Page 11 of An Arranged Betrothal with an Icy Duke
“Your Grace. Might I take this moment to introduce my – ”
“Wait, if you please.”
Edith’s eyes flared in surprise as the gentleman her father had taken her to, cut off his words rather sharply, turning his head, barely giving her a glance and then returning his attention to Amelia.
She blinked, then looked to her father who had dropped his head, clearly embarrassed. At the very same time, Edith realized that the gentleman was the very same one who had caught her eye when she had finished her performance. The gentleman with dark hair, piercing blue eyes and a dark expression.
Her stomach dropped.
It was only when the music had stopped that the Duke of Fairglen finally turned towards them both, his eyebrow lifting a little as he looked directly into Edith’s face. She held his gaze steadily, despite the fact that her heart was quickening just a little and heat beginning to spread up her chest at his perusal of her.
“I presume you are Edith?”
The way that he spoke her name, speaking it without proper formality or introduction, made Edith’s face grow hot with embarrassment and she looked instantly to her father, seeing his eyes widen in obvious surprise.
“This is my daughter, yes,MissEdith Tidemore,” Lord Tidemore replied, emphasizing the first part of her name before shooting Edith a glance – a glance which told her she ought to be silent and attempt not to take offence at how boldly the Dukehad spoken. “Edith, might I present the Duke of Fairglen to you?”
Edith dropped into a curtsy – an absolutely perfect curtsy, she had to admit – and then rose, only to see the Duke’s eyebrow lifted as he continued to study her. He had not bowed, she noticed. Instead, he had simply stood there. The rude manner and the flicker of arrogance in his eyes made her heart twist as she looked again to her father and then back to the Duke. No-one spoke.
I was right to think that the Duke of Fairglen would be just like every other Duke,she told herself, as the Duke then looked to her father.I do not believe for a moment that he will truly consider me. My father has hope but I certainly do not. No doubt the Duke will dismiss me and –
“You still wish to marry her off, then?”
Edith blinked furiously, her hand going to her heart as it tore into a roaring beat. Coldness ran through her as she saw her father nod, tears beginning to burn in her eyes as she felt herself as nothing more than a possession to be handed from one person to the next. Her father had never once asked her aboutherthoughts on the Duke of Fairglen, had never even once considered that she might have feelings about the sort of gentleman that she might want to marry. It was as though her own considerations did not have any value.
“If you would be willing to consider my daughter, then I would be delighted!” Edith’s father did not even look at her, rubbing his hands together as he turned to face the Duke. “You will need to know her a little better, I suppose?”
“Shall we go and speak in private?” the Duke asked, turning away from Edith entirely. “I do not want to further interrupt the music here and it is difficult to have a conversation when there are so many listening ears nearby.”
Without so much as a glance towards Edith, her father walked away from her with the Duke just a step behind him. They made their way from the music room and Edith was left staring after them, her heart thudding furiously while she went cold all over. Tears began to prick at the corners of her eyes and she quickly dropped her head, hiding her face from the other guests who, much to her relief, were still focused entirely on the music rather than looking at her.
She barely knew this gentleman, had only just been introduced and now her father was going to discuss her possible future with him? How could he do such a thing without even speaking with her?
“Edith?”
Amelia’s hand settled on Edith’s arm, her whisper low and quiet.
“Edith, are you quite all right? You played very well, you know.”
“As did you.” Her whisper a little broken by emotion, Edith settled her own hand on top of her sister’s. “I will tell you all later, Amelia.” She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Though I fear that, from this day forward, my life shall never be the same again.”
Chapter Six
As he followed after Lord Tidemore, Henry found himself considering Miss Tidemore again. The playing of her violin had been quite extraordinary and he had been caught up by the swell of emotion which had pulled from her strings. When she had looked out across the room, he had caught her eye and thought to himself that she was not at all plain, which was just as he had hoped. Her playing had been to the very standard that her father had described… if not a little better, and thus, Henry had been willing to be introduced. That introduction had let him take in her features, her high cheekbones, porcelain skin, hazel eyes and chestnut brown curls. She had not smiled as they had spoken but Henry did not need that to know that she was certainly pretty enough for him. Her curtsy had been without fault and she had not spoken without requirement and had shown deference to her father. All of this told Henry that Miss Tidemore was certainly a very proper young lady, though it did not tell him anything of her character.
“I do hope you were pleased with my daughter, Your Grace?” Lord Tidemore turned to face Henry as Henry sat down in one of the chairs in the private parlor he had been led to. “Might I offer you a brandy?”
Henry nodded and watched as Lord Tidemore crossed the room to pour them both a drink. “Your daughter is certainly as you described her, Lord Tidemore.”
The gentleman handed the glass to Henry and then offered a small smile. “I am not inclined towards lying, Your Grace. It sets up false expectations and is almost always discovered.”
“That is true.” Grimacing, Henry found his thoughts turning back towards Rachel and his previous engagement. Clearlyshehad kept a good deal back from him. Could he hope that Miss Tidemore would be as her father was and not at all inclined towards lying?
“I would like to propose that your daughter and I become engaged,” Henry said, aware of the lift of Lord Tidemore’s eyebrows. “However, it will be a prolonged engagement.”
Lord Tidemore’s eyebrows knitted together. “Prolonged?”
Henry took a sip of his brandy. “Yes.”
