Page 19 of The Uncouth Duke of Longford
Lady Carmichael held Rachel’s gaze for some moments, as though she were sure that Rachel was not telling the truth for some reason. Rachel returned it steadily, however, whispering courageous words to herself inwardly until, finally, Lady Carmichael sighed and shook her head.
“Bettina is most upset that the Duke of Longford refused to stand up with her.” Lady Carmichael walked across the room and sat down heavily in a chair, her shoulders rounding and her hands clasped in her lap as her head dropped forward. “I do not understand it.”
Rachel did not know what to make of this. Either her mother was stating that she did not understand why the Duke of Longford would stand up with Rachel rather than Bettina or she did not understand why Bettina would be so very upset about it all. Rachel was quite certain, however, that it was the former rather than the latter. Though her mother was upset, Rachel did not believe that she had truly taken in anything that Rachel herself had said and that made her heart sink all the lower.
“There you are.” The door swung open and Bettina marched in, her arms folding across her chest as she narrowed her eyes, fixing them to Rachel. “Youneed to explain yourself.”
“I have nothing to explain.” Rachel sat back down and then picked up her embroidery. “Should I ring for tea, Mama?”
“Yes, I think that would be wise.” Lady Carmichael rose to her feet and went to ring the bell rather than permitting Rachel to do it. “There may be gentlemen callers this afternoon, Bettina, so please do sit down and make sure you are prepared for them. I – ”
“What has Rachel said by way of explanation?” Bettina demanded, interrupting her mother and glaring still at Rachel. “Why did she set the Duke of Longford away from me?”
Rachel lifted an eyebrow at her sister and then returned her gaze to her mother who shook her head.
“Your sister did not say a single word to the Duke of Longford about you, I am sure,” Lady Carmichael said, sounding weary and fatigued. “The Duke of Longford, as you know, is a gentleman who has a darkness about him. Everyone in society is speaking of it. He is the gentleman who stands at the back of the ballroom, who glares at those who come to speak with him and who has not even the smallest kindness on his lips for any living soul. Why, then, should you be so upset by his lack of consideration? It does not matter.”
“Yes, it does!” Bettina exclaimed, throwing out one hand towards Rachel. “He ought not to be greeting, dancing and smiling at my sister whenIam present! What is it that he does not see in me that he sees in her? It is utterly preposterous to think that he has any sort of enjoyment in her company over mine and yet he appeared so disinclined towards me that I am quite sure that Rachel said something to him! Something that was most untrue, I am sure. I –”
A knock came to the door and Lady Carmichael quickly called for them to enter, no doubt thinking that it was the maid with the tea tray. Instead, much to Rachel’s surprise, the butler hurried in and handed Lady Carmichael two calling cards.
Lady Carmichael let out a muffled exclamation and put one hand over her mouth, her eyes wide as she stared first at Rachel and then looked to Bettina.
“What is it, Mama?” Rachel asked, the tears which had begun to burn in her eyes over her sister’s cruel remarks beginning to fade away. “What is it?”
“It is… ” Lady Carmichael drew in a breath, rose to her feet and nodded to the butler. “But of course. At once.” Lowering her voice, she hissed to Bettina to go to stand by a chair and then urged them both to pinch their cheeks. Rachel did so rather reluctantly, though her thoughts continually turned to who it might be that had come to call.
She did not have to wonder for long.
“The Marquess of Chiddick and His Grace, the Duke of Longford,” the butler announced, as Bettina let out a squeak of excitement, clearly believing that they had come to see them both. Rachel’s stomach began to twist itself in knots, her heart pounding as she saw the Duke’s gaze immediately turned to her. He bowed but kept his gaze fixed to hers, as though she was the only one he had wanted to see.
“Your Grace,” Lady Carmichael exclaimed, though her voice was a little breathless. “Please do come in. Is this your cousin? I must confess that we are not yet acquainted and I am so dreadfully sorry that has not happened as yet.”
“Not at all,” the Duke replied, though again, he did not take his gaze from Rachel and she, in return, could do nothing but look back at him. “Lady Carmichael, Miss Bettina Grifford, might I present my cousin, the Marquess of Chiddick.”
Bettina dropped into the most wonderful curtsy while Rachel only bobbed a quick curtsy in return, having already been acquainted with the Marquess. Her mouth went dry as the Duke managed a small smile, wondering why it was that he had thought to come to call. Did he not know what difficulties his visit would bring? Or mayhap his cousin had been the one eager to call upon them and thus, out of loyalty to his family, he had chosen to do so, albeit unwillingly?
“Please, do sit down,” she found herself saying when both her mother and her sister remained silent – perhaps in awe oftheir company. “We have just rung for a tea tray so it should be with us very soon.”
“Capital!” Lord Chiddick said, making Rachel smile as both the Duke and he took a seat, though the Duke sat closer to Rachel than Lord Chiddick, who chose to take a seat opposite her and therefore, closer to Bettina. “I am delighted that we were able to call upon you all. I did enjoy the ball a great deal last evening, Miss Grifford, and was very pleased indeed to be able to stand up with you.”
“Thank you, Lord Chiddick,” Rachel replied, managing a small smile even though uncertainty and confusion wound its way around her heart for not only was Lord Chiddick directing his attention towards her, the Duke of Longford had barely taken his gaze from her – a fact that, no doubt, her sister would be very well aware of. “It was a most enjoyable evening.”
“Didyouenjoy last evening, Your Grace?” Bettina asked, her voice dripping with sweetness, her eyes smiling at him though the Duke of Longford gave her only the smallest of glances. “I do hope it was a pleasant evening for you.”
The Duke hesitated and then shrugged. “It was not a bad evening, certainly. I am not usually a gentleman who steps out to dance but the three dances I partook in were not as dreadful as I had imagined they would be.”
“Three?” Bettina asked, her eyes turning towards Rachel again though Rachel did not understand why. “So you danced two dances with my sister and only one with Miss Renfrew?”
Rachel flushed, immediately understanding why her sister was so concerned. To have such attention from the Duke was worthy of note in any other circumstances, though Rachel alone understood why the Duke had decided to dance twice with her. Bettina did not realize it, of course, but it was because of how their mother and she had decided to speak to Rachel that the Duke had shown such generosity.
“I believe that I can dance with whomever I decide, Miss Grifford.” The Duke’s voice had dropped in tone, his eyebrows knotting as he looked back steadily at Bettina. “Is there something about that which troubles you?”
Bettina opened her mouth and then closed it again, sending a look towards Rachel who merely lifted her shoulders gently and then let them fall, fully aware that there was a sudden tension in the room. This was broken by the arrival of the maid and the tea tray, leaving Lady Carmichael to swoop in and thereafter, encourage Bettina to serve the tea to them all. It was her responsibility as the eldest and Rachel found herself rather relieved that she was able to sit back and watch the proceedings rather than having to take part. Bettina was doing her best to smile and appear jovial but Rachel could tell that there was a great deal of concern there. The way her sister’s eyes darted to the Duke and then away from him spoke of her nervousness. Was she still trying to capture the Duke’s attention? Or was she simply worried about how the Duke would now respond to her, given his last few sharp words to her?
“You said you are the Duke of Longford’s cousin?” Lady Carmichael asked, speaking to Lord Chiddick who nodded profusely. “How wonderful to have you here in London with us! I am sure that society will be very glad to have your company.”
“It has been very pleasant thus far,” Lord Chiddick agreed. “I actually spent the first month in Bath before coming to London. When I heard that my cousin was here, I wanted very much to be in his company again.”
