Page 23 of The Duke's Gamble
“I think it's highly irregular, improper and rude for you to demand such things from the Duke.” Lady Dinal drew herself up as though somehow she was Samuel's protector, making him a trifle embarrassed. “I think it would be best if you were mindful of the questions you are throwing at such a highly titled gentleman. After all, the Duke of Dartmoor is an excellent gentleman, is he not? He has a great deal of wealth to his name with one of the highest standings in all of England and many in society know of his reputation. I can only put your questions and brutish manner down to your lack of propriety, Lady Florentina. There can be no other explanation.”
Samuel did not know what to say. Lady Florentina’s mouth had opened a little, clearly astonished at the way Lady Dinah was now coming to Samuel's defence. He realised that he ought to be delighted with what Lady Dinah had said given that this was the standing he wanted everyone in society to hold him in, but to his surprise, there came no pleasure with it. Instead, he felt utterly mortified that Lady Dinah had spoken so and, looking into Lady Florentina’s eyes, he saw doubt and confusion dancing across her expression. Rather than delighting in it, rather than feeling himself glad that she was so displeased and confused by such a situation, Samuel’s heart squeezed painfully and he moved a small step away from Lady Dinah, so her hand fell away.
“I was about to take a short turn around the pond. Lady Florentina.” Entirely uncertain why he was about to voice the suggestion in his mind, he gestured to the path, ignoring the surprise which spread across Lady Dinah's expression. “Perhaps you might like to join me so that you can air all your concerns in private? We will, of course, remain in sight of your sister and mother at all times. I can see that they are sitting on the grass over there, at Lord Allington and Lord Barlow’s picnic.”
Something shifted in Lady Florentina’s expression though, after a moment, she lifted her chin. “How very gracious of you, Your Grace” Her words dripped with irony, and Samuel gritted his teeth, ignoring as best he could the wave of anger which coursed through him.
He narrowed his eyes a fraction. “Do you wish to join me or not?”
Lady Florentina studied him a moment longer, then, with a nod to Lady Dinah and Lady Sarah, walked ahead along the path. Samuel, choosing not to give another word of explanation to either of the other two ladies, murmured a word of farewell and then followed after her, his heart beating a little more quickly than before. Exactly what he was doing in walking alonewith Lady Florentina, he could not quite say but something in her expression had made his heart painful, and he wanted that feeling to dissipate as quickly as possible.
“Well?” The moment he came to join her, she turned to him, her steps slow but her words fierce.
“It is as I have said to you.” Knowing that he was lying to her, Samuel ignored the prickle of conscience that ran down his spine and shrugged his shoulders. “Now that I am here in society, I have found myself eager to be a little more present within it. There is nothing more to it than that.” He looked at her sidelong, and then returned his gaze to the path. “I do not think I have to explain myself to you, however. Lady Dinah is correct to state that it is a little impertinent of you”
Lady Florentina snorted and rolled her eyes. “As though I care what Lady Dinah has to say of me.” Turning to face him, she looked at him straight in the eye, coming to a dead stop. “After all, she is not the one betrothed to you. I am”
As he looked back at her, as the gentle summer breeze whispered through his hair and the sun warmed his skin, something shifted in Samuel's heart. It was almost an imperceptible shift, but it happened nonetheless, and he could feel its intensity. It was as though there was a sudden warmth within him towards the lady standing before him—something that he had not experienced before within her company.
It terrified him and yet there was nothing he could do about it. His whole being seemed to soften; the tension that he had experienced only moments before no longer there. It was as though he were seeing her for the very first time, as though he saw her just as she was, and not as he knew her to be. Taking in the beauty of her eyes and her hair, his gaze dropped to her lips. They were flat, pulled into a thin line, but there was still a beauty there, nonetheless.
Samuel’s throat tightened, struggling against the sudden change within him. Lady Florentina continued to look at him with the same expression, but as silence settled between them, it slowly began to change. Her frown sat a little heavier, her eyes began to dot around his face as though she might find an answer as to why he had fallen silent. And still, Samuel did not speak.
“If you have nothing more to say on the matter, Your Grace, then you may as well accompany me back to the picnic.” Lady Florentina spoke rather abruptly, folding her arms over her chest as she narrowed her gaze a little. “It seems as though you are quite determined to have your way, regardless of what it is you have said to me previously.”
Opening his mouth to speak, Samuel shut it again almost immediately thereafter, astonished to find that he had no quick defence to make, no harsh reply to fling back at her. It was as though his very being would not permit him, wanting him to speak kindly instead of with any sort of disdain.
Stranger still, he found his arm lifting, offering it to her as she stared at him, her expression now one of utter astonishment. Then, with a lift of her chin and a slight flounce in her step, she ignored his offer and walked straight past him directly.
And all Samuel could do was watch after her.
Chapter Nine
Two weeks later
“The Duke of Dartmoor has been present at almost every occasion these last two weeks!”
Florentina glanced at her mother as they made their way into Lord and Lady Rutherford’s townhouse. “Yes, Mama. He has.”
“Is there any explanation for his sudden change of heart? He was quite clear that he would not be present in London at very many occasions and yet now, here he is, at almost every moment!” Lady Haddington sighed and shook her head. “I do not understand that gentleman.” She cast Florentina a sidelong glance. “My dear girl, are you still quite contented with your betrothal to him?”
Florentina paused, turning to look at her mother as Christiana continued on towards the door. “Mama, you know that I must do this.”
“There is no ‘must’.” Lady Haddington grasped Florentina’s hands tightly, looking earnestly back at her. “We will be quite secure in the Dower house, my dear. I know that none of us wanted this but it is not your responsibility to make the situation better! That is your brother’s responsibility and, as yet, he has shown himself to be not only lacking in duty but also in his courage.” Her shoulders lifted slightly, a gentle glistening of tears in her eyes. “You need not sacrifice yourself. Miriam and I shall manage.”
“But the damage to our family’s reputation will be done,” Florentina replied, feeling her stomach twist as the path before her became all too clear. “Miriam will find it more difficult to make a suitable match, as will Christina.” Her throat tightened. “As will I.” Taking in a breath, she shook her head. “I will havevery little hope of making a good match to a kind and sensible gentleman, Mama, for we will have lost our home and thetonwill do nothing but gossip about us. I shall not allow such a thing to happen—not to my sisters.”
Lady Haddington blinked, her tears all the greater. “Your heart has so much love within it, Florentina, I find myself overwhelmed by it.” She pressed Florentina’s hands again. “But what about Lord Allington? I have not asked you anything about him as yet but I do see his attentions to you. They have not been hidden from me.”
At this, heat flushed up Florentina’s chest and into her cheeks. “Lord Allington has been very attentive, Mama. I will not say that I have not found his company pleasing but I have always reminded myself that I am already spoken for—whether the Duke of Dartmoor wishes to acknowledge it or not!” She sighed inwardly as her mother nodded, though there was a look of resignation on her face. Clearly, her mother felt just the same as she, wishing that somehow, Florentina might be able to respond to the attentions that Lord Allington had been offering her.
“Christina is waiting,” Florentina continued, gently. “Come, Mama. We should go into the ball.”
With another heartfelt sigh, Lady Haddington nodded and then turned towards the townhouse again, taking Florentina with her. As they walked, Florentina had to battle tears of her own, recognising just how difficult her situation was at present. Lord Allington had been nothing but attentive towards her, coming to her side at almost every occasion… but all the same, she had seen the Duke of Dartmoor always nearby and his presence constantly stole her attention. She was tied to him, whether she liked that or not, and even a handsome gentleman’s interest would not turn her from the agreement.
“And what of Lord Crawley?” Lady Haddington asked, as they stepped inside. “He has been coming to call also, has he not?”
Florentina frowned. “Yes, he has but I do not trust him, Mama. He is a close friend of the Duke, and I do not know his reasons for continuing his acquaintance with us.”
