Page 18 of The Duke's Gamble
“Indeed.” Lord Crawley eyed Samuel suspiciously, in a way that Samuel did not much like. “And that evenafteryou discovered that Lady Florentina would be present this evening.”
“And this surprises you?” Samuel arched an eyebrow, hoping that this, as well as the slight dryness of his tone, might prevent Lord Crawley from asking any further questions but, to his frustration, it did not.
His friend nodded. “It does indeed. I was present when you announced your engagement at the dinner table and I believe the shock is still with me!”
Samuel sniffed. “Your point is…?”
“My point is, during that dinner, you made it very clear that not only were Lady Florentina, her sisters or her mother not to speak of your engagement to anyone—something I find a little strange—but you also stated you were not often going to be present in society. I think you declared that hardly anyone would know of your presence. And yet, here you are, at one of the most prestigious—and crowded—balls of the Season, where nearly everyone will be aware of your presence!”
With a shrug, Samuel tried to find a reason to offer his friend for his actions but he could find nothing to say. The truth was too dark for him to express to Lord Crawley for, though it did not concern Samuel in the least what he was intending to do, he had every expectation that Lord Crawley would protest—and protest vehemently.
“You are doing what you can to get out of this betrothal, are you not?”
Samuel turned to his friend quickly, his heart thudding. “I beg your pardon?”
Lord Crawley shrugged. “It is quite clear to me that you have no intention of actually marrying the young lady, Dartmoor. You have cursed your own foolishness enough in my presence for me to be well aware of that!”
Samuel scowled. “Be that as it may, I have not any intention of escaping this betrothal.”
“No?” This time, it was Lord Crawley who lifted an eyebrow.
Sniffing, Samuel shrugged. “I will admit that I was foolish but that does not mean that I intend to renege on my agreement.”
“You cannot,” Lord Crawley interrupted with a snort. “I was one of the witnesses who saw you sign the agreement, if you recall? I saw that, even ifyouwere to break the betrothal, the house would still return to Lord Haddington and yet, something within me says that you are going to do all that you can to free yourself.” He studied Samuel closely, only for his eyes to flare wide. “Wait a moment! If you cannot escape the marriage, then does that mean you will encourage Lady Florentina to do so?”
The response that Samuel gave by way of silence was all that Lord Crawley evidently needed. His eyes rounded all the more, only for him to chuckle, shake his head and roll his eyes—much to Samuel’s irritation.
“Whatever as you laughing for?” he demanded to know, his face heating. “Is it not understandable that I should try to escape from thisridiculousbetrothal? Surely you can understand my reasons for—”
“Oh, I can see whyyouwould wish to be rid of the betrothal, Dartmoor,” Lord Crawley interrupted, still chuckling, “but youmust be something of a dunderhead if you think that Lady Florentina will release herself from it!”
Irritated at being spoken to in such a way, Samuel scowled but his friend ignored him.
“I know Lady Florentina a little better than you and already, I can see just how loyal she is to her family,” Lord Crawley reminded him, as the scowl on Samuel’s face deepened further. “You have underestimated her once already by offering your hand in marriage, believing that her hatred of you meant she would not sacrifice herself—and then look what happened! Shedidaccept, shedidgive up all of her desires, her hopes for the future and the like and is now soon to be married to you! Do you really believe that she would be foolish enough to step back from all that she has agreed to? That she would surrender, knowing that her family would then be left without a manor house? I think you underestimate her, my friend.”
Samuel’s jaw jutted forward, hating that Lord Crawley had been able to see so clearly all that he intended to do.
“By what means do you expect to turn her away?” his friend continued, still clearly mocking Samuel’s idea. “Do you think to be cruel to her? My dear friend, I believe you have already shown her enough of that and yet still, she has resolved to marry you.”
Again, Samuel’s expression drew into a scowl. His friend was laughing at his idea and yet Samuel had every intention of doing just as Lord Crawley had suggested.
“Oh, you do?” Lord Crawley’s expression changed in an instant, his eyes widening, his brows lifting. “You think to do something more, then? To make it even clearer to her just how much of a dislikeable, obtuse and stubborn fellow you are?”
“I am not as bad as all that,” Samuel retorted, a little irritated by his friend’s description of him. “But I will let herthinkthat I am, certainly.” He lifted his chin, ignoring the way Lord Crawley rolled his eyes. “And I have other intentions.”
“Intentions?”
Samuel smirked. “Indeed. Intentions that will prove to the lady herself—by her own doing—that she is not in the least bit as determined as she believes.”
Lord Crawley opened his mouth but before he could speak, another gentleman drew near, and Samuel grinned.
“Lord Allington, good evening.” He inclined his head as the gentleman nodded, noting how the fellow glanced to Lord Crawley. “Are you acquainted with Lord Crawley?”
“I am.” Lord Allington smiled briefly, then looked at Samuel. “Is she here, then?”
Samuel rubbed his hands together, a broad smile spreading across his face as he tucked himself a little further back into the shadows. “She is,” he murmured, aware that Lord Crawley had no knowledge of what they were speaking of. “Come now, let me show you her.”
Letting his gaze rove around the room, he caught sight of Lady Florentina, a little perturbed by how his stomach lurched suddenly. Why ever was he reacting in such a way? Clearing his throat, he dismissed the sensation, telling himself that it came from the hope and expectation that came from putting his plan into action.
