Page 5 of The Lady Who Said No to the Duke
‘The swine,’ Hal said and received in return a dazzling smile that seemed to hit somewhere at the base of his spine.He crossed his legs and enquired, ‘Might one ask how he insulted you, Lady Thea?’
The smile vanished.‘He called me…a name.A nickname.I am sure he found it wildly amusing.I did not.’
‘I can only apologise on behalf of all of us who have been crass young males at some stage in our lives,’ Hal said, with what he was surprised to discover was genuine feeling.
‘Thank you, Mr Forrest.’That dangerous smile was back.
‘And what do you intend to do now, Thea?’their godmother asked.‘Presumably your cousin is expecting you and will inform your parents immediately when your carriage arrives without you.’
‘I must consider my options,’ Lady Thea said.‘I will write to Cousin Elizabeth and apologise for any inconvenience,of course, and I suppose I must write to my parents and tell them where I am.I have no desire to place you in a difficult position, dear Godmama.’
‘Just how did you make your escape if your own carriage has continued on to Harrogate, might I ask?’
Lady Thea turned back to answer Hal with what was perilously close to a grin.‘When we arrived in Grantham I pretended to be unwell and took rooms at the Angel for myself and Mama’s dresser who was accompanying me, telling her I needed to spend the day resting.
‘Then, as soon as I heard her settled in next door, I left the money for the rooms on the dressing table, went down with my valise and across the road to the George where I hired a post chaise, telling them that I wished to go to Melton Mowbray.Then I bribed the postilion to turn around once we were out of the town and go in the opposite direction to come here.’
‘He can probably be as easily bribed to say where he did take you,’ Hal said cynically.
‘Oh, I am sure he can be, but I only wanted to make sure I was not immediately followed.Maunday is not a woman of much initiative and I am sure she will have either gone on to Harrogate or back to London to seek instructions.In any case, I must let Mama and Papa know where I am.I do not wish to cause them any distress.Any more distress,’ she amended carefully.
‘Considerate of you,’ Hal said drily and received a reproachful look in return.He found he did not want to make those lovely hazel eyes become shadowed and sad again.
‘I do try to be,’ Lady Thea retorted.‘But this is my future, my entire life, at stake.I fail to see why I must passively accept whatever fate is decreed for me—this is thenineteenth century, Mr Forrest, not the Middle Ages.Why should I be unhappy for ever, just for the sake of a title?’
He opened his mouth to say something—he was not certain what—and she swept on.‘How wouldyoulike it?’
‘Men have their choices restricted too,’ Hal countered with some feeling.‘The son of the village blacksmith will find himself under considerable pressure to take on his father’s trade, likewise the son of a farmer, a banker or a lawyer.The heir to a title has no option but to accept the duties that go with that, and those include finding a bride of equal or near status.He cannot shrug and say he does not want those responsibilities or that he would rather marry a pretty dairymaid.’
Lady Thea produced a sound suspiciously close to a snort.‘Do not tell me that the son of the blacksmith or the lawyer would accept being forced into a marriage with a woman he did not like.And as for your aristocratic heir, he will pick and choose from the flock of sacrificial virgins paraded for him at Almack’s.’
‘Thea,dear,’ Lady Holme murmured.Hal suspected that she would be saying that a great deal in the near future.
‘I am sorry, Godmama.The gathering of well-bred young ladies of unimpeachable virtue pretending to enjoy the delights of the Season, I should have said,’ Lady Thea corrected amiably.
‘You find the Season unpleasant?’Hal queried.He had managed to avoid the London Season by going to Vienna, where he suspected the social environment was considerably freer and more enjoyable.
Again, there was that charming wrinkle of the nose.‘New gowns and all the balls and parties can be delightful, of course.But one cannot pick and choose, decide that tonight it is really far too much trouble to dress up and haveone’s hair twisted into uncomfortable arrangements and be dancing and smiling and watching every word and gesture until the small hours.
‘There are times when all one wants is to curl up with a good book, or ride shockingly fast in Hyde Park, and not have pins stuck into one by top-loftymodistesor spend the afternoon making careful conversation with young gentlemen who do not interest one in the slightest.
‘And,’ she added bitterly, ‘one is being scrutinised the entire time for the slightest slip.Too long behind the potted palms at Lady X’s ball with Lord Y?Shocking.Galloping one’s horse in Hyde Park?Outrageously fast.An evening gown that is not of the palest shade?Clearly one is on the slippery slope to ruin.’
‘But we gentlemen are stalked by predatory mamas on the hunt for suitable husbands for their daughters,’ he countered.‘We must be constantly on guard in case we find ourselves alone in the conservatory, or out on the terrace, with a young lady.We must learn the exceedingly delicate art of flirtation—just enough to bring a flattering glow to a young lady’s cheeks, but never anything that might be misconstrued as a declaration.’
‘Or you can practice the art on dashing young widows and fast young matrons with less restraint,’ Lady Thea said, with a teasing smile.
Now, she really would be amusing to flirt with.He must have betrayed that thought somehow, because she coloured, just a little, then batted her eyelashes at him, clearly intending to mock.It would take a great deal to subdue Thea Campion’s spirit.But why would anyone with any sense want to?
The door opened to admit the Lady Holme’s housekeeper.‘Lady Thea’s room is quite ready, my lady,’ she said, bobbing a curtsey.‘I have sent Jennie up.’
‘Excellent.Thank you, Mrs Bristow.Jennie is hoping to become a lady’s maid,’ their godmother explained to Lady Thea.‘She is already quite proficient with hair.Why not have a little rest before dinner, dear?And you can write your letters so they can be sent off first thing tomorrow.’
‘Thank you, I will do just as you suggest.’Lady Thea stood, obedient to instructions from her elders, like any well-behaved young lady.
Hal stood too, wondering just how out of character her rebellious flight had been.Lady Thea was certainly quick-witted and spirited, but was she also given to escapades and romps, despite that demure exterior?Was this truly the result of desperation or was her proposed husband well rid of a wilful romp?
He sat again as the door closed behind her and regarded his godmother with some suspicion.‘Just what are you about, Godmama?’
