightened. “But if that’s the case, then the idea that I had might be of merit.”
“What idea is that?”
“My sister might be the perfect match for you.”
“Your sister? I thought you warned me away from Lady Hilaria.”
“Not Hil. Do remember that I have several. I was thinking of Vicky, Lady Vigilia.”
“The one who shall be moping over Crossley’s marriage for months to come?”
She giggled, to his surprise. “That’s the one. But I’m sure if she were being courted, she would quickly perk right up.”
James smiled over her wording but was compelled to ask. “What makes you think she would be a good match for me?”
“Well, as the true middle child, as I said earlier, she is remarkably adaptable. And having been raised by our mother, she would probably feel just like I do, that a wife’s job is to assister her husband with his responsibilities. I know with one hundred percent certainty that she would want to do more than decorate your home and produce the next generation of Allinghams.”
James chuckled but declined her suggestion. “While I appreciate your offering up your sister as the sacrificial bride, I think I’ll keep looking for myself.”
She lifted a shoulder in dismissal. “Of course.”
“I did, of course, note that you didn’t offer yourself. Do you not feel yourself up to the task of being a duchess?”
To his very pleasant surprise, she actually laughed out loud.
“My maid asked me the very same question, Your Grace. And I have a mixed answer. To be sure, I could be up to the task. I just have no desire to court that type of attention from others. My unknown mister will be ideal for my purposes, I’m sure.”
Ignoring the surprising sense of disappointment welling within him, James nodded. “Such a pity. Ah well, I shall prevail, eventually, I suppose. But your mister will be a most lucky man.”
Chapter Five
Rosabel fought another blush. She had found their drive to be far more enjoyable than she had ever expected, but her surprising comfort in the duke’s presence allowed her tongue to run away on her. How terribly vulgar to offer Vicky as a potential bride for him. No wonder he declined.
“What about Miss Bridgestone?”
She wanted to clap a hand over her mouth. Bel hadn’t even known the thought had flitted across her brain before it came out of her mouth. Why was she pushing other ladies upon him? He had clearly stated that he was fully capable of finding his own bride. Of course, he was! And this was a highly inappropriate conversation for her to be involved in, in the first place. Imagine if the countess were to hear her. Rosabel nearly shuddered at the thought.
“Which one?” His curiosity warmed her, even as she blushed anew.
“I apologize, Your Grace. I had meant to hold my silence on the subject. I’m not sure where that suggestion even came from.”
“No need to apologize. I’m curious as to why you consider Miss Bridgestone to be suitable duchess material.”
Bel knew her cheeks were still red, but she made every effort to ignore the heat as she tried to think of an answer to his question. Before she could, he had another one.
“Is it to further your goal of helping the wallflowers?”
This made her choke back a laugh. “I hadn’t thought of that aspect, but I do suppose no duchess has ever been a wallflower.”
“Do you think a former wallflower would be able to handle the attention?”
It took an alarming amount of effort not to wrinkle her nose at the duke. She hadn’t had this much trouble containing her feelings and reactions since she had made her debut. The duke was not a good associate for her. He was spoiling all her best habits. With a sigh she answered his question.
“I would have said, no, prior to yesterday. Now, I am rethinking my opinion of wallflowers. I think they are a highly misunderstood strata of Society. Specifically, I think Miss Bridgestone would be up to any challenge.”
“But could she lead So
ciety?”
“Does every duchess need to lead Society?” Rosabel countered. “Do you aspire to be a leader of Society? And what does that actually even mean?”
When the duke looked at her as though she had taken leave of her senses, Rosabel couldn’t disagree with him, but she carried on nonetheless. “In the case of Miss Bridgestone, no, I can’t say that I think she’ll set any fashions. But I could be thoroughly mistaken. It’s entirely possible that if she were to become a duchess, she might set a new trend of not being a slave to fashion. Or she could find a dresser she trusted, who would set the trends for her. But I do believe she has the strength of character to be able to be a leader, if she was called upon to do so. I am quite convinced that nearly any woman could do so, if the need arose.”
“Have you been reading Wollstonecraft?” The duke’s bland voice as he asked her the highly charged question made Bel laugh, to her dismay.
“You don’t allow me to be serious for more than a moment, do you?”
“Serious is highly overrated.”
“You are quite dreadful.”
When the duke chuckled again, rather than being mortified by the attention it drew, Bel’s chest warmed, and she felt for a moment that she had finally found a friend. With a blink she realized she was being foolish and tried to push the alluring thought from her mind. A lady does not become friends with a duke.
“Perhaps we ought to be heading home,” Bel ventured, causing Wexford’s eyebrows to rise. Her cheeks warmed anew. She supposed one did not give a duke direction. She tried to brazen it out, lifting her chin and removing as much expression from her face as possible, except for a slight, pleasant smile as she gazed about, avoiding his attentive eyes.
“That certainly put me in my place, didn’t it?” Wexford’s droll tone made her lips twitch, but she continued to avoid making eye contact with him. She couldn’t decide how she felt in that moment and didn’t want him reading her indecision. She would be relieved to be home and out of his company.
“Surely, I have already taken up too much of your time. As you said, you have many responsibilities you need to care for.” Bel hoped she didn’t sound as desperate as she felt. Perhaps she was grasping at straws in the hopes that she’d be free of his company shortly.
A Duke to Elude: Sweet Regency Romance (Sherton Sisters Book 1) Page 5