Page 29 of The Truth about the Duke
Her heart began to sink as the Duke laughed at something Lady Ann said, realizing now that Lady Ann was deliberately attempting to secure the Duke’s attention solely for herself. Whilst Lydia was fully aware that it was precisely what every young lady might be expected to do given that it was the Duke that they spoke with, she could not help but feel the sting nonetheless.
She blinked, a little surprised to feel tears behind her eyes as the Duke leaned closer to Lady Ann, evidently appearing to forget that she had been present also. Lydia did not want to blame Lord Kendall for he was standing next to the Duke and further away from her and, given the way he was more than a little interested in Lady Miriam, it was easy enough to understand why he might forget she was present.
But the Duke?
Lydia blinked rapidly again, turning around and making her way from the small group, feeling as though she were slowly shrinking in stature. There was a heaviness in her heart that she could not fully explain, a sense that somehow, she was more than a little lesser than the other young ladies. Lady Ann had been a trifle spiteful in how she had responded in trying to pull the Duke away, that much was clear, but for the Duke to have been so easily pulled aside meant that, to Lydia’s mind, it was clear she was of no particular interest.
But do I want to be?Lydia frowned as she made her way to the side of the ballroom, choosing to hide in the shadows instead of going in search of her mother or Lady Markham. For the time being, she wanted to be alone, wanted to be entirely in solitude so she might work through her thoughts and feelings before returning to the ball. She had some dances still remaining to dance and she could not stand up with either gentleman when her mind was in such confusion, for she would make a dreadful dance partner, and thereafter, her mother would berate her dreadfully!
Why did it matter to her if the Duke did not think of her? Why should she give any consideration to the fact that he had turned away from her and forgotten that she too had a dance card? She had agreed to support him, to help him in his search for the heirlooms but that did not mean that their acquaintance had any special significance! Yes, it meant a great deal that he had not rejected her, given that she was a bluestocking, but she could not permit herself to think that this was the reason he had chosen to ignore her.
Could she?
Her brow furrowed hard as she bit her lip. Could it be that the Duke of Melrose had chosen not to stand up with her, had chosen to deliberately forget her dance card because she was abluestocking and he could not be seen to dance with her in the midst of a society ball? The heat behind her eyes rose again to a terrible strength and she was forced to blink furiously to push them away.
“And who is it we have hiding here?”
Lydia lifted her head, a little surprised to see a gentleman coming to join her. Panic gripped at her heart as she stepped back from him, suddenly afraid that he had somewhat nefarious intentions. “I – I do not think – ”
“Now, you do not need to look so afraid.” The gentleman smiled and swept into a bow. “I have seen you in company with my nephew recently, have I not?”
“Your nephew?” Lydia did not know of whom he spoke, taking in the grey-haired gentleman and trying to see any sort of likeness to the gentlemen in her acquaintance. “I confess, I do not know who it is you speak of.”
The gentleman chuckled. “Forgive me, I have not introduced myself. It is not the proper thing to do, I suppose, but you shall have to permit me.” He inclined his head. “I am the Earl of Chesterfield. My nephew is the Duke of Melrose and I am certain I saw you in his company very lately, did I not?”
“Oh!” Lydia smiled with relief, glad now that this gentleman did not mean anything improper. “Yes, I am acquainted with the Duke of Melrose. Lady Markham and I accompanied him recently to the library, you might have seen us in the carriage then?”
The gentleman nodded. “Yes, that is it precisely. I confess I could not easily forget a lady with hair the color of the sunset!”
Lydia flushed, hopeful that this was meant as a compliment.
“And where is my nephew this evening, I wonder?” the gentleman continued, turning to look all about him. “Is he present this evening, do you know? He and I have only managed one conversation and as yet, I have not even managed to call totake tea! Is that not quite dreadful!” He grinned as he spoke and made Lydia smile along with him.
“I was speaking with him only a few minutes ago,” Lydia answered, gesturing to her left. “He was just over there.”
As the gentleman turned his head in the direction she pointed in, Lydia was caught by what her eyes took in. Lord Chesterfield had a small scar that ran just along one side of his cheek towards his eye.
Could it be…?
She shook her head to herself, just as Lord Chesterfield turned his attention back towards her. If this was the Duke’s uncle, then he would, no doubt, have seen him over many years and would know precisely what that scar came from. Besides which, she could not even be sure whether or not this gentleman was on the list of the four names that the Duke had been given!
“My own two children are already wed and settled,” the Earl continued, as Lydia smiled quickly. “I come to London at the sole behest of my wife, I confess! If it were for myself, then I would stay at my estate these summer months!”
Lydia smiled and tilted her head. “Do you have a large estate? I have been reading recently about the idea of crop rotation and confess to having found it a most interesting subject.”
The surprise that leaped into Lord Chesterfield’s expression was instant and Lydia quickly dropped her head, a flush of embarrassment creeping up into her face. She had, inadvertently so, spoken of something that a young lady such as herself ought not to know anything about. Yet again, she had given herself away.
“Crop rotation, eh?” Lord Chesterfield’s voice held a note of interest. “I have heard of it but I have not considered it as yet, I confess.”
Lydia glanced up but chose to say nothing more. She did not want to make herself more obvious for that would bring nothing but trouble to her.
“Ah, there you are!”
Her heart leaped up furiously as none other than the Duke of Melrose came towards them both, coming to stand beside his uncle and looking at him in surprise. “Chesterfield, good evening!”
“Good evening, nephew.” Lord Chesterfield set one hand on the Duke’s shoulder. “I have just been speaking with thisveryfine young lady whom I saw in company with you recently. On a carriage ride to the library, I believe?”
The Duke nodded, though his gaze caught Lydia’s, his eyes searching hers though Lydia did not know the answer to the question that was settling there.
