Thawing A Duke's Heart (Faces of Love Series #1)

by Jessie Bennett

Elisabeth also sighed with relief at the end of such a heated discussion. She took his arm, bidding the Duke farewell, and the two made their way to the dance floor.

  Gaffton cleared his throat in attempt to say something more, but I stopped him before he could start. I was never one to hold my tongue when provoked and who knew what words would fly out of my mouth with the guile this man inspired within me. I quickly curtsied and made my excuse to leave. It may have been wrong to leave a Duke standing there with his mouth open, but I didn’t care.

  CHAPTER 4

  Friends Or Competition

  * * *

  The next day was very slow and weary as the house recovered from the evening’s festivities. I had settled myself into the library with a copy of Lady L.E.L.’s Secrets when Mother came in and sat on the chair next to me. I did my best to ignore her stares in my direction. I had already guessed by her disappointed silence at our late breakfast earlier that she was not happy with my lack of wooing the Marquess into marrying me on the spot.

  Finally, with a huff Mother rang the bell and called for tea. I continued to flip through the pages, though at this point I was no longer reading, just waiting for the storm to come.

  When the tea was poured, Mother started in on me. “Well, I don’t consider the evening a complete loss, but there are marked improvements you could make for your next meeting with Lord Dunlop.”

  I decided to stop her before she began her list. “Mother, I think Dunlop is a very nice gentleman, but last night, his interest was clearly elsewhere.” I hoped that if I turned the blame on him, Mother would leave me in peace.

  “Oh, Elisabeth,” Mother waved off my words impatiently. “Yes, she is very pretty to look at. Of course she would catch his eye at first. One might even say she planted herself beside you at the time of his entry just for that notice. However, you must not be discouraged. There is still hope for you yet.”

  “Mother, I’m not discouraged. If anything, I would be overjoyed if something did come of their night. Dunlop is a seemingly wonderful man, and I would wish nothing better for Elisabeth. I will not interfere with that.”

  “There is nothing there to be interfering with. A few dances doesn’t amount to something.”

  “No, but it is the beginning, and I would say by the way they were looking at each other that it is most certainly the start of something. Look, Mother,” I added with a deep sigh. “I did as you asked. He just isn’t the one for me.”

  I closed my book and put it back on the shelf. I touched the soft leather binding one last time, as if saying goodbye to a friend. It was worn with time and feathery to the touch. I turned back to face my mother. She was giving me a very sour look.

  “All this nonsense of the one or love is just utterly ridiculous, and I won’t stand to have it spoken in my presence again,” Mother retorted sharply.

  “I need to go, I don't want to be late.”

  “Late for what?” Mother asked, clearly not done with her reprimand.

  “I have promised to visit Elisabeth for tea,” I lied through my teeth. Anything to get me out of this house and away from her wrath.

  “She is your enemy now,” Mother said, setting her tea down with a clang.

  “Oh, don’t be ridiculous,” I laughed. She may have guilt tripped me into giving this season a proper effort, but she wasn’t going to keep me from one of my few dearest friends.

  “You are going to change first, right?” Mother asked.

  She always seemed to poke at me one way or another when she saw that she would be losing a battle. Either it would be my dress, my hair, or something that needed to be repaired in some fashion or another. I knew what she was referring to, because I was still in my light cotton morning dress. I decided to let her win this one, and made my way upstairs before escaping the house.

  Thirty minutes later, I was walking down the street, Josie walking behind, as I made my way to Elisabeth’s house. I had chosen my light green walking dress. Mother hated it. She said that particular shade of green made my skin look sickly. It was a small victory. I may have changed for her, but I would not do so in a way she deemed satisfactory.

  I had just made it to the front gate of Elisabeth’s house when she came strolling out herself.

  “Mary, what are you doing here?” she exclaimed with a genuine smile.

  “I know I didn’t send a note ahead or anything, and I guess I should have told you I was coming. I just had to get away from my mother. I thought we could have tea together.”

  “I’m sorry, I wish I could, but I am actually on my way to meet Lord Dunlop,” Elisabeth said, doing her best to hide her glowing excitement.

  “Are you now?” I nudged, adding to her joy.

  “Yes, he sent me a note this morning asking me to come to tea at his place.”

  “How perfectly lovely,” I said happily. “I am truly happy for you.”

  “Are you?” she asked with concern. “I know your mother was particularly pushy about him and this season for you. I hate to think that I am just making things more difficult for you.”

  “Of course I am! Don’t worry about Mother. I could marry the King and she would still find some fault in me.”

  “Actually,” Elisabeth said, hooking her arm through mine as she exited her front gate. “I think you should come with me.”

  “I’m not going to go to your invitation,” I gasped as she began to pull me down the street unwillingly.

  “Now hear me out. It would appease your mother. You wouldn’t even have to tell her that I was there.”

  “But you are, and it would be very strange.”

  “Well, it’s going to be strange already,” she mumbled under her breath. I looked at her inquisitively. “Dunlop informed me, apologetically, that the Duke would be joining us for tea. So this way, it won’t be too awkward, because there will be four of us and not three.”

  “I think I would much rather it just be the three of us and awkward than to have to make conversation with His Grace again,” I muttered under my breath.

  I followed her along the street anyway, to Lord Cadwell’s residence for tea. At least it would appease Mother a bit. However, now she would truly throw a fit over the color of my dress.

  CHAPTER 5

  An Unusual Spark Of Interest

  * * *

  “Now isn’t this just lovely,” Dunlop said as we all sat out in his garden sipping our tea. “We have been so fortunate to have such wonderful weather this spring.”

  “Yes, I am sure it has done wonders for Elisabeth’s garden,” I encouraged.

  Dunlop happily took the bait. “Do you garden then?”

  “I do,” Elisabeth said with a small smile. “I enjoy growing roses the most. I cannot say that I am especially proficient at it, but I do enjoy it. I probably spend too much time outside, in my older brother’s opinion, anyway.”

  “Elisabeth is being far too modest,” I chimed in. I didn’t know why, but I was so drunk on the obvious attraction between the two of them that I was willing to do anything to help it along if possible. I may not have been the one to win Dunlop’s heart, but I was going to prove that finding love was a real possibility. The two of them would be my proof of that. “Do you know, her garden is so fragrant with roses that by mid-spring you can smell them even before entering her front gate?”

  “They sound wonderful. I would be honored if you would allow me to come see them some time,” Dunlop said.

  Elisabeth merely blushed and shook her head in agreement. I, on the other hand, was doing my best to keep my joy from bursting out of me. I wanted to jump up and down, clapping my hands for them.

  All happiness was squandered by the clearing of the Duke’s throat. “Perhaps a public garden would be more appropriate.”

  “I suppose you are right,” Dunlop said as if speaking to a father figure, with a roll of his eyes and grumble. “Though not Hyde. It is far too busy of a place to enjoy some pristine foliage. Perhaps Regent Park. They have opened it to the public
on Tuesdays and Saturdays.”

  “That sounds lovely,” I encouraged. I was disappointed that Gaffton had foiled any tete-a-tete time they might have. He seemed determined not to allow Dunlop to be alone with anyone. “I don't think either of us have ever been.”

  Elisabeth nodded her agreement. “You could bring your Clarisse, too,” she nudged to me.

  “Who is this Clarisse?” Dunlop asked.

  “She is my dog. I am not exactly sure how to explain her breed. Her parents were of two different pedigrees. She is the sweetest girl. Though I don’t take her to parks anymore,” I said the last as a reprimand to Elisabeth for bringing it up. She knew very well why Clarisse wasn’t allowed to go to parks for walks.

  “Why ever not?” the Duke asked inquisitively. I was a little taken aback at his interest. He was leaning forward, fixating on me with his green eyes again.

  “Since the incident,” Elisabeth chimed in as she stifled a giggle.

  “Oh, we must hear of this,” Dunlop insisted.

  “Well,” I started. “To be fair, she was only a puppy at the time. It was back at our country house. Elisabeth had come for a visit, and we took Clarisse on a walk through the country.”

  “Tell him why,” Elisabeth nudged. “That’s the best part.”

  “Well, we had heard a rumor that there was to be a duel. Neither of us had ever seen one. We evaded our maids and snuck out. We surmised that it was alright because we had Clarisse for protection.”

  “A pup, you say?” Gaffton said with a lifted brow.

  “I didn’t say it was a very smart idea,” I retorted.

  “We don’t seem to have many of those when we are together,” Elisabeth giggled.

  “In my defense, she is the daughter of a well-known bull baiting and hunting dog. So in theory, she is a very good companion.”

  “And she more than proved herself that day,” Elisabeth added.

  “Oh, I am dying to know now what happened. It sounds like the two of you are quite the hoydens. Evading maids and going to a duel? Tsk, tsk,” Dunlop encouraged.

  “It is all Mary,” Elisabeth gave me up. “She has always found ways to get into mischief and rope me into it.”

  “Well,” I said, ignoring Elisabeth’s omission. “It was a very long walk to the secluded park where the duel was to be held,” I continued. I tried my hardest to ignore the fact that I now had the Duke’s full attention. He had gone from a questioning raise of his eyebrow to an inquisitive smirk. “We got there just as the duel began. The men had chosen pistols. When they were fired, Clarisse went wild. Mind you, she is not a dog that moves very fast. She has very short legs, like her pug mother. Neither man had been injured in the firing of the weapons, but Clarisse took it upon herself to attack the gentleman nearest us. I don't think I have ever seen her move so fast,” I said.

  “Poor William ran for the hills as fast as he could,” Elisabeth interrupted, doing her best to hide her amusement. “We never saw him return, but when Clarisse did,” Elisabeth couldn’t go on because she was so full of laughter. She finally took a deep breath. “In her mouth was a portion of William’s pantaloons.”

  All three of us had a good laugh at the thought, and I even saw a gruff laugh escape Gaffton’s lips.

  “Mary’s mother was quite certain that William was the match for her,” Elisabeth continued. “But Clarisse apparently didn’t agree. I don't think Lady Withington has forgiven that poor mutt since.”

  “I am sure you were disappointed also at the loss of a beau,” Gaffton said in my direction. He was watching me, gauging my answer. It was strange that he would be interested in me having a beau.

  “No, it wasn’t like that between us,” I shook my head. One of my brown curls fell out from my loosely done hair and I brushed it back. “He was a good friend, that’s all. Mother wished for more, but he wasn’t…” I trailed off for a moment. I didn’t want to say what I had thought. He wasn’t the one. That one true love I knew had to be out there for me if I just waited long enough. I was positive that Gaffton would only make fun of more romantic notions after his reaction to my favorite reading last night.

  “Wasn’t what?” He prodded me. Butterflies flopped in my stomach at the intensity of his gaze.

  “The one,” Elisabeth finished for me.

  I shot her a heated look. She shook her head as if she had no idea what I meant by it.

  “Please don’t tell me that along with all those ridiculous books you claim to read, you actually believe all that horrid smut that is written in them?” the Duke said in a scoffing tone.

  I didn’t like being challenged that way. I held my head a little higher. “I wholeheartedly do, Your Grace. How could there possibly be so much written of love if it was not in fact a real thing?”

  “There are also stories of fairies and trolls, do you believe in them?” He spoke down to me, as if I were a child. I wanted to slap that smug grin off of his face.

  “Of course not, I am not irrational.” He sat back in satisfaction, which was even more irritating. I wasn’t going to let him win. “You are telling me, Your Grace, that in all of your years, you have never once felt it, or seen others experience love?”

  “Not like those silly books of yours. It is my experience that no matter the situation, love is never felt the same in one coupling. Either one loves and the other seeks some sort of monetary or carnal satisfaction or it is all a fabrication of lust. Love is as real as fairies and trolls.” He said this with a noted bitterness.

  “Well, I agree with you, Mary, one hundred percent,” Dunlop chimed in innocently.

  “Oh, what do you know of it?” Gaffton retorted dryly.

  “I may not have had experience in love yet,” he said this last part looking at Elisabeth. “But I have hope that it will be found for me one day. I wish it also for you, Lady Mary.”

  I thanked him kindly. Gaffton may have been incorrigibly rude, but I was glad to have come to tea today. Dunlop was such a wonderful gentleman. I wished above all wishes that Elisabeth and he would continue to develop this attraction between them, and that this would be the love he had hoped for and she certainly deserved. He was someone I could see being great friends with eventually. Visiting them at their country home, the three of us enjoying each other’s company. Lastly, because I could rub their mutual love for each other into Gaffton’s self-satisfied face!

  The conversation was turned to more civilities, including planning a trip to the park later that week. Thankfully, the Duke sat back in his seat, having lost all interest apparently. He settled on sipping his tea while the three of us continued with an enjoyable afternoon.

  CHAPTER 6

  A Plan Is Hatched

  * * *

  A few days later, I was sitting alongside Elisabeth in her carriage as we made our way to Regent Park. Clarisse, whom Dunlop had insisted I bring with me, was snoozing on our hems. Elisabeth had seen Dunlop every day since their first meeting. First, it was tea, then a ride in Hyde Park that same evening and the following, then a picnic lunch. Though they had been allowed to ride through the park on their own, the Duke had insisted on coming to the picnic lunch. Therefore, I had to come along too. I told Elisabeth rather reluctantly that I would be willing to entertain and distract the Duke only because she was such a dear friend of mine. In addition, I made her promise that her firstborn daughter would be named after me.

  The picnic with the Duke wasn’t as horrid as I had expected it would be. I was finding moments when I almost warmed up to the Duke. Mostly, it was because we were stuck together any chance I could get Dunlop and Elisabeth alone. It hadn’t been too bad though. I had even found myself enjoying our conversation as the picnic lunch came to an end.

  He had been sharing stories he had heard of our fathers. Apparently, they were quite the troublemakers together. Much like Elisabeth and I, I supposed. I had never seen his face so animated and alive than the way it was when he spoke of his father. It was easy to see that he respected and admired him very
much. He had even smiled twice. I couldn’t believe how glorious of a thing it was to behold. He still, of course, had all his sharp features when he smiled, his square jaw and long nose. However, his green eyes, which always seemed to be glaring in disappointment, almost glinted. It was like light reflecting off of a green field. Both seemed so completely impossible and beautiful at the same time.

  He had also been warming up to Dunlop and Elisabeth spending time together. It was clear to the ton that the two of them only had eyes for each other. I knew in my heart that it would only be a few more weeks until their engagement from the road they were heading down at present. I don’t know if Gaffton was just succumbing to the inevitable or if he truly was befriending Elisabeth, but he didn’t seem to mind allowing them time alone.

  We arrived at the park and were helped down by Dunlop. Duke Gaffton, of course, greeted us stiffly and formally. I was also getting used to his very rigid and proper manner. This was why all of our mouths dropped open when Clarisse lumbered out of the carriage behind us. Gaffton dropped to his knees and called her to him.

  She sniffed him tentatively before wagging her tail and making her way toward him. Now when I say tail, I use this term very loosely. Clarisse had a small corkscrew that lay tightly on her behind so that when she wagged, she tended to wiggle the entirety of the back half of her body.

  “What a good girl you are,” Gaffton cooed as he scratched and petted her all over. “Though you are quite an ugly thing. I suppose you are the reason breeds shouldn’t be mixed. You look to have gotten the worst of both parents. A huge head and short fat legs. It is kind of charming in a way, though.”

  We all stood stunned as Gaffton continued to coo and pet while Clarisse snorted and wiggled in excitement. He was practically sitting on the ground now, letting her crawl into his lap. He gave out a laugh when she kissed him on his cheek.