"Excuse me?"
The newcomer arched an eyebrow.
"Only a woman would do something without using their common sense."
Charles coughed and stepped to one side.
"Anne, this is William Hartfield, Duke of Cheswick."
***
So this was Duke Cheswick. The intrepid explorer. Anne swallowed. That would explain his build; he looked like he was better suited for hiking across rough terrain than being in charge of a dukedom. While the clothes he wore were of the best material and tailor-made, they didn't look comfortable. He didn't look right in them, as if he preferred something of lesser cloth and no frills.
Anne knew she should put her manners forward and act the dutiful daughter and guest, but she didn't care. She advanced on him.
"You call walking three miles to a dinner party an act of folly?" She demanded hotly. "What would you call gambling and drinking to excess? Traveling across vast countries with just the clothes on your back? Wouldn't those be acts of foolishness?"
"Anne!" Mary gasped.
Cheswick's eyes widened with her response. Then his eyes warmed, and a slight smile touched at his mouth.
"I see your point, Miss Barclay. They can be considered as an act of folly. But I don't consider them as vices."
"Really?" Anne folded her arms, not caring she was making a spectacle of herself. "Are you saying you have common sense to stop those things from becoming vices? Because I don't see common sense preventing gambling or going on long walks in the middle of nowhere from flaring up in the first place."
Anne wouldn't have called the long walks as lacking common sense, but she wanted to hurt. She didn't like being called foolish or receiving comments on her behavior.
This was probably why men avoided her; she didn't sit back and take the criticism.
"Anne, that's enough," John admonished. He hurried to her side and gave William an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry about my daughter, Your Grace. She forgets herself."
"I do." Anne sneered. "I'm the woman. I'm not allowed to have an opinion." Knowing her father was giving her a horrified look, she gave Cheswick a very quick curtsy and hurried towards the door. "If you'll excuse me."
She needed to get out of there for a moment. While she wanted to speak her mind, she felt bad for turning on her father. He knew better than to get involved, but it was only because of the duke. She needed to take a breather before she did anything to make things worse.
Charles joined her in the hallway, touching her shoulder to slow her progress towards the door.
"Take it easy." He murmured.
Anne growled and took a deep breath. She didn't want to ruin Charles' party for him.
"As long as he doesn't talk I'll be fine."
Charles grunted.
"Great. This is going to be one long evening."
Anne had a feeling he was right.
***
Duke Cheswick couldn't take his eyes off Anne. Petite with dark brown curls and the bluest eyes he had ever seen. Curves in all the right places and a graceful poise that none of the women in his society circle could possess naturally. She was lovely.
She was also immediately on the attack with him. William knew now he shouldn't have made that comment about Anne lacking common sense when it was clear she lacked nothing. Unfortunately, he sensed that now Anne was angry and wouldn't be accepting an apology from him for a while.
When they went to dinner and sat down before the starter came in, William made up his mind to try to earn Anne's good graces. He knew his charm could turn any woman around. But it didn't work. Throughout the starter and the first course, Anne barely looked at him. Then when she did, it was with a scowl. Her mother was immediately charmed by him and was hanging on every word he said, but the daughter looked like she wasn't listening to him at all.
William glanced at Charles, who sat at the other end of the table. Charles raised his eyebrows as he glanced at Anne, but Anne didn't acknowledge him either. William sighed. Sometimes it was best to leave things well enough alone. He had made the mess; it would be best to wait a while before he cleared it up.
"So, Will," Ian was cutting up his chicken. "Did you get to go to Rome? You mentioned something about it in your letters about wanting to go there and see the Vatican."
William tore his gaze away from Anne and focused on his cousin. Ian had been the one to suggest this dinner party despite what he was saying to everyone else, and it would be rude to ignore him.
"I did." He picked up his wine glass. "I stopped off for a few days on my way back from Athens. It was beautiful. Very scenic, and the people were lovely."
Mary Barclay sighed.
"I've always wanted to travel, but it's always very expensive." She looked at her husband, who sat beside her, focusing on his food. "I don't think we'd have the money to travel that far."
John coughed and flushed. William smiled.
"There's always adventure and travel closer to home, Mrs. Barclay. It's how to make it an adventure."
Mary grinned back.
"I like the sound of that."
"Careful, Your Grace," John warned, glancing at Mary affectionately. "You will be giving my wife some ideas."
Mary pouted, but her eyes were smiling when she looked at her husband. William liked the couple; they were nice people, and they had genuine affection towards each other. A lot of marriages William had encountered were arranged and seemed to have no warmth in them at all. William hoped to one day have a marriage like the Barclays and not one that lacked love.
He was in need of a wife, but he wouldn't marry for anything less.
"My apologies." He nodded at John. "I don't like to have a slow, safe life. It's better to spice it up a little. And that's what I did by traveling." He shrugged. "I had no responsibilities until my father died and that's when I came home. I had made the most of it before I took over the dukedom."
Then he risked another look at Anne, who was cutting her chicken into small pieces and putting them delicately into her mouth. It looked as if she was trying very hard to act like a lady. William wondered what she would be like when she was normally eating her dinner.
"What about you, Miss Barclay?" He asked. He looked at her over his glass. "Do you dream of adventure?"
Anne looked up. Her expression was cool, her eyes icy cold as she looked at him.
"I don't dream of anything, Your Grace." She said stiffly. "I'm a woman, remember? I'm not allowed to think or do anything in case people think I lack sensibilities."
"Anne, stop it!" Mary scolded.
William winced. He knew he had hit a raw nerve, but he hadn't realized how much.
"I'm sorry if I insulted you earlier, Miss Barclay. It was not my intention."
"No, it was." Anne put her cutlery down. "I did something out of character and not within the realms of society, and I deserve to be chastised for it." She stood, putting her napkin on the table. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get some air."
Everyone was staring as Anne left the room. Ian exchanged glances with Charles, who shook his head. Mary stood as if to follow her daughter, but John laid a hand on her arm.
"Don't. Let her go."
William looked at Charles, who shrugged. He was at a loss. William grunted and sipped at his wine.
There was one adventure that always boggled the mind as far as he was concerned. And that involved women. You could never get anything right in their eyes.
Chapter 4
The Perfect Woman
Anne felt embarrassed for what happened at dinner. She wasn't normally that unkind to anyone, but Duke Cheswick had put her back up. In any normal situation, she wouldn't be breathing the same air as him; dukes did not walk in the same circles as her family. But they were in the same room, and Anne was going to have to deal with it.
Taking a few moments terrace Anne went into the dining hall, apologizing before sitting down and going through the motions. When they finished, and the men retired into the library, Ann
e and Mary went with them. Since it was just the two of them, there wasn't any point in sitting alone.
The after-dinner socializing was awkward for Anne, to say the least. William kept looking at her and tried to approach her, but Anne made excuses and kept her distance. She was still angry and didn't want to be confronted with what had happened between them. William seemed to sense that and stayed away after a few attempts to talk to her. Mary didn't say anything, but her body language said she would be having a few words with Anne when they got home.
Anne wasn't looking forward to that.
The end of the evening couldn't come quickly enough. Since Mary and John had come in their two-seater carriage, there wasn't enough room for Anne. Charles offered to take Anne home in his coach. Anne didn't want company, but she did want to apologize to her old friend for her behavior.
Charles helped her into the carriage and signaled for the driver to go as he climbed in. Anne sat back and sighed.
"I'm sorry for being so rude, Charles. I'm not normally a rude person."
"I know you're not." Charles gave him a bemused look. "It takes a lot for someone to rub you the wrong way."
"And the Duke of Cheswick certainly did that." Anne looked down at her hands, which was clenching into fists. It was some time after that slight, and she was still angry. "That..."
"Steady, Anne." Charles leaned forward and put his hands over hers. "Don't lose your ladylike status just yet."
In spite of herself, Anne found herself laughing. Charles could always manage to do that to her, even in her lowest moments.
She pulled her hands away.
"I'm sorry for ruining the evening."
"It was...entertaining."
"Thanks for being so nice." Anne looked out at the window, watching the shadowed trees go by. "I've just never met someone as arrogant as that man before."
"I didn't think he was arrogant."
"Well, he's your friend. You wouldn't think so."
Charles chuckled. He sat back.
"I think you're more upset because he called you out on something you do every day."
"I'm that transparent, huh?"
"I'm afraid so." Charles drummed a tune on his knee with his fingers. "Anne, Will isn't really that bad."
"Sure."
"He really is a good man. He just hides behind a facade because he tries too hard to get people to like him. And at that level of society, that is a big thing for everyone." Charles grinned, his eyes glinting. "I think he likes you."
Anne snorted. She didn't believe that for a minute.
"I can't imagine why."
"Don't knock it. You were moaning that no one seemed to be interested in you." Charles winked. "Well, you may have an admirer after all."
Anne didn't like the sound of that. Having a suitor was one thing, but when that suitor was a duke, everything had a different perspective.
And Anne wasn't sure if she could handle it.
***
"Did you get Anne Barclay home all right?" William asked.
"Yes, no problems there," Charles grinned. "She didn't go walking through wet grass this time."
William couldn't help but smile.
"Good."
It was after midnight, and both of them should have gone to bed a long time ago. But after the evening's events, both felt they needed to unwind first. William was sure he wouldn't be able to sleep for a while, either, not when he had Anne's image firmly in his mind.
Something about her had stuck with him. She was understandably upset and cold towards him, but there was something about her that William couldn't ignore. It called to him and drew him in. But that was dangerous. Lovely as she was, they weren't of the same social class. William was still a little rusty on things, but he knew marrying Anne or even contemplating anything with her would be frowned upon.
That was a shame; he could see Anne as a noblewoman. She would be perfect.
Charles looked over at his friend as they lounged on the settees in front of the fire. His jacket was off, and his cuffs and collar were undone. He grinned lazily.
"What did you think of her? She's quite something, isn't she, Anne?"
"She is." William wasn't going to deny anything in front of Charles. His friend was a very astute man and could somehow sniff out when someone was lying. "There's just enough bite to make her interesting but not too much so she's unattractive."
"I think that's her normally."
William chuckled.
"Why isn't she married by now? She's, what, twenty-two?"
"Twenty-three." Charles sighed. "Anne doesn't trust very well. She prefers people to see her as she is. She doesn't believe in putting on a face to please people."
William liked the sound of that. He always had to put on a mask to keep himself ingratiated with people of a social standing and it was tiring that he couldn't be himself. It must be refreshing.
"You admire her, don't you?" He asked.
Charles nodded.
"I do. If I weren't a confirmed bachelor, I'd be tipping my hat at her. I think we're better off as friends."
William was surprised when he felt relief at that. Somehow thinking about Charles as a competitor for Anne didn't sit well with him.
Then he realized he was thinking as Anne for courtship. William knew he wanted a wife, but everyone would expect him to find someone a bit higher up than Anne's level. However, he couldn't stop thinking that Anne was the one for him.
He leaned back and stared at the fire.
"I can see myself with a woman like Anne." He murmured.
"I'm sorry." Charles sat up, leaning forward as he cupped a hand to his ear. "What did you say?"
William rolled his eyes.
"You heard me, Charles. I don't need to repeat myself."
"I heard you. I just never expected you, of all people, to say it."
William grunted. Charles did have a point. Even if Anne was the perfect woman socially for him, how was he going to get back into her good books?
Charles brightened.
"How about planning a riding party here? We could have a picnic out in the countryside? Invite Anne along with some others; she knows this countryside better than anyone else. She would be the perfect guide."
William sat up. This sounded like a good idea. It would also be an opportunity for him to get her alone and apologize.
"Does she ride?"
"She does, and she's very good, but she doesn't own a horse. The Barclays aren't as well off as we are."
William grinned. A plan was already forming.
"I think I can sort that out."
Chapter 5
The Riding Party
Susan squealed and bounced in her seat.
"This is so exciting." She said in delight. "I can't believe we're going to a riding party with Charles and the Duke of Cheswick."
Anne couldn't help but laugh at her friend's excitement. She, however, couldn't feel it. While spending time with Charles would be good for both of them, Anne didn't like being near the duke. Especially not after what had transpired between them the week before.
Unfortunately, since that evening Anne hadn't been able to get the man out of her mind. She had spent several sleepless nights thinking about him. If he had been old and ugly, she wouldn't have had a problem. But he was young and handsome, very handsome, and that made things worse.
"It does feel a little surreal, I must admit." She said absently.
"Come on, Anne. You've spent some time with Charles recently. I haven't seen him in months." Susan sat back and smiled wistfully out the window. "It would be nice to see him again."
Anne couldn't help but laugh. Susan had always had a slight fancy for Charles since they were children. Even when she was married that fancy hadn't died away. Anne was sure Susan's husband had known, and that had resulted in several arguments. Now Susan was a widow, and Charles was a bachelor, she was seeing him differently.
"So shall I make sure we get lost so Charles can rescue you?"
She teased.
Susan gasped and shook her head.
"Don't be silly. I'm not interested in Charles like that." She hesitated and shook her head again, more to herself than to Anne. "I'm not."
"Well, now you've convinced yourself, would you like to try to convince me?"
Susan rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue. Anne laughed and sat back. Susan didn't seem to realize but her feelings were returned. Charles had been making eyes at Susan for a long time. However, he had confirmed himself as a bachelor, not willing to marry anytime soon, and he was refusing to change that status. Anne was sure with the right incentive he would marry Susan in a heartbeat, but both were reluctant to come out in the open about what was going on between them.
It was still amusing to see them dance around each other.
Their carriage, sent to them by Charles, pulled up in front of the house. Charles was on the steps waiting for them. He bounced down onto the gravel and opened the door for them, giving them a smile and a courtly bow.
"Ladies."
"Charles."
Susan took his outstretched hand and alighted from the carriage. They stared at each other for a little too long, Charles' hand still holding onto Susan's. Anne coughed, and they sprang apart, Susan's face going as red as her dress. Charles also went red and turned to Anne.
"Sorry, Anne."
"Quite all right." Anne jumped down and grinned up at his friend. "You're in a good mood, Charles."
"Well, I'm just glad you two are coming with us." Charles shrugged. "I enjoy William's company, but his friends are a little too stuffy for my liking. It'll be good to have some decent company."
"As long as you keep at the head of the group, you won't have a problem." Anne fell into step beside Charles as they made their way along the drive, Susan walking on Charles' other side. "Apparently, I'm going to be the guide."
"That was my idea. You know this place better than anyone else." Charles winked. "And William wants no one getting lost."
Anne had a feeling there was more to it, but she didn't say anything. She was just glad Susan had been invited along as well; having just Charles in the group might have been entertaining for her but also incredibly boring. Susan was just the person she needed for being stuck with a load of upper-class snobs.
Regency Romances Page 3