Page 46 of The Duke's Return
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before excusing himself.
It was unfortunate as the group continued to shift. All three of the women had dance partners for the next set, so they soon took their leave. One of their mothers, the vicar’s wife, joined the conversation alongside her husband, and half the gentlemen also disappeared.
There were too many new faces for her to remember which ones she had been introduced to. And as they started speaking about a recent flood in the area, Genevieve could only nod along without anything to say. Her eyes flitted about in search of Julian, but he had been swallowed by the crowd.
What if he disappeared? I’ll wring his neck if he’s not back soon.
“I couldn’t agree more: it’s indeed a dull conversation that is more likely to make me fall asleep standing up than actually participate,” came a low voice at her other side.
Genevieve tightened her grip on her fan. Beside her stood a young man, perhaps a few years younger than herself, standingat ease with a casual smile and partially filled glass of sherry. His dusty brown hair curled and fell neatly into his eyes, almost making him look older. But not quite. She could see the youth and brightness in his gaze.
“That’s not particularly kind,” she scolded carefully to him, wondering if they had been introduced.
“Mr. Eston Kantbury, at your service,” he said with a slight nod as though he read her mind. His gaze shifted away to nod to the vicar. “He introduced us not five minutes ago. I’m the current heir to Lord Penbury, and came to visit for the house party. It appears I am not the only one to miss London?” He added with a raised eyebrow.
Her cheeks flushed. “Mr. Kantbury, you shouldn’t make such assumptions.” He didn’t shift. Sighing, she leaned in slightly and gave in. “But you are correct.”
Chuckling, he whispered his response while keeping a careful eye on the other six members of their circle. None of them, beyond the vicar and his wife, appeared at all familiar to her. “The fresh air is certainly worth it on occasion. But the conversation be left wanting. The most gossip you’ll hear tonight is how Mr. Traybeard fell asleep in the chicken coop.”
Genevieve’s lips twitched. “That’s a little amusing.”
“More so when you consider he doesn’t have his own chicken coop,” the young man added. His smile widened when she let out a stifled giggle. When she raised up her fan to hide her face, he offered an appraising nod. “I wish fans were acceptable for gentlemen. But I suppose if they were, I’d often be swinging one at my fellows.”
“Like a rapier?”
“I was thinking more of a dagger, but yes. Every ball, country or no, would surely descend into madness,” he added with a snicker.
Finally feeling at ease that evening, Genevieve let out an honest laugh. The two of them separated slightly from their group as to not disturb the conversation. But the friendly nature of the younger man lent her the confidence she needed to ignore the looks of the crowd.
Much more of this, and she might even enjoy herself.
CHAPTER 18
“And when I leapt out to collect my bounty, you can imagine my astonishment to find it was only the lost stable lad,” Julian finished his story with a chuckle.
Everyone in his circle began to laugh, one of the women even hiding behind her fan to wipe away a stray tear. This jest always garnered fresh amusement. He grinned proudly, nodding over the compliments and follow up remarks.
“We’ll have to go hunting together someday,” Lord Penbury said cheerfully. “And I’ll send away the stable lads if I have to.”
Grinning, Julian nodded. “That will be the way of it. Every stable boy now lives in fear of me. But no need to worry as they have never been harmed.”
Lady Penbury shook her head. “You are too much for us, Your Grace. But what a blessing it is to have you among us in the country. Surely you are here to stay a while, might I presume?”
He might have done more than smile, but his hands were filled with goblets for him and his wife to drink. Though he’d nearly finished his off now. That wasn’t meant to have happened. Onlyeveryone kept calling for his attention on his journey back to his wife, and he couldn’t bear to disappoint anyone.
Besides, the more they see and hear of me from me alone, the more likely I’ll have voices protecting me should any more rumors come about. I’m only fortunate no one has brought them here as of yet.
“I’m afraid I cannot guarantee,” he said with an aggrieved air. “I do live to please, as you all know. To please my people, my wife, and my country.”
One of the men’s eyes widened. “You are not to go back to war, are you?”
His friendtsked. “You make us look devilishly foolish, not being out amongst the trouble ourselves. How a duke managed to join the navy, we haven’t a clue.”
Complicated emotions arose for Julian. He kept on the smile, remembering how excited he had been to make his escape from London. The curiosity driving him to see the world, to take up his conscription. How hopeful he had been. How blind he had been.
That’s hardly the stuff of conversations to be had at a ball.
“Is it as exciting as they all make it out to be?” The first man inquired.
