Page 34 of An Arranged Betrothal with an Icy Duke
“Thank you for listening to me.” Lady Frankton let out a small, rather heavy sigh. “I am sure that the Duke of Fairglen would be most displeased with our conversation but – ”
“He does not know the truth, does he?”
Hesitating for a moment, Lady Frankton shook her head. “No, he does not though my husbandhasattempted to write to him on more than one occasion to explain it all. He was not successful in that.”
Something tugged at Edith’s mind and she frowned. “But you said that you had both accepted an invitation from the Duchess to come here. Why would you do such a thing if you knew that she was, mayhap, manipulating it all? It is clear to methat she wrote on the Duke’s behalf without either his agreement or his awareness.”
“Because it was the only way we were going to be able to speak with the Duke of Fairglen face to face,” came the reply. “It has been our only note from him in the last three years! There is a way for us to make this right, to help him see and understand what we are saying is true and in that he ought to be on his guard. Even though he clearly was not expecting us, even though he very obviously does not want us present, wemustmake use of this opportunity.”
“I see.” Edith nodded slowly, understanding everything that Lady Frankton was saying. “And you would like me to try and talk to the Duke about it all?” Seeing the lady nod, Edith hesitated, wincing as she did so. The Duke would, most likely, not take her word for it and mayhap that was a good thing. Mayhap that was what she herself ought to do, perhaps choosing not to simply accept everything that the lady had told her but leaving it to the Duke himself to decide. No doubt he would wish to speak to his brother about the matter and, mayhap his mother also. “I do not know what he will say. He and I have begun a closer connection, certainly, but in this matter, I do not know what his response will be. I do not think that he will want to speak to me about it for even with your husband’s presence here – and I do not say this to injure you - has meant that he has withdrawn again. He has already become colder towards me than he was before.”
Lady Frankton’s shoulders dropped. “I am sorry about that.”
“It is not your fault.” Edith smiled briefly. “As I have said, it is not your doing and I do not say it to upset you only to state the truth.” Letting out a slow breath, she shook her head. “I do not know what he will do but I will say this.” Lifting her chin, she looked back steadily at Lady Frankton. “By this time tomorrow, Iwill have done my best to speak with him about it. I promise you that.”
Chapter Twenty
“Should you like to dance?”
Henry tried to smile as Miss Tidemore blinked up at him in obvious surprise. It had been a rather enjoyable afternoon and Henry had, much to his relief, managed to ignore his brother and his wife for most of the day which, in turn, had let him feel a little more at ease. He had caught Miss Tidemore watching him on occasion, had seen what he thought to be concern flickering in her eyes and had decided, therefore, that he would do his best to reassure her that all was well between them. Where that desire had come from, Henry could not quite say and, all too aware that there were a good many emotions whirling through him, he chose to set them aside for the moment to think upon later.
“It is to be a waltz, I believe,” he said, as Miss Tidemore began to smile. “Miss Grifford has offered to play for us all. What do you say?”
“That is very kind of you, Your Grace,” she answered, glancing to her left and to her right, though her companions were all smiling in encouragement. “Of course I shall.”
With a smile, Henry stepped away with Edith on his arm just as Lord Eaveswood approached his wife, ready to take her to dance also. The music began before he was quite ready and, without warning, Henry found himself embracing Edith as they began to dance. His hand was tight on hers, the other at her waist and, much to his embarrassment, his steps stumbled a little as he began.
“I do apologise,” he muttered, though much to his relief, Edith only laughed softy and assured him that all was well. There was not a great deal of room to waltz but with only threecouples on the floor, there was more than enough space for them to do so. Henry found his steps again and, feeling a little more at ease, began to twirl Edith around and, as he did so, felt his heart soften.
He could not explain it but within him came such a yearning, such a desire to pull her even a little closer, he could not help but give in to it. As carefully as he could, he tugged her a little more closely to him, hoping that she would think that it was simply because of the lack of space rather than anything else, while his own heart caught alight with a sudden, furious anticipation. Surely it could not be that he wanted to have his arms tight around her, that he wanted her as close to him as he could possibly have her? Surely this strange desire to kiss her, to drop his lips to hers, was not something he could tolerate?
Blinking furiously, Henry tried to quell the swirling within him, telling himself that he was being foolish, that he was becoming overwhelmed by his own foolishness, but all the same, the desire would not leave him. When she smiled up at him, his heart exploded for the sheer beauty of it, a rush of joy sweeping right through him.
Whatever was happening to him? He had wanted to keep Miss Tidemore at arm’s length, had wanted to keep her back from him and yet now, despite his intentions, the only thing he wanted to do was draw her closer to him than she had ever been before.
***
“Might I ask you something?”
Henry nodded, looking to his friend as they both sat out in the gardens, watching the other guests as they meandered around. Some were playing a game of croquet while others merely watched. Henry’s gaze continually dragged itself towards Miss Tidemore, though he did find himself a little disturbed bythat. His feelings for the lady were growing much too quickly and, for whatever reason, all thought of stepping away from her, from considering her unsuitable, had quite gone from him. In fact, the more he thought about marrying her, the more he found himself quite at ease with the idea.
“Are you going to marry the lady?”
It was as though his friend had seen everything that Henry was thinking. A slow heat began to build in his chest, pushing up towards his face as Henry kept his gaze away from the lady in question though he did not look to Lord Eaveswood either. “I – I have not yet decided.”
“Though you care for her.”
Henry’s mouth fell open as his friend chuckled.
“You must not be too surprised, surely?” Lord Eaveswood laughed, as the heat in Henry’s chest spread up towards his face. “I have seen how you have been watching Miss Tidemore these last few days. I have even seen youdancewith her and your hands could not have clung more eagerly to her waist.”
“That is certainlynotthe case,” Henry stated, firmly, interrupting his friend. “We danced only once and it was a very, quiet, simple dance which took place last evening. There were many others present and – ”
“And you could not take your eyes off of her,” Lord Eaveswood interrupted, albeit in a gentle manner. “Just as you cannot do now.”
Henry pressed his lips flat together, wishing he could find a response but struggling to do so. His friend was quite right though Henry did not want to admit it.
“She has not proven herself to be in the least bit flirtatious, has she?” Lord Eaveswood asked, his tone quiet now. “You must surely have been able to see that her character is very fine indeed, just as both myself and my wife have done?”
