Page 5 of Denying a Rakish Duke
Joseph lifted a brow in feigned affront. “Oh, we shall not wish for that at all.” The Duchess shifted her cane and hit her grandson right in his shins for speaking that way to her. Joseph laughed and hissed in discomfort as he moved out of striking range. “All right! I apologize. You have the nerve to callmethe one without manners!”
Despite their cruel sounding words and the harsh language that they sometimes used when speaking to one another, Joseph was very fond of his grandmother. He was not fond of the prospect of a lifelong commitment to a woman who he might not even find attractive, however. The Dowager was of the opinion that he had gallivanted enough; he had spent more than enough time out and about in the world, and she was eager to see him fulfilling her version of what his destiny ought to be.
It just happened to be something very different than his own definition. He insisted that he was merely sampling everything that life had to offer and sowing his wild oats. She, however, protested that he had already sown enough of his oats and needed to let them prosper and grow in the marriage bed instead.
“We will be having tea with Lady Martin and her daughters this afternoon, and you will be there with a smile on your face,” the Dowager informed her grandson.
“The entire Martin family is insipid. Could you at least find us somebody from old money to converse with? They always have the best stories. The older the better, I would love to listen to a sordid tale of debauchery … something with adventures perhaps?” He was of the mind that if he had to endure tea with people that he did not enjoy, then at least he should be allowed to enrich his mind with stories that he could pretend to live vicariously through.
“None of that. We will speak of every droll thing that you can imagine, and you will enjoy it. Now, come and join me for lunch so that we might discuss all of the other ways that I can torture you.”
“Absolutely not; I will not allow you to manipulate every moment of my day.” Joseph had a plan for his day. Granted, he had not planned on starting this early. Originally, he would have liked to enjoy a parting romp with Margot’s slender waist and full hips, but things had already been derailed, so he would adjust. Tea with the Martins was not going to fit into that adjustment.
“Send them my best regards, and make up whatever story you like. Tell them I have gout for all I care. I will be at the ball this evening like your prized pony and not a moment sooner.” He pushed his fingers through his hair until it sat the way that he liked and splashed clean water over his face.
The Dowager paused near the door. “Very well, then I shall tell you the final piece of my requirements.”
“Well, out with it.” Joseph folded his arms across his chest and waited. He was fully prepared to tell her no on whatever she was about to voice. He had been accommodating to her desires thus far, but if she continued to press things, then he would be in danger of losing his temper with her. Of all people, he did not wish to lose his temper with his grandmother. However, being appointed the Duke was the only good thing that he felt had ever come out of his childhood. This was an opportunity to provide himself with all of the finer things in life. He was finally able to do as he pleased, and he no longer had to apologize for it. Certainly, he might run away with himself at times, but he did not have to feel poorly about that either. Not anymore.
The Dowager, his grandmother, had always been the only positive light in his miserable youth, and he had chosen to spend all of the rest of his years making up for the happiness that had been absent from his life. It just so happened that he found himself the most happy while indulging in the comforts of the opposite sex.
“Last night was the last evening that you will be spending with your mistresses until you have wed, and I have a great-grandchild on the way.”
Now, he really was quite cross. “You overstep your bounds, Dowager Duchess Willow!” The Dowager was not in the slightest bit intimidated. She stepped closer to her grandson with an unflinchingly serious expression.
“Through the duration of tea, I will make it perfectly clear to Lady Martin and her daughters that you are intending to select only the finest flower from the bouquet of the marriage mart. They, being the salacious gossips that they are, shall spread this information across theton. You shall have your pick of the eligible ladies. Should none of the ones at tonight’s ball be of your liking, I will simply hold another and another until you dance your arrogant feet right from your body. You shall be so thoroughly exhausted by the time that you have done all of the things that I will plan for you that you shall be of no use for any mistress anyway.”
“You would not dare,” Joseph gasped with mock affront and found himself a little bit intimidated by the prospect she presented.
“Do you wish to find out?”
He studied her expression carefully. She would not be moved on this, and he knew that she meant every bit of what she threatened. “No, I do not.”
“Then you agree.” The Dowager Duchess rose to as much of her height as she could manage and squared her shoulders. Despite being much smaller in stature than her grandson, somehow, she could still manage to make him feel intimidated and small. “You will not see your mistresses again until I am content that your future wife is heavy with child.”
“I do.” Joseph already hated this idea. He had not been abstinent in … well he was not certain just how long it had been. This entire endeavor was going to be terribly uncomfortable. Perhaps, if he was lucky, some of the ladies that he would meet tonight would have very light skirts. Fortunately for him, he did believe himself to possess more than his share of luck. “For now, anyway, I shall agree to your terms.”
ChapterFour
“Absolutely not him, no,” Vanessa spoke over the brim of her crystal wine goblet. To her side, Amanda watched the gentleman that they were discussing give her a longing glance and pass the sisters by.
The women watched a young dandy with round hips and narrow shoulders saunter past them. He seemed to have a very sickly countenance. The tip of his nose was red and bulbous.
“What was so wrong with him, Sister?” Amanda spoke softly so as not to attract attention to them. Vanessa looked at her as if she could not possibly be serious as to consider the man in question. Amanda was too kind of a soul for her own good. She refused to consider appearance whenever speaking about others. Perhaps Vanessa should strive to be more like her sister. Yet, instead of insisting, she spoke about the sickly looking man’s vile character.
“I have it on good authority that he detests dogs. Penelope claims that her lady’s maid witnessed the lout kicking a poor dear on the street because the mutt was sniffing the ground too close to him. It is unclear if it is cowardice or allergy, but neither will do. I cannot respect a man that does not treat animals with kindness, and neither should you.” Vanessa narrowed her gaze as she shifted her weight onto one leg. It was not proper, but she was long past caring about such things. She knew that none of the men in this room were looking at her. Even if they did, it was only a fleeting glance on their perusal to their true intended target, Amanda.
“That is horrid!” Amanda agreed, wholly offended. “I do not think that I should much like to spend my time with anybody who would mistreat my beloved Mimzy.” Vanessa smiled at the mention of the small white puppy that Amanda had been gifted last week by one of her suitors following the first ball of the Season. The young gentleman was overly smitten with Amanda though the poor soul could hardly speak to her without stammering with nerves.
“I never got the opportunity to ask you earlier, but I wanted to inquire if you had placed your intentions upon any lucky gentlemen yet?” Amanda looked surprised by the question and softly shook her head no.
“I have not made my mind up yet. There are so many things to consider, are there not? I dare say I should like to take my time in making such an important choice about my future, but it is so tempting to allow myself to be swept away in the pageantry of it all.” She smiled brightly. “Bridgette and Seraphina had so many struggles. I know that everybody has tried to keep everything from me, but I saw more than you think. I just keep thinking to myself how lovely all of this is, and how lucky I am to be so well-liked. Yet, I do not feel as if I know theheart and mindof anybody. What questions are best to ask? How shall I know if they are simply telling me what I wish to hear?” She grinned and continued, “Though I suppose that is half of the fun of it all!”
Amanda took a small sip of her lemonade, and Vanessa was struck for a moment. She watched her sister’s wide brown eyes watching the people that passed with genuine interest. Somehow, she had missed the moment when her sister turned from an obnoxious younger sibling into the fully-fledged woman standing beside her. Yet, it had happened, and she could no longer deny it. Emotion welled in Vanessa’s throat, and she swallowed to push it back down. She linked her free arm through her sister’s and leaned in to nudge her affectionately.
“I suppose so long as you ask as many questions as you feel are sufficient to learn who will make you the happiest, then I shall be happy with whichever gentleman that you choose! I cannot claim to be the very best judge of character, but I will do everything in my power to aid you to avoid the same struggles that we watched happen to our sisters before us.”
“And I adore you for it, Sister,” Amanda said brightly.
