Aurora turned from the mirror. The gray cat that she’d named George, after the king, jumped into her lap. Not wanting to be covered in fur, she gave him a loving pat and placed him on the floor. She’d picked a bright blue gown with cream lace. Gillian put her hair up in a simple chignon with only one strand of pearls. “Mother, I think the duke is perfectly nice, but I have no idea why you invited him here.”
Rolling her eyes, Mother threw up her hands. “He is looking for a wife, of course.”
Of course, Aurora thought and had to force herself not to imitate her mother’s eye roll. This working trip to the country was turning into a bit of a circus. “You do know why I have come to Whickette Park, Mother.”
She waved her hand about, the bracelets at her wrist jiggling. “Some ridiculous notion about a school.”
“And do you think the Duke of Hexon would wish to have a wife who sponsors and runs a girls’ school?” Aurora thought perhaps she could lead her mother to her own conclusion rather than just give her the standard no.
“Of course, he will not. You will marry, become a duchess and give up this foolishness.” Rising, her mother brushed out her skirt and raised her chin in a challenge.
Aurora stood as well. “I have no intention of giving up this school. I also have no intention of marrying the Duke of Hexon. You should not have come here, and you were grossly out of line to invite a guest, whom I have never met. You forced my hand on both counts, and it is very unladylike, Mother.”
“Don’t you dare speak to me like that. Who do you think you are?”
Keeping her voice soft, Aurora stepped closer. “If you were anyone else, I would have been quite rude yesterday at tea. But you are my mother, and Hexon is your guest.” Attempting to remain calm and not escalate an argument with Mother, Aurora took a breath. “Now, I am going downstairs to meet the others. I have to say I’m a bit surprised you decided to attend the assembly. You did not enjoy the event when last we were in Cheshire.”
With a shrug, Mother said, “Last time the goal was only an earl. Now you have two dukes vying for you, Aurora.”
There was no point in continuing the conversation. Her mother heard only what she wanted to hear. Aurora stepped around her. “Try not to embarrass me, Mother.”
Hexon waited at the bottom of the stairs. Aurora had to admit he was extremely good looking with a shock of blond hair, stunning blue eyes, and warmly tanned skin. He was broad of shoulders and narrow of waist. She imagined many women would be quite taken with him. Plastering a smile on her face, Aurora greeted him. “Your Grace.”
“You are a vision of loveliness, Countess.” Something in his smile sent a warning bell ringing inside Aurora.
Mercy said, “I think we are all ready. The carriages have been brought around.”
With Poppy, Mercy raised her brow at Hexon who had little choice but to step back and let Aurora complete her journey down the steps.
Poppy’s eyes narrowed. “We shall need two carriages. Is her ladyship joining us?”
“I believe so.” As soon as she said it, her mother descended the stairs.
“Grand. You will ride with us.” Mercy took her arm and led her to their carriage where Wesley waited to hand each lady up. Poppy rode with them too, assuring Hexon would not be able to ride with Aurora. As soon as the carriage was moving, Mercy crossed her arms over her chest. “I know she’s your mother, but that woman is remarkably dense, Aurora.”
“It’s so unlike you to say so, Mercy.” Poppy grinned.
Mercy’s smile was serene. “I’m a countess now, I can say what I please.”
“Mother wants me married because she deems that a good marriage is a successful life for a woman. She believes what most of society believes.” Aurora leaned her head back and closed her eyes against the wave of guilt that she always associated with disappointing her mother.
Wesley’s soft voice broke into her thoughts. “Aurora, you told me you would marry no one. Have you changed your mind?”
She had told Wesley she’d never marry, and she’d meant it. He had wanted to court her but had fallen in love with Mercy. Still, she could do what a good daughter would do, and her mother would leave her in peace. A knot of pain banded around her heart. She took several deep breaths and thought of Garrett and how kind he’d been even as she disappointed him. “I have not changed my mind. I have no interest in Hexon. Besides, something about him doesn’t seem right to me.”
Mercy sighed. “Thank goodness you said so. I get a very uncomfortable feeling around him. He bears watching.”
“Really? He seemed perfectly normal. I mean arrogant, even for a duke. But what do you mean, dearest?” Wesley took his wife’s hand and kissed her fingers.
“I’m not sure. At least with your cousin, Malcolm, we know he will take what he wants and propriety be damned. Hexon is not so easy to read.” Mercy shook her head and drew her brows together.
“I also thought something was amiss with him,” Poppy said. “But I thought you would all say I was being too critical.”
A deep frown tugged at Wesley’s full mouth. “So, all three of you think His Grace is unsavory in some way?”
The three Wallflowers nodded.
Aurora said, “I couldn’t say why though. It’s just a feeling.”
“Still.” Wesley didn’t move to open the door as they pulled up to the assembly hall in Plumbly. “If you all have this instinct, I shall stay alert. Women’s intuition is nothing to sneer at.”
Mercy smiled brightly, and when they alighted from the carriage, she kissed his cheek.
Poppy took Aurora’s arm. “Perhaps it’s time to teach your mother a lesson about interference and ferret out the truth about His Grace at the same time. I think showing your mother that not every man is worth having, even if he has a lofty title, might be worth the trouble.”
Adoring Wallflower schemes, Aurora grinned. “What did you have in mind.”
The second carriage pulled up, and Hexon stepped down before it had fully come to a stop.
“Let’s talk in private after the ball. I shall come to your room and tell Mercy to join us.” Poppy put on a fake smile that was completely out of character for her, and to anyone who knew her, would seem ridiculous.
Garrett gave her an amused look. “Is everything alright, Lady Marsden?”
She took his arm. “Oh yes.”
He led her inside and Aurora heard him ask her for the honor of the first dance.
It had been a while since the Wallflowers of West Lane had pushed a lord of the realm into revealing more than he wished. Aurora liked the idea of teaching her mother a lesson, and just maybe, it would be the end of all the maternal matchmaking.
The man himself approached. “This is a quaint gathering.”
She thought Hexon probably meant beneath him when he said quaint, but she ignored it. “I have found these assemblies vastly entertaining.”
A tall man with bright blue eyes approached. “Lady Radcliff, how nice to see you again.”
It took Aurora a second to remember the man’s name. “Mr. Underhill, how do you do? May I introduce His Grace, the Duke of Hexon.”
Mr. Underhill’s eyes widened for a moment, but then he made a brief bow. “A pleasure to meet you, Your Grace.”
Hexon nodded but said nothing.
His silence annoyed Aurora. As if he felt too important to speak to Mr. Underhill, a mere farmer, but still a gentleman. “I heard that some bad weather was my good fortune, sir.”
Mr. Underhill smiled. “Indeed, my lady, and we all feel quite fortunate for it.” The start of the minuet paused his conversation. A slight blush warmed his cheeks. “Would you care to dance, my lady?”
Before Hexon could claim her, and she could see his eyes narrowed at Mr. Underhill and his mouth opened to say something, Aurora took the farmer’s arm. “I would be delighted.”
Once they were a few steps away, Mr. Underhill leaned in. “I hope I have not created a problem for you, my lady.”
Thick eyebrows rose over his bright eyes, and amusement tugged at his lips. “Perhaps you would do me the honor of the second dance as well then.”
A warm laugh bubbled up inside Aurora, and she couldn’t help but let it out. “Perfect, Mr. Underhill. It could only be better if the second is a waltz.”
Without hiding his own amusement, Mr. Underhill bowed. “I shall see that it is, Lady Radcliff.”
Having nearly an hour of her time taken up with two lovely dances with a man who was a complete gentleman and wanted nothing from her but to enjoy the evening, Aurora was happy. Her cheeks hurt from laughing at all Mr. Underhill had to tell her regarding a little calf on his farm that was constantly getting into mischief.
When he walked her to the refreshment table, she said, “I think I should very much like to meet this calf and see your farm, sir.”
Garrett handed Poppy a lemonade. “Are you planning to see more of the area, my lady?”
“Oh, Garrett, this is Mr. Underhill. He owns a farm and has been telling me some wonderful stories. I think I should like very much to see more of the area.”
Garrett bowed. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Underhill. Garrett Winslow.”
Wide-eyed, Mr. Underhill bowed. “The Duke of Corwin? The pleasure is mine, Your Grace. I didn’t realize our little assemblies would be getting so grand.”
Wesley came over and shook Mr. Underhill’s hand. “Nice to see you, John.”
“My lord. I hope you are well. Word reached us here that you have married. May I wish you great joy?”
“Thank you.”
Mercy joined them and smiled.
“I think you have met my wife.” Wesley beamed with pride and love.
“Of course.” Mr. Underhill had danced with Mercy when last they were in the country. “My lady, it is good to see you again.”
“And you. What is this I heard? Are we going to visit your farm?” Mercy smiled, clearly delighted.
Aurora noted the shock on Mr. Underhill’s face. She was certain the farmer had never received such a party of guests before. “We don’t wish to impose, sir. I’m sure you are far too busy to be bothered with us.”
He recovered himself. “Not at all, my lady. From what I’ve been told, you will be opening a school at Whickette Park. That makes you a local, and if you wish to see a working farm, I’m happy to show it to you. I’d be happy to help you in any way I can.”
In a few moments the issue was settled, and they planned to visit the Underhill farm after church on Sunday.
Aurora endured a dance with Hexon and one with Malcolm Renshaw before the evening wound down to the final dance. Where Hexon was arrogant, Malcolm was cunning. Neither was as charming as Mr. Underhill.
Hexon couldn’t fathom why Aurora wanted to see a farm. She declined to respond to any of his queries as it was also clear he required no response when he was spewing his view of the world.
As the last waltz started and Garrett bowed before her, she was surprised by her own delight at the notion of being in his arms. Garrett’s warm smile seemed to bring happiness with it and that joy flowed into her easily.
“May I have the honor of this dance, my lady?” Garrett held his hand out.
“Thank you. I thought you’d never ask.”
He led the way to the center of the dance floor and took her in his arms. “I would have asked sooner, but your mother has been occupying most of my time. I have been ordered to make you stop all this nonsense. I think that’s how she put it.”
Aurora sighed. “The school, refusing to marry, or going to visit a local gentleman’s farm? What is my current crime, pray tell?”
“All of the above.” Sympathy warmed his already kind eyes.
“And will you follow my mother’s commands?”
They made the turn, and he hesitated an instant before guiding her back into step. “I should think you already know the answer to that, Rora. I would never tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. You are fully capable of determining your own mind. Besides, I love the idea of the visit to a farm, and the school will be marvelous.”
“Would you tell my mother that?” The entire business with her mother was exhausting. She felt her life had been spent avoiding, dodging, or nay-saying her parents. Now her father was gone, and her mother had gotten far worse.
Garrett’s hand tightened on the center of her back. “Do you honestly believe it would help if I told her that?”
“No.” She let another sigh escape. “What did you say?”
“That it was none of my business, and I thought the school was a wonderful idea. I also said learning a bit about how local farming is done successfully could mean the difference between the school being profitable and self-sustaining, or costing a fortune.” One side of his mouth turned up.
She had trouble pulling her attention away from his lips but caught herself. “And what of marriage? Did you voice your opinion on that subject as well?”
“I only said, you were a grown woman and would not wish my interference on such a personal decision. To which, your mother said, ‘Tish, tosh, and poppycock.’ I think I repeated that correctly.”
“You know,” she started, but then thought perhaps she shouldn’t say more.
“What is it?” He saw inside her, like he was the only person who really knew her.
Of course, that was ridiculous. She had three best friends who knew all there was to know about her. Still there was that look that pierced right through her. “I have only one regret. I would have liked to have had a child. A little life that depends on me, loves me, and I would lavish with love. I would do it better than my parents. I would never censure a child for having opinions or wanting to read a book rather than attend a tea.”
“I’m not sure what to say, Rora.” His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “I think you would be a wonderful mother.”
The music drew to a close, and Aurora brushed a tear from her eye.
It had been the last dance, and the crowd began streaming out of the assembly hall.
Without any way to avoid it, she had to ride with Garrett and Hexon, but thankfully Helen was in the carriage and not her mother. “Did you enjoy the evening, Mrs. Hazlett-Barrow?”
“Very much.” Helen beamed. “It reminded me of the balls from my childhood. Everyone was so kind and full of joy for the night.”
“I wonder if you couldn’t bring some of the older students from time to time as a special treat.” Aurora liked the idea of her school being part of the community, as Mr. Underhill had intimated.
Helen nodded. “Perhaps. We shall see how we get on with studies, my lady, and decide about entertainment at a later date.”
“And these students,” Hexon began, his face twisted in disgust, “they will be daughters of good families?”
Eyes narrowed and shoulders pulled back, Helen met his gaze. “If by good families, you mean that they will all be the daughters of rich titled men, then no. At least not entirely. We will make room for bright girls from any kind of upbringing. We have already discussed setting up a scholarship for one or two girls a year. We are not unreasonable and know we shall have to have mostly paying students, but—”
“But nothing. Your school will fail,” Hexon announced. “It is doomed from the beginning with such inane thoughts of charity. What do you think will happen to those poor girls who attend alongside a duke’s daughter? I’ll tell you what; they will be badgered and teased. You will be subjecting those girls to horrors they are ill-equipped to endure. Shame on you.”
Eyes flashing with unreasonable rage, he turned to Aurora. “And you—”
Garrett put up a hand for silence. “I think you’ve said quite enough, Hexon. You know nothing of what young women of good families with small pocketbooks can and cannot endure. You are speaking out of turn and should silence the impu
lse.”
Hexon’s tanned skin burned nearly purple with rage as they made their way up the hills toward Whickette Park.
Having a great deal to say on the subject, Aurora chose to keep silent. The arrogance of the man was not to be borne.
Even Helen looked ready to burst, but she too kept quiet. It was the wiser course, but not at all the easier one.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Hexon leapt out without waiting to help the ladies down.
Garrett said, “Well, that was uncomfortable. At least he was quiet after his tirade.”
“Only thanks to you, Your Grace.” Helen stepped down with Garrett’s help. I know he’s a duke, but must he be so, so duke-like?”
Aurora took Garrett’s waiting hand, and they both watched Helen bustle into the house. “She’s right, of course.”
“I’m a duke.” He looked slightly affronted.
“You are a gem,” she said and left him standing at the carriage. Her legs were tired from dancing. Her mind was tired from scheming. She would go directly up to her room and pray for a good night’s sleep. The Wallflower meeting could wait for tomorrow.
Chapter 11
After the late night at the assembly hall, Aurora didn’t rise until Poppy swept into her room. “I have called for our breakfast to be brought up to your room. Mercy will join us in a moment.”
Mercy glided in. “You went to bed so quickly we decided not to bother you last night.”
Aurora sat up in bed and brushed her hair out of her face. “It was a long night.”
George jumped up on the bed and snuggled into her lap for a pet and a scratch under his chin. A loud rumbling purr followed.
“I saw you dance with Hexon. Did you learn anything?” Poppy sat at the small table by the window and peeked out the curtains, allowing the sun to stream in.
Mercy pulled the curtains back, flooding the room with light.
“I learned he is even more arrogant than we first thought, and he has a bit of a temper, but not during the dance.” Aurora got up and pulled on her robe. She went to the water closet to relieve herself. When she returned, she told them about the ride home from the ball.
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