Page 14 of Three Rules to Wed a Duke

Or to her reputation!Frances thought, though she dared not say such a thing.

The friends went in separation directions to begin their inconspicuous search. Frances took Agnes’ words to heart and went directly towards the terrace doors, slipping past the couples who strolled under the watchful attention of severalmatrons who’d been positioned outside for just such a purpose. She made her way down the stone steps that led to the garden and kept to the shadows, hoping against hope that her effort proved useless.

It was not to be.

Ahead of her, deep into the shadowy part of the garden that wasn’t illuminated by the half-moon hanging overhead, Frances made out two figures. Her heart sank with the certainty that this could be none other than Juliet, though she continued to hope that it was not. She crept forward as silently as her slippers allowed lest she accidentally come upon two people who were none of her concern. With each careful tiptoeing step, she felt the gravel beneath her feet shift, wincing with every crunch of stone.

As she got closer, Frances heard their murmuring voices as they spoke softly to each other. It would have been endearing if not so dangerous, as their muddled words seemed to have so much meaning behind them. She felt like the worst sort of spy, the kind that intrudes on someone’s life and steals what wasn’t meant to be known by others. Still, this could not be allowed to continue.

Frances turned around so that she wasn’t facing them and cleared her throat. The scrambling of feet against gravel told her they were now aware of her presence.

“Who’s there?” a man’s voice called out, his voice on edge.

“Oh, no one important. Just her chaperone, ensuring that there’s no cause for any gossipers to tell their tales,” Frances called back lightly.

“Frances? Is that you?” Juliet asked.

“Of course, it’s me. But I suppose I should be wondering why it’syouout here.”

Frances turned around in time to see a young man dart off into the shadows and disappear, the tall hedges trembling where he must have slipped through them.

It shouldn’t be hard to figure out who he was, she thought good-naturedly.I shall only have to look for the man with the torn coat and twigs in his hair.

“Are you going to tell Mother?” Juliet asked tearfully, coming closer and looking up at Frances with the most sorrowful expression.

“That depends. Do you intend to do something so untoward as to sneak off unchaperoned with a strange man ever again?” she asked, trying to sound gentle.

“He’s not some strange man. I… I’m in love with him!”

“Now Juliet, how can you possibly believe you are in love with someone? This is only our second event of the Season, remember?”

“No, you don’t understand,” her cousin protested, shaking her head. “I mean, I’ve been in love with him for nearly a year now.”

“A year? Good heavens! After all that time, why, you could have been happily married already! If he’d only brought his suit to Uncle Josias, why then—”

Frances stopped. It all made sense. Juliet hardly protesting when Frances was permitted to wear her gowns, barely joining in when Lady Hutchings cajoled her, claiming that Frances had kept all the worthy gentlemen for herself and no one had spoken to her or danced with her…

“I see,” Frances said quietly, her heart aching for the girl and her wholly unsuitable love interest. “Who is he?”

“You wouldn’t know him,” Juliet answered quietly. At the stern look of reproach on Frances’ face, she reluctantly said, “His father is the butcher who sells us the meat for the house. We met when he would make deliveries to the house. But Frances, you must believe me! Thomas is working very hard and his father even permits him to study. He intends to become a clerk and then solicitor someday. He could even be a solicitor for some wealthy nobleman, or even a steward over someone’s entire estate. He has it all planned out, and he works so very hard. I know he will succeed!”

“Juliet, I am not the one who requires convincing,” Frances said as tenderly as she could.

“I know,” her cousin answered, her face crumpling with heartache. “But I love him so much! I don’t want any of these gentlemen in that grand house there! I want the man who adores me, who sees me and not my father’s money. I want Thomas, for he knows what it means to care about something and do whatever it takes to have it!”

“Oh, this is quite the dilemma… for now, I should think you mustn’t say anything, least of all to your mother.”

“Does that mean,” Juliet began, though she stopped to look up at Frances with new understanding. “You mean you don’t intend to tell her?”

“No, I do not. It’s none of my business,” Frances said before giving her cousin a sly grin.

“Frances, I don’t know what to say. We’ve been horrid to you. I—I’ve been horrid to you! I don’t deserve your kindness after how little regard I’ve shown you,” Juliet said, genuine tears of sincere remorse slipping down her cheeks.

“Well, I would appreciate a touch more kindness from you in exchange for my secrecy,” Frances teased. “But we must have a serious talk about what you intend to do, as well as what you may have already done.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I don’t know of a more polite or gentle way to put this, so I must be uncomfortably straightforward. You must think of your circumstances and your reputation. Have you permitted this Mr. Thomas to take any liberties with you?”

---