Page 15 of The Duke's Gamble
“Pray, stop worrying. You always have a small crease between your brows when you think such thoughts.” Throwing her a glance, Christina smiled against Florentina’s furrowed brows. “You and I are both entirely disinclined to be here this evening, but now that we are, let us make the best of it. Mayhap, we will find ourselves quite contented.”
“Though I can only be contented for a time,” Florentina muttered, trying not to let her spirits sink into the doldrums she had been swathed in for the last few weeks. “No matter how much I try to push him from my mind, the Duke is always there, reminding me that I am soon to become his wife.”
“Though he does not want you to speak of it, as you said.” Christina tipped her head. “Why is that?”
Florentina frowned all the harder. “You were present at the dinner table the night we spoke of it all, were you not?” She cast her mind back to that day when the Duke had offered her the one chance to save her family from ruin, clearly believing that she would not do it—and Florentina had forced herself into acceptance, despite the pain which had seared her the moment she had spoken those words. “You recall that the Duke did not want us to speak of the engagement to anyone, not until he had resolved certain matters regarding the house and his estate.”
“Though he was never clear on what those matters were,” Christina replied. “Have you sought clarification on the matter?”
Florentina let out a dry, broken laugh. “My dear Christina, the Duke and I have done as much as we can to stay apart from each other,” she answered, a slight trembling running through her frame. “I have his promise in writing, of course, but that is all that we have shared. Once the Season is at an end, the wedding date shall be set and all will be well. The house will return to our brother and I… well, I shall have to make the best of things.”Speaking as brightly as she could, Florentina curled her fingers tightly, refusing to let the ball of pain and sadness in her chest rise into her throat. She had cried too many tears already—all of them in solitude, of course—but she was not about to let that distract her now. She had to do her best, had to make sure that Christina made as good a match as she could whilst praying that her brother’s stupidity would not pass as rumors to theton.
“I do think you are quite wonderful, you know.”
Florentina looked at her sister sharply. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Giving up yourself in such a way,” Christina continued, her arm slipping through Florentina’s. “Miriam told me how upset you were about it all. I do not believe you need to lose yourself in this manner, simply for our sake. This is our brother’s doing, andheought to have taken responsibility.”
“And yet, our brother is too ashamed to return home,” Florentina answered, her lip curling. Henry had not come back to the house, as they had all expected. Instead, he had merely written to them, offering profuse apologies but giving no indication that he intended to return to the family home or offer any assistance whatsoever. “That is the reason I have done such a thing, for, as I said to the Duke that day, if our brother will not protect our family, then I must. It falls to me as the eldest sister and, even though the Duke did not think that I would accept such an offer—for it is quite clear that I despise him—I had no choice but to do so.” Swallowing the growing ache in her throat, Florentina blinked quickly, trying to push back the ever-threatening tears. “And I was glad to do so, truly. For your sake, for Miriam’s sake, and for Mama’s.” She took in a long breath and tried to smile. “I am sure the Duke will not be as dreadful as we think. In the years to come, he might alter even a little and that would be more bearable.”
Christina shook her head. “You are much too good, Florentina. Mayhap, in this Season, you will find someone better and be unable to do anything but accept him, breaking your engagement to the Duke and finding your happiness instead.”
“I cannot do that,” Florentina answered, hastily. “To do that would be to break the agreement and the house would, instead, remain in his possession. I cannot imagine Mama living in that crumbling Dower house! I can assure you, no matter how many handsome and amiable gentlemen I see this Season, I will have eyes for no one but the Duke. Though quite why he has decided to come to London as well, I do not understand.”
Christina nudged her. “You say that you will have eyes for none but him but I am sure that your gaze will continually wish to pull away from him, for he is indeed the most odious, selfish, arrogant fellow I have ever met!”
Despite her current feelings and inner turmoil—none of which she betrayed to her sister—Florentina managed to laugh. “In that, I quite agree with you,” she admitted, as her sister smiled at her. “Though my focus is now entirely upon you! You are here to make a match of your own andthatmust be your only thought. You have great beauty, Christina, of both face and character and I am certain that a great many gentlemen in London will be eager to be introduced to you this evening.”
Christina flushed. “You are very kind.” Turning around, she glanced towards their mother, and Florentina followed suit. Lady Haddington was smiling and talking with a lady that neither Christina nor Florentina recognised.
“It is nice to see her smile so,” Christina murmured softly, as Florentina watched, a gentle relief growing within her. It was not often that their mother was seen conversing so animatedly with another, but she had evidently found an old acquaintance and was already deep in conversation.
This, at least, is a joy.
Florentina had been concerned that coming back to London and residing in the family townhouse would bring both happy memories and a deep and sorrowful pain to her mother. Now, however, it seemed as though all would be well, for to see Lady Haddington smile with such delight brought her a sense of happiness. She remembered how angry and upset her mother had been when first told of the agreement with the Duke, but Florentina had not wavered. Though still displeased, Lady Haddington was at least a little more contented now. That was certainly a blessing.
“It is. I actually find myself a little glad that we are in London.”
Pulled out of her thoughts, Florentina smiled. “As do I, although I will not say that I am grateful for the circumstances that brought us here. I do wish that our brother would have the strength and the courage to return to us! His shame is understandable but he only makes things worse by staying away.”
“Lady Christina, Lady Florentina, good evening.”
Any reply that Christina might have made was interrupted as a gentleman they were already acquainted with bowed to them both. Florentina dropped into a curtsy at once. “Lord Barlow! How very good to see you this evening.”
“And to see you both!” Lord Barlow answered with a smile, though Florentina noted how his gaze lingered a little longer on Christina. “This is a marvelous ball, is it not?”
Christina and Florentina shared a small smile.
“You may be surprised to know, Lord Barlow, that this is the first ball of the Season for both myself and my sister.” Florentina gestured to Christina. “We have both been quite excited for it, and it has not failed to meet our expectations.”
Lord Barlow’s eyes lit up. “Is that so?” When they nodded, he inclined his head once more. “Then allow me to make certainthat your evening is an exceptional one. If I might have your dance card?”
His eyes remained on Christina as he accepted the dance card from her. A little unsure as to whether or not she too would be asked for her dance card, Florentina made to slip it from her wrist, only to hesitate.
“And as my friend appears to have your sister’s dance card, might I request your own?”
Turning her head. Florentina looked into the eyes of the most handsome man she had ever seen. He was of a stocky sort but with his hands clasped behind his back, Florence found herself fully aware of the strength that was in his frame. Her gaze lifted to his features, seeing eyes of swirling green and gold with the darkness of his hair seeming to illuminate them even more. She opened her mouth, only to close it again, her mouth going dry.
“Might I?” he asked again, a softness in his expression that sent gentleness into his eyes and a warmth into his smile. Florentina found herself returning that smile, even though she was all too aware that they had not yet been introduced. His eyebrows lifted just a little and she realised that, as yet she had not responded to his question; and his second question also! Dropping her gaze, Florentina’s heart quickened, though she could not tell whether it was from embarrassment or the awareness of his handsome presence—and her response to it.
