Page 12 of Three Rules to Wed a Duke

“Oh. I’m sorry. I simply told him no, and that was the end of that.”

“You told him no? What on earth for?” Emma cried, looking horrified.

“Emma, you cannot be serious. What sort of person—a normal person, at least—proposes marriage to a complete stranger after meeting them one time and dancing precisely once?”

“Who cares? You could have had your entire future secured!”

“Or I could have shackled myself for all eternity to someone who is not quite right in the head,” Frances said, tapping her finger against her temple. “At the very least, he has no concept of good manners or the proper way of doing things, and that isn’t someone I need to be married to.”

I would take Aunt Bridget’s advice and become a governess first, she thought, though she didn’t say it.

Emma was still utterly flabbergasted. She stared down at the grass all around them and appeared to be lost in thought, clearly weighing Frances’ circumstances.

“Are you going to say anything?” Frances finally asked, throwing up her hands.

“What’s there to say? I’m just trying to imagine what it must be like to be so free that you can refuse such an offer. My father would turn me out in the street if a duke had proposed marriage and I’d simply said, ‘No, thank you, Your Grace.’ My mother would never speak to me again!”

“That breaks my heart, Emma. You deserve better than to be thought of so little. We both do,” Frances assured her, standing up and brushing off the skirts of her gown. As she strode towards the park’s meandering path, Emma chased after her.

“Frannie! Come back. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings!”

Frances stopped and looked back at her, her shoulders sagging slightly in defeat. Why must their lives revolve around husbands and fortunes? Did these concerns cause everyone to go mad, or just those people who were closest to her?

“It’s all right, Emma. You didn’t mean anything by it, and I certainly didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I just… I’m merely fighting to keep from feeling lost.”

“How do you mean?” Emma asked, placing her hand through the crook of Frances’ elbow once more and walking beside her.

“Why can we not simply enjoy ourselves this Season? We’ve spent years practically locked away in a convent to the barren north. I wish to meet interesting people and see so many new things. I want to go to parties and dance and laugh and make new friends—no, no one will replace you and Aggie—and notworry constantly about this mythical future that’s hanging over my head. Is that too much to ask?”

Emma thought over her reply, something Frances knew she always did when she was seriously having to consider something that she’d never thought of. At last, she answered by laughing uproariously.

“I agree! We shall both just enjoy ourselves this Season without fretting over it. We shall force Agnes to simply have fun, too. It will be glorious, all thanks to you!”

CHAPTER 5

It shouldn’t have come as any surprise to Frances, but it still stung when Lady Hutchings announced that she would not be attending Lord Dartmouth’s ball the following week. Instead, Frances would attend as Juliet’s chaperone.

“Me? I’m but nineteen myself. Won’t everyone whisper about how you’ve sent two eligible young ladies out to a social occasion unattended?” she asked, confused by the decision.

“Not at all. You will be attending as her companion, not as a guest of Lord Dartmouth,” her aunt replied with a satisfied smile.

“I see,” Frances answered evenly.

So that’s how she intends to play her hand, she thought, turning her eyes back to her book even if her attention was still on this new development. I’m just to go in her place and stand againsta wall.No dancing, no strolls on the terrace to take in the cool evening air, no chatting with friends and any gentlemen who may come up to speak to us… just watch over Juliet and keep to the shadows.

“It’s the least you can do, you know,” Lady Hutchings snapped. “After all we’ve done for you, I would have hoped you would care about Juliet’s future just a little bit.”

“And what of my future?” she retorted, looking up at her aunt and trying to keep her tone civil. “Am I to live here with you forever?”

“Oh, don’t be silly. We would never allow that,” Lady Hutchings said in a frosty voice.

Frances froze. They intended to turn her out once Juliet was safely wed, she was sure of it. They would never do it beforehand for the scandal could come back on their daughter, but she knew an uncomfortable truth—her days at Kleeton House were numbered. There was nothing to be done but do her duty by her aunt and uncle, then hope she found a position as a governess or teacher as soon as possible.

As she readied for the ball that evening, Sara did her best to lift Frances’ spirits, but there was nothing to be done. She helped Frances get ready, clucking her tongue sadly when she saw the gown that was laid out on the bed.

“This old thing? Pardon my sayin’ so, but shouldn’t you wear somethin’ finer to such an important ball?” Sara asked, picking up the simple-looking garment.

“I have no choice. I’m to wear my own things from now on and simply chaperone Juliet. It’s my aunt’s wishes,” Frances explained, trying not to show how sad she was.

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