Page 36 of The Uncouth Duke of Longford
“What is it?”
She shook her head, not wanting to make the Duke aware of her thoughts for they were a little too concerning and not something she dared to say aloud for fear that he would firstly, be very angry with her and secondly, throw such a thought aside.
“It is nothing of importance,” she said, choosing to set that to one side for the moment. “Might I ask if you will speak to my father soon?”
“This very afternoon, if he has time to speak with me,” the Duke replied, making her eyes flare in surprise. “Do you think he would be willing?”
“I think he would be more than willing,” Rachel answered, her heart beating a little faster at the thought of their courtship becoming known to all of society. “So it will be told to thetonthis evening, mayhap?”
The Duke nodded. “Yes, I think so. Would you be contented with that?”
Rachel swallowed and then nodded. “Yes, of course,” she agreed, despite the nervousness running through her. “This evening, we shall tell all we know that we are courting.”
Chapter Sixteen
“You certainly have caused a bit of an uproar this evening.”
Andrew scowled. “It was not intentional.”
Lord Wrexham chuckled. “You appear to be a little upset that your announcement about your courtship has garnered so much attention. Did you think it would not?”
“I was not prepared for the level of conversation that would flood around me because of it,” Andrew admitted, his expression still rather heavy. “I did not think that this would rattle around the ballroom with such fervour.”
Lord Wrexham chuckled. “Surely you must understand the surprise! You are a somewhat objectionable gentleman, who has refused to dance, refused to evenspeakto those in thetonand yet now, you are courting Miss Grifford! She, who is a very pretty, amiable young lady and you, who is a grumpy, unsettled, dark-natured fellow… well, you can see why there might be so much surprise!”
“I danced with Miss Griffordandwith Miss Renfrew on some occasions,” Andrew protested weakly, though he quickly saw his friend rolling his eyes and knew exactly how foolish his protestations were. “Very well, I will admit to all of that. But all the same – ”
“I do not think that you should end your courtship.”
Andrew blinked rapidly, confusion mounting in his heart. “I beg your pardon?”
“You ought not to end your courtship,” Lord Wrexham repeated. “Yes, I know you have only just agreed to it, thetonhas only just become aware of it but I do not think that you willeverfind as agreeable a young lady as Miss Grifford. Do not look at her as the means to an end but rather consider her as a potentialfuture. Do you not think that your future would be very bright indeed with her in it?”
Clearing his throat, Andrew folded his arms and looked away, finding the whole conversation very confusing indeed. “I do not think that I need to consider anything akin to that as yet. The only thing I am searching for at present is the person responsible for attempting to injure me.”
Lord Wrexham sighed. “You are not listening to me. You are thinking solely about the present and not the future.”
“That is because there can be no future unless I discover the truth of the present!” Andrew exclaimed. “Though I do understand what you mean about Miss Grifford. I will admit to that.”
“Good. That is something at least.” Lord Wrexham smiled and then looked across the room. “Are you going to step out from the shadows and face theton? Or are you going to hide yourself away for the rest of the evening and leave Miss Grifford to answer all the questions?”
Andrew turned his attention back to where Miss Grifford was standing, having been observing her for some minutes. She had been surrounded by young ladies at one point and he had seen the way her eyes had widened in surprise at the sheer amount of attention she had been given. He had not gone to her, had chosen to remain where he was rather than going to join her and a swell of guilthaderupted over him – but he had ignored it. If she was able to control the conversation and answer the questions from every young lady present, then he would not have to join her.
“You cannot continue to hide yourself away.” His friend put a hand on his shoulder for only a moment. “Do not go back to the gentleman you were at the start of the Season, I beg of you.”
Andrew frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Do not go back to hiding yourself here, refusing to speak to anyone and pretending that you are not even present,” Lord Wrexham stated, speaking clearly and firmly so that Andrew could not miss his meaning. “You are courting Miss Grifford now, which means that you will have to do all that you can to support her in public.”
The guilt which Andrew had pushed away before began to now rise up within him again and this time, there was no way to escape it. With a long sigh, he shook his head and then looked away from his friend. “Very well.”
“Be cautious still, however,” Lord Wrexham warned. “Whoever is behind the attacks on you might take advantage of this moment since your attention will be on other things.”
With a nod, Andrew strode forward and casting his fears aside, made his way towards Miss Grifford. He saw the moment that the young ladies took note of his arrival, for one nudged another and within a few minutes, every single eye was upon him.
“Miss Grifford.” Andrew spoke a little more loudly than before so as to be heard over the crowd. “I recall that I have not signed your dance card as yet.”
She smiled at him though it did not reach her eyes as she handed him her dance card. “Of course, Your Grace.”
