She didn’t have to tell him that the person bearing the brunt of the gossip would be her. It was a given. Considering his status among society, the Duke was in no danger of being ostracized. He was simply too powerful. Sure, he would be shunned by some, and perhaps not invited to certain parties and events, but the Dukes of Gatterlen had historically been so influential, rich, and powerful they could do just about anything without risk of being cast out.
Scandal may rock his reputation, but he would recover. She, on the other hand, could not. If she was seen spending time with a man, and a client at that, and if there was any sort of hint of impropriety, she’d be ruined. She’d never recover.
“I would not allow you to be ruined, Miss Evans. Never.”
She smiled weakly and shook her head. “You cannot prevent something like that. I am a commoner, tasked with finding you a good match, which I have done. I will see that the courtship is a success and then move on with my life, as will you. I thank you for returning the locket. I will see you on Wednesday, when the Lady Frances will be with us to take in the animals here. Now, I must go and attended to my clients.”
She was about to leave when the Duke did something unheard of. He grabbed her wrist. Alexandra’s eyes grew wide as she whipped around, furious.
He does not listen to me at all. I just explained in great detail what would happen to me if we were seen together unaccompanied. And now, on top of it all, he touches me in such an inappropriate manner. In public? I have a mind to slap the arrogance out of him!
“Your Grace! Have you heard none of what I told you?”
“I have!” His voice rose. Realizing how loud he was getting he took a deep breath. “I have. I simply feel … it is not fair. I have no desire to spend time with Lady Frances. I know my duty. I know what I must do, but it feels wrong. Please …”
“We all must do things we do not find fair. You know this better than anyone, Your Grace.” She turned to leave. When she arrived at the steps, she looked back at him. He stood there, dejected; his gaze fixed upon her still. The candies were still in his hand. Alexandra wanted nothing more than to run back and embrace him, to tell him she felt things for him she never thought she could feel for anyone. Feelings she’d denied herself all her life. Yet, she could not. There was no future with him. No. She had to focus on keeping things professional, completing the courtship, and moving on. She would not end up like her mother. Love would not conquer her heart and make her vulnerable and weak. She would not wither away as her mother had for the love of a man.
Chapter 22
Maxwell knew she was right. She would indeed be ruined if word of his inappropriate affections for her was spread. Yet, he could not bring himself to do as she wished and keep away from her. He simply had to be smarter about it. He thought he had been, but his efforts were not enough to keep her feeling secure. His feelings for her were such that he knew he had to do all he could to make sure she was not at risk. Though he still needed to speak with her, be near her. Somehow.
To that end, the following Wednesday, Maxwell decided to arrive at the menagerie very early. He had already found that Lady Frances had a habit of tardiness, something he found highly unattractive, not just in a lady but in general. Lord Hendley had the same habit and it set up his bristles. Miss Evans, on the other hand, was early. Having realized this, Maxwell knew his chances of seeing Miss Evans at the menagerie were good. And he was correct.
Upon arriving, he found her at the cage of the lioness named Miss Fanny, their designated meeting spot. She was dressed in a lovely pale-yellow dress with a white spencer on top. Her hair was hidden beneath an old-fashioned bonnet with a yellow strap across the top. He felt a sudden pain in his stomach—nerves he was sure. Their last meeting here had gone so badly, he had suffered from sleepless nights ever since.
He’d awoken from a dream where he had inadvertently ruined her, where he had found her living in the cold streets in winter, starved and freezing all due to his doing. He would have thought this would make him more likely to stay away, however, the opposite was true. He longed for nothing but to protect her, to be her savior and build her up. To secure her future. Thoughts he never once had about Lady Frances.
He approached her with caution, for she was deep in thought.
“Miss Evans?”
She turned and looked at him, surprised to see him.
“Oh. Your Grace. You are early.”
There was something in her face, something he hadn’t seen before. Worry. She seemed withdrawn as though she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.
“What is the matter? Has something occurred?” He stopped himself. Was it their conversation from the other day that still bothered her so? “I do apologize for upsetting you.”
She shook her head and looked away. “It is not that. I am still rather perturbed about the manner in which we ended the conversation, but it is not why I feel unwell.” She paused, as if considering what to say next. “My good friend, Mr. Holmes, has taken ill. He has had a high fever that will not break, and I fear it may be consumption. It is what took my mother.”
“He is the jeweler who lives next door? The proprietor of Holmes Fine Jeweler? Is there any way that I can assist? Perhaps I can send my family doctor?”
She shook her head, absentmindedly.
“The same. And no. His brother sent a doctor already all the way from Oxford. He prescribed him medicines and rest. He is staying with him at present.”
“I can see how worried you are. If you would rather, we can postpone this outing. I can see if my mother or the Countess, Lady Frances’s mother, can chaperone us so you can attend to your friend.”
Alexandra shook her head and turned to him. Her honey-colored eyes were glazed over with tears.
“He would not want me to cancel my appointments on his account. In any case, the doctor is with him, and I need to see this courtship prosper.”
He could see how much the idea of this courtship not going forward meant to her. He was entirely conflicted about what to feel or what to do. He wanted to do what would please her, but what would please her would also take away his opportunities to see her. Once the courtship culminated in an offer to the Earl of Cladborough, they would no longer require her services and he’d never see her again. On this account alone he intended to stretch this courtship until it could be stretched no more.
“As you wish.” He paused for a moment. The Lady Frances would arrive in a little while, but he didn’t want the conversation with Miss Evans to end just yet.
“Has Mr. Holmes been your neighbor for some time then? Given how close you are?”
She turned around and walked a few steps toward a bench.
“Yes, he has lived next to us ever since I can remember. My mother said when my father died, he started helping her, carrying heavy things, moving furniture, and the like. All the things a husband does, Mr. Holmes did for her.”
The Duke nodded and scratched his chin. “Do you think he had taken a fancy to your mother and that is why?”
Alexandra laughed, covering her mouth.
“Oh, faith no! Never. He was too old for my mother even then. He is old enough to be my grandfather. Besides, he had a wife. She passed several years ago. She was somewhat cold to us, compared to him. I do not believe she liked him coming over and helping as much as he did.”
The Duke nodded. “Perhaps she felt it took away from her time with him.”
She shrugged. “I rather think he thought of my mother as his daughter and myself as his grandchild, for they had no children of their own, only some nieces and nephews by way of his brother.” She fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. “We both have no family. We are both alone in the world, aside from having each other. He hardly ever sees his brother due to the distance. When he passes, I shall have nobody.”
She seemed to say these things to herself more so than to him. Maxwell wasn’t even sure she still remembered that he was there, so was she removed from the world and l
ost in thought. He had the overwhelming urge to hold her, to put an arm around her, and provide comfort. But he knew he could never do so. Not in this setting, especially. Instead, he had to rely on his words for comfort.
“I am sorry to hear it. I understand well.” He sat beside her on the bench, leaving a respectable amount of space between them.
“Your Grace has a rather large family.”
“Large in numbers, not large in comfort. There is my mother, of course. She and my father had many children, but only my brother and myself are left. My other siblings died of one thing or another. It is my uncle, the Marquess of Penthall, who has a large family. Four sons and five daughters.” Her eyes grew wide. Even by regency standards, it was a large family.
“Oh my, I can see why your mother is so keen on having you wed and producing an heir. Although, should you fail to do so, your brother would surely carry on the line.”
Maxwell shifted in his seat. He was uncomfortable discussing Charlie. Still, it was easier to open up to her than anybody else he’d been around.
“Charlie would assume the title, yes. However, trust when I tell you that he would never be able to produce an heir. He is not like other people.”
The matchmaker’s eyes narrowed in question. Before she could ask, he continued.
“He was born unlike my other siblings. His mind never grew the way his body did. He appears to be a grown man, but he speaks and acts like a child. A precious and lovable child, but a child none-the-less.”
“I understand. If you were to pass on without an heir, the title would go to him, but upon his death...”
Maxwell nodded again, his eyes fixed on the chimpanzee in the pen across from him. He was sitting quite happily on a branch, snacking on an apple.
“The doctors forewarned us that Charlie would not live into adulthood. They are amazed that he is still alive. He is in fine health, perhaps because my mother dotes on him so. But you are right, if I pass without an heir, he will become Duke—though of course my mother would have to assume to responsibilities in his stead. Eventually, the entire estate, the title and everything, would pass to my uncle, Thomas. And then to his sons.”
Maxwell thought of his brother. Oh Charlie, if only you were well. If only you could be counted on to take on my role should I choose not to. Then I could do what I wanted, marry who I wanted.
“I often wish he could have the mind of an adult with the heart of a child. He is a kind, wonderful person. You will see when we all go to Hawthorne Hall for the hunt. If only his mind was that of a man his age, it would be so wonderful. I miss conversing with my father, and it would be nice to have someone who can share the memories with me. I often feel alone.”
“You have many friends, Your Grace,” she said and glanced at him.
“My only true friend is Lord Hendley. I am friendly with some of the other lords, but I would not call them friends. Lord Chatterley is perhaps my closest friend, aside from Lord Hendley. But even with them, I often hold back and do not share what I shared with my father.”
What I want to share with you. He looked at her longingly, wishing he could say the words out loud, but this was not the place. She folded her hands in her lap and gazed at the ground.
“I miss my mother. She was my closest friend, and I have none now. Only Mr. Holmes.”
Silence fell between them.
We are so alike, yet society keeps us from being together, and from exploring what could be.
Out of the blue, she turned to him.
“What do you mean, I shall meet your brother when we go to Hawthorne Hall?” Maxwell raised his eyebrows, then lowered them. She did not yet know.
“My mother and Lady Frances have decided to spend a long weekend at Hawthorne Hall, our country home. Two weekends from now. I had assumed Lady Frances would have informed you.”
Miss Evans shook her head. “A messenger came to my house yesterday, but I have not had a chance to read the notice because I was occupied with Mr. Holmes. I imagine the notice was from her, arranging the next outings.”
“I imagine so. You will enjoy Hawthorne Hall. The grounds are beautiful in summer.” He cleared his throat and reached into his coat pocket. Discreetly, he placed a box next between them.
“I intended to give these to Lady Frances, however, they were originally intended for you, and I want you to have them. Now. I shall leave post haste for Lady Frances will arrive any moment, and I do not wish to put you in an awkward position.”
He got up and walked away before she could reply. At the steps, he stopped for a moment and turned. A smile spread across his lips as he saw her hold the red box of licorice in her hands. She lifted the lid and her hand flew to her mouth as she realized what he’d presented her with. She looked up at him and mouthed ‘thank you’ before replacing the lid and tucking the box into her reticule.
Pleased and with an ease in his heart, he turned and ascended the staircase.
Chapter 23
Alexandra looked out of the carriage window at the passing landscape. It was so pretty out in the country this time of year. Now that spring was finally upon them, flowers bloomed and the fields were rich with the growing crops.
She hardly ever made it out of London. Her mother, along with Mr. Holmes and his wife, would occasionally take her out for day trips when she was a child, but it had been years since she’d had occasion to visit by herself simply for the pleasure of it.
These days, the only time she got to go out of the city was when her charges wanted to hold a house party at their country homes, like now. Though unlike the Duke of Gatterlen, many of her client’s country homes were too far away to warrant a short visit. Usually by the time her clients were ready to host a house party for their potential spouse and family, they were far along in their courtship and an offer had often already been made. At that stage, Alexandra’s services were no longer needed, and she’d excused herself from the match.
She had to admit, much as she disliked the Dowager Duchess, she thought the idea of inviting Lady Frances and her family to Hawthorne Hall was a good idea.
It would be a long weekend full of activity and the Duke would be forced to entertain and spend time with her. Perhaps being removed from the activity of London meant they would be able to connect with more ease.
Alexandra could only hope so, for she wanted to extract herself from the courtship as soon as possible.
Over the past two weeks, the Duke had made it a habit of arriving to their meetings early, long before Lady Frances. Alexandra was ashamed to admit she had given in to his ruse and often partaken in conversation with him. She could not help it; she enjoyed his company and she could no longer deny her growing feelings. It was for this reason as much as anything else that she needed this courtship to move beyond the cordial, polite manner it had been conducted in thus far.
I can only hope this weekend will mark the beginning of the end of my involvement with the Duke. I shall miss him and our talks, but it is for the best that we both move forward. He with his marriage to Lady Frances, and myself with my business. At least once this match is a success, I will be well on my way to being the number one matchmaker in London.
* * *
They passed through Woodbury, a small village just at the edge of the Duke’s Estate. She watched the villagers go about their business, lost in thought when Lady Frances addressed her.
“Do you imagine I should ask the Duke to take me on a tour of the Estate, or is he expected to offer it himself?”
Alexandra turned to look at the young woman. She was dressed in her carriage dress, made of white satin. On her fair head, she wore a matching cap of satin and tulle. Feathers in a striking blue color decorated it. She was, as always, the vision of a perfect society lady.
Her fresh face carried a hopeful expression which Alexandra had not seen before. She could tell that the young woman hoped this weekend would go just as well as Alexandra did. Though of course, for entirely different reasons.
“I
am certain the Duke will ask, Lady Frances. In any case, if he does not have the idea himself, I shall nudge him along. Fear not.”
The young woman nodded. “He has been somewhat more attentive on the last two occasions. Although I fear even if we were to wed, it will never be more than a convenient arrangement for him.”
“It may. It is for you as well, Lady Frances. Although these courtships sometimes end in a love match, they are more often than not simply, as you stated, a convenient arrangement.”
She sighed. “Faith, I must confess I had hoped to have it all. The security and the affection. Alas, it is not to be. I supposed I shall make the best of it, as my mother did. If only the Duke would make an offer...”
Perfectly Mismatched With The Duke (Historical Regency Romance) Page 14