Page 27 of An Arranged Betrothal with an Icy Duke
“I am sure it shall be.” Edith laughed as Caleb began to try to grasp one of her curls, thrilled when he let her pick him up and cuddle him close. Her heart filled with thoughts of Lilly and she let out a small sigh, hoping that the child was doing well. “I should be glad to come and help with the children at any time. My aunt and uncle sponsor an orphanage in London and I have spent many a time there.”
“What a generous heart you must have, Miss Tidemore,” came the reply. “You are welcome to come here any time you wish. We will beveryglad to see you.”
***
“I did not know that you had helped to build another vicarage for the vicar and his wife, so that the old vicarage could become the orphanage.” Edith twisted her fingers together in her lap as she spoke to the Duke, finding herself a little tense now that she was alone with him. “That is most generous of you.”She thought back to how the Duke had pressed that bag of coins into the little boy’s hands and felt her heart softening all over again. “Such generosity must mean a great deal to those who need such aid.”
The Duke glanced at her and then turned his head to the window as he answered, perhaps feeling the same tension as she. “I think it is important that I, in my role as the Duke of Fairglen, treat my tenants and those around the estate with fairness and consideration. I could not think of these children alone without a single relative to care for them so when the vicar and his wife came to speak to me about their idea, I thought it an excellent one.” He looked to her again. “I have been given so much. It does not mean a great deal to me to give some of it away.”
“I am very glad to know of that,” Edith answered, quietly, finding her heart lifting as the Duke managed to give her what was one of the few smiles he had ever sent in her direction before. “It speaks of a kind heart.”
The Duke’s frown fell just as quickly as his smile faded. Edith did not know what it was she had said, what it was that the Duke found so irritating about her remark, but she chose not to say anything further. If he wished to share it with her, then, Edith reasoned, he would. Else, there was nothing further for her to say. The carriage continued on for some minutes in silence, though the Duke continued to look in her direction. Edith too remained quiet, looking out of the window rather than into the Duke’s face though she was fully aware of the way he gazed at her. Quite what he was thinking, Edith could not say but she was not about to ask him!
“I do not think that I have a kind heart, Edith.”
She started, her skin prickling in surprise as the Duke frowned, his expression growing dark as he let out a slow breath and shook his head. It was the first time he had ever said her name, had ever spoken with such intimacy and she was not quitecertain how to take it. Her heart beat a little more quickly, her mouth going dry as the Duke’s eyes became suddenly stormy, holding a vast sway of shadows and turning them a very dark blue indeed.
“I know, in fact, that I have no kindness within me.”
“I do not think that can be true,” Edith said, softly. “The orphanage itself is evidence that you do.”
The Duke shook his head firmly. “That is a duty, Edith, not a kindness.”
“Can it not be both?”
A long silence fell between them again though this time, Edith felt no tension. Instead, the Duke looked at her with a steadiness in his eyes, clearly thinking on what she had said. Then, with a sigh, he shrugged and smiled, albeit rather sadly.
“Mayhap. I personally do not think that it can be, given that I know my own heart, Miss Tidemore.”
He was referring to her again by her formal title, Edith recognized, wondering if their moment of nearness and of intimacy had now gone from them. It had only been brief, a break in the clouds on an otherwise overcast day but dare she hope that another moment might come along soon? That such moments might be repeated with an ever increasing frequency until somehow, their relationship grew into something that she could find tolerable, if not, enjoyable? Something had changed between them, something which showed to her that the Duke wasnotas callous nor as cold as she believed him to be. Therewasa kindness to him, a heart which, perhaps under the hurt and the sorrow, still had a compassion and a softness to it. Edith felt herself growing a little more sympathetic for all that he had endured, realizing that the way he had spoken about himself had not been in the least bit generous. Did he truly think of himself as ungenerous? That his heart could not hold even the smallest bit of kindness?
“I am sorry for what my mother said to you.”
Edith looked up at him, then smiled. “There is nothing that you need to apologise for, Your Grace. She was sharing her thoughts on my choice of behaviour, that is all.”
“All the same, it was a little harsh,” he told her, reaching out and, to Edith’s astonishment, pressing her hand with his for only a moment. “And it was done in front of your friends and, thereafter, in front of me. I will speak to her about it. It will not happen again, I assure you.”
Edith could not speak. The touch of his hand on hers had stolen her breath, shocked beyond measure that he would think to do such a thing in order to comfort her. Yet again, he was revealing another part of himself to her, a part which she had never even believed was present… and in that moment, Edith’s heart opened up towards him and, to her utter astonishment, a little affection for the gentleman began to grow.
Chapter Sixteen
Henry smiled at all of his guests, then gestured to his betrothed. “Thank you all for an excellent day of fine company, excellent conversation and good sport.” The shooting party had been a grand afternoon’s entertainment and the ladies appeared to have enjoyed their afternoon together. The dinner had been superb and now the evening’s entertainment had come. “This evening, we are to have a small band of musicians come to play for us. We shall have some dancing, if you wish and – ”
“And Miss Tidemore, of course, is going to perform on her violin!”
Henry’s smile fixed to his face as he looked around the dinner table, horrified that his mother had spoken so and yet unable to refute what she had said. That would bring nothing but embarrassment to them all. His eyes fell to Edith, noting how her eyes had widened a little, though that was the only reaction she gave to such a pronouncement.
“Oh, how wonderful!” Miss Grifford exclaimed, as her parents nodded in obvious delight. “I should be very glad to hear you play, Miss Tidemore. I have heard that you are quite a remarkable musician!”
Miss Tidemore swallowed and then smiled, though Henry could tell very quickly that it was forced. “That is very kind of you, Miss Grifford.”
“Shall we take our leave of the gentlemen, ladies?” The Duchess, clearly pleased given the bright smile on her face. “Gentlemen, we shall leave you to your port.” So saying, she rose to her feet and promenaded out of the room, leaving the other young ladies to follow thereafter. Henry, seeing the wayMiss Tidemore glanced at him, turned and, after a moment of hesitation, excused himself from the other gentlemen.
“Edith.” He caught her arm, pulling her back gently as the other ladies continued on to the drawing room. “Edith, are you quite all right?”
She blinked up at him, her face pale. “Your Grace?”
“I did not – that is to say, I did not know that you were to play this evening.” A little embarrassed in case his mother had already made such an arrangement with Miss Tidemore and he had not known of it, Henry dropped his hand. “Was this arrangement spoken of beforehand?”
