Page 20 of A Fake Courtship with the Duke
Richard nodded, but he was still doubtful.
“But is that fair to Miss Huxley?” he asked, thinking back to his earlier concerns. “Wouldn’t that jeopardise her reputation more than it would harm me?”
Thomas thought it over for a moment before nodding.
“Perhaps,” he said. “But you can’t know if it would be worth it to her unless you asked her if she would consider it.”
Richard took another drink, thinking over what Thomas had just said. That was one thing he hadn’t considered; asking Miss Huxley if she would be interested in that plan. He had been trying to think of how she would feel about it, without even thinking of bluntly taking the proposal to her. It was a long shot, and it was still a pretty wild idea. But he supposed the only way he could know her thoughts on the matter would be if he asked her outright.
“Perhaps,” he murmured.
Once the men finished their drinks, Richard took his leave, making his way back home. In his chambers, as the moonlight filtered through his window, Richard thought about his duties, the freedoms he had always longed to have, and his unexpected interest in Miss Huxley. The weight of his title and the duties of which his mother kept reminding him felt as though they were suffocating him, and he couldn’t believe he was even entertaining the suggestion that both Susan and Thomas seemed to think was a good one. And yet, amidst his turmoil over the dukedom duties and responsibilities, Miss Huxley kept making her way to the center of his thoughts.
With a resigned sigh, Richard summoned his valet and readied himself for bed. He was not benefiting himself by brooding over the burden and inquiries troubling his thoughts. Perhaps, if he could get a good, proper night’s sleep, it would bring him the clarity about his situation that he so desperately needed.
Chapter Nine
The moment Anne’s eyes opened the next morning, her heart fell into her stomach. A glance outside her window showed her another beautiful, late spring day, which was once something that always put her in good spirits. Now, however, such lovely days only taunted her with brightness and vibrancy that she could no longer access in her life. All that awaited her when she went downstairs would be a minefield of tension during the family breakfast, and constantly feeling like a pariah in her own home for the rest of the day.
Filled to the brim with dread, Anne rose and summoned Martha, idly choosing a pale-yellow dress for the day. As Martha helped her dress, she tried to convince herself that the meal wouldn’t be as bad as she feared, that the anger at her from the incident at the ball two nights before would have dissipated and that, even if the conversation was somewhat stilted, it wouldn’t be as unbearable as she was concerned it would be. But as she looked at herself in the mirror, she knew that wasn’t true. Her parents, specifically her mother, never forgot any of her behaviors. Especially the ones that they felt made their family look bad.
As she approached the dining hall, her heart was heavy with anxiety. She put on her best pleasant smile and entered, glancing around to try to read the expressions of her family members. The scene before her was familiar, and not particularly tense. Her father sat behind his newspaper, undoubtedly browsing the business sections. Her mother held her own paper, and Anne knew without studying it that it was the scandal sheets. It was the only section of the paper she ever read, and she paid close attention lately for any news about Anne. And Charlotte sippedher coffee with a serene smile that warmed Anne’s heart. As she took her seat in front of her plate full of scrambled eggs, ham and grapes, she allowed herself to think once more that meal might not be as painful as she’d feared.
But as she put the first bite of eggs to her lips, her mother firmly shoved the paper down to the level of the table, narrowing her eyes over something on the page.
“The duke of Calder was seen In Gunter’s having a rendezvous with a young lady who is quite well-known within the ton for her public antics.”
Anne swallowed hard, putting down the still-full fork. Even before her mother continued reading, she knew to whom the paper referred. Moreover, she knew how the gossip column had gotten their hands on such information. The women who had approached them while Susan and the Duke of Calder and she enjoyed their treats had been insulted by the way the duke brushed them off, and as revenge, they had started spreading rumors about the outing. Would that detail be in the paper, as well, placing her in the middle of another social embarrassment?
Her mother had finished reading the piece by the time Anne pulled herself from her thoughts. Both the viscount and the viscountess were looking directly at her with matching scrutinous expressions on their faces.
“Well, it appears to be a glimmer of favorable tidings," the viscount remarked at length, offering his daughter a strained smile. "It seems the duke has taken notice of you, and you haven't bungled your behaviour in his presence.”
Anne blinked, confused. Was her father pleased that she had been seen with the duke?
Her mother looked her over, thinking over something very deeply.
“That seems to be a good sign,” she said with a measured tone. “Truly, it sounds like something of a miracle.”
Anne allowed herself to relax a little. It was backhanded praise, she knew. But it wasn’t the usual shamed admonishment she typically got from her parents.
Charlotte put down her cup, her mouth hanging open.
“Sister, you didn’t tell me that a duke had taken an interest in you,” she said, beaming at Anne.
Anne blushed, shaking her head at her sister. She was preparing to explain that he wasn’t interested in her, that their presence at Gunter’s had been incidental, and all at the behest of Susan. Even though it was bringing her positive attention, she didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea and get their hopes up. But before she could say a word, her father raised an eyebrow and gave her mother a look.
“A duke holds considerable influence in society,” he said, sounding as guarded with his words as her mother had.
The viscountess nodded in agreement, her face suddenly solemn.
“It is quite a surprise that a duke would have an interest in spending time with our Anne,” she said.
Anne looked back and forth between her parents, confused. Her mother hadn’t referred to her as ‘their Anne’ since she was a young girl. It was a term that once brought her comfort. Now, it only filled her with uncertainty. She couldn’t read their feelings about the gossip article. Usually, their displeasure was clear enough for a deaf person to hear. But right then, they were behaving as though there was something they wanted to say but weren’t.
The viscount reached for the scandal sheet, which his wife dutifully handed over to him. He took a moment to read the piece for himself, and Anne dropped her eyes to her plate. Her heart was racing as she waited to see what her parents ultimately had to say. Would they, indeed, be pleased? Or would they findsome embarrassing scandal in being seen in public with the Duke, even though she hadn’t been alone with him?
When her father looked up at her again, his expression was a strange mix of pride and skepticism. Anne braced herself, certain she was going to be admonished.
