Page 15 of The Uncouth Duke of Longford
“Yes, I did.” Rachel let out a slow breath and then closed her eyes. “Perhaps I ought not to have done but I could not bear thethought of being in his arms. That gentleman has such a dark demeanour about him that I could not imagine being swept into a waltz with him!”
“He asked to dance the waltz?”
Rachel let out a broken laugh and rolled her eyes. “Could you imagine it? The young lady who is almost always tossed aside, ignored and forgotten by even her own family, standing up with a Duke? Even the thought is preposterous.”
“I should not say so,” Miss Renfrew replied, smiling an encouragement towards Rachel. “I think you would do very well dancing with a Duke… although mayhap not the Duke of Longford!”
Both Rachel and she laughed at this, making Rachel’s spirits lift again. Turning their conversation towards other matters, Miss Renfrew and she continued on in their walk for some minutes before, much to Rachel’s surprise and, unfortunately, her dislike, they came upon three gentlemen standing together – and the Duke of Longford was one of the three. She shot a look towards Miss Renfrew but given that one of the remaining gentlemen was Lord Wrexham, Rachel realized there was very little chance that she would be able to drag her friend away from the group.
They would be forced to stand and speak with them all, though mayhap she might be able to ignore the Duke of Longford without making that in itself too obvious.
“Good afternoon, Miss Renfrew, Miss Grifford!” Lord Wrexham was immediately welcoming, his gaze fixing itself to Miss Renfrew almost at once. “How pleasant to find you both out here together.”
“I thank you,” Rachel managed to murmur, though her eyes went to the other gentleman beside Lord Wrexham. She did not know him though he had a pleasant face with a warm smileand deep green eyes. She offered him a demure smile and then looked to the Duke, though that look did not linger long.
“Should we make some introductions?” Lord Wrexham asked, still smiling and gesturing to the gentleman that Rachel did not recognize. “Your Grace?”
The Duke of Longford cleared his throat and nodded curtly. “Yes, of course. Might I present my cousin, who has come unexpectedly to London? This is the Marquess of Chiddick. Lord Chiddick, might I present Miss Renfrew and Miss Grifford.”
Rachel dropped into a curtsy just as the Earl smiled and then bowed his head.
“Good afternoon to you both, I am delighted to make your acquaintance,” he said, his voice rich with warmth. “As my cousin has said, I have come to London a little unexpectedly. I was in Bath, you see, but upon hearing the news that my cousin is now in London having been absent from society for some years, I thought it my duty to come and visit. It has been some time since I have seen my cousin and therefore, I thought it a capital idea to both greet him and enjoy the warm society which London can offer me.”
Still smiling, Rachel shared a glance with Miss Renfrew who, smiling back at her, then turned again to Lord Chiddick. “I am sure that all of society will be glad to greet you,” she said, quickly. “I do hope your cousin will be doing all he can to introduce you to as many gentlemen and ladies as he can so you will begin to receive as many invitations as he does!”
Lord Chiddick laughed along with her and though Rachel threw a quick glance to the Duke of Longford, he was scowling darkly. She shrugged inwardly, thinking silently to herself that if the Duke of Longford wished to be displeased with her, then she cared very little for that. They were not about to be friends now, were they?
“I must hope I am a little more popular than the Duke of Longford,” Lord Chiddick said, though his voice was low as though he only wished for her to hear him. “I have heard that his reputation is very difficult indeed.”
“I have done nothing to earn such a reputation,” came the instant reply and Rachel, without warning, found herself scoffing aloud. Immediately, all three gentlemen’s eyes went to hers. Rachel’s face exploded with flame and she looked away, her hands clasping lightly in front of her.
“I think that is fair,” Lord Wrexham said eventually, shooting her a small smile. “Now, shall we walk together for a short while? I should be very glad to have your company, Miss Renfrew.”
“Of course!” Miss Renfrew immediately stepped closer to Lord Wrexham and when he offered his arm, she took it without hesitation, and began to walk along the path with him. Rachel licked her lips, a nervousness beginning to overtake her as she saw the Duke and Lord Chiddick glance at one another. Not wanting them to feel obliged – and certainly because she did not want to walk with the Duke, Rachel forced a smile.
“I think I shall follow after my friend.”
“Please.”
The two gentlemen both said the same thing at the same time, though Lord Chiddick was the only one who offered his arm to her.
“Please,” he said again, as though to overrule the Duke of Longford. “If you would walk with me, I should be very grateful.”
“You are most kind.” Rachel accepted at once, relieved that her friend had not gone too far ahead. “Thank you, Lord Chiddick.”
As she took his arm, Rachel could not help but cast a glance towards the Duke of Longford. His eyebrows were low over his eyes, his brow furrowing and his mouth in a flat line. Could it bethat he had wanted to walk with her? No, she told herself, there could be no assumption of that, not after what he had said to her the previous evening. No doubt, he had thought only to walk with her in a further attempt to assuage his own guilt. Rachel was not about to permit him to do that.
“You say you are in London for some time?” Rachel asked, as she settled her hand on Lord Chiddick’s. “Might I ask if you intend to linger long here?”
“I do not know.” Lord Chiddick sighed but smiled as he did so. “It will depend on the company I keep and how enjoyable a time I am having. Though ifthisnew acquaintance is anything to go by, I do not think that I will be leaving London any time soon!”
Rachel felt herself smile at this, her face a little flushed. “I thank you for your kind words, Lord Chiddick. I do hope that you have a very enjoyable time this Season.”
“I do expect to dance a great deal,” he told her, as Rachel glanced over her shoulder, all too aware of the Duke of Longford’s presence walking closely behind them. “Do you dance, Miss Grifford?”
She looked back at him. “I do.”
“Capital!” he exclaimed, thrilling her with his exuberance and clear anticipation. “Might I be all the more fortunate and know which ball you are attending this evening… if you are attending a ball, that is!”
