Page 31 of The Duke's Gamble
At this, Samuel hesitated, surprised that he did not instantly reject the idea.
“Announcement?”
Hearing Lady Dinah, Samuel instantly scowled, recognising that for Lord Crawley to speak as he did in front of such company was an unwise thing to do. Besides that, his engagement to Lady Florentina was entirely his own and, given that his plan with Lord Allington had failed utterly, Lord Crawley did not need to have any further concerns.
Lady Dinah looked with interest from Samuel to Lord Crawley and back again as Samuel cleared his throat and looked away, hoping that his silence might betray his lack of desire to speak of such a thing.
Lady Dinah, however, was not to be put off. “That sounds intriguing! What sort of announcement might you be making, Your Grace?”
Frustrated all the more, Samuel did not answer her question, grasping Lord Crawley’s arm instead. “Do excuse us, Lady Dinah. There are some things I need to discuss with Lord Crawley.” Without hesitation, he hurried his friend away from the lady before turning on him, keeping his voice low as they stepped into the hallway. “Crawley, as concerned as you might be about Lady Florentina, might I request that you remain silent on such matters, given the present company? I am well aware of my responsibility, I can assure you. It is only taking me a little time to consider it.”
Lord Crawley’s eyebrows lifted. “Am I to understand, then, that you are now resigned to the fact that you are to marry Lady Florentina?”
Samuel opened his mouth and then closed it again as a heavy frown pulled across his forehead. He looked away, seeing Lady Dinah begin to wander through the crowd as he clenched his jaw tight as he considered his answer. Was he beginning to accept that he would soon have to wed? It was not something that he had delighted in, certainly, but now his thoughts were turning in a somewhat different direction.
“Dartmoor?”
Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Samuel looked back at his friend. “I have been doing a good deal of thinking of late, yes,” he said, shrugging as he tried to make out that his statement held very little consequence. “You may have noticed that I have been in company with Lady Florentina a good deal more of late.” There came not a single flicker of change in Lord Crawley’s expression and Samuel took this to mean that hehadbeen aware of the change in Samuel’s behaviour. Samuel took in a breath. “Might I presume that you have said nothing to the lady about my previous intentions with Lord Allington?”
Instantly, a great and heavy shadow drew itself into Lord Crawley’s expression, his eyes narrowing, his jaw jutting forward. “How dare you ask me such a thing?”
“I…”
“Do not pretend that you have forgotten!” Lord Crawley gritted his teeth, turning his head away as his face flushed hot. “I heard your threat and it wasmorethan clear—and shame on me, I could not bear to be separated from Lady Christina and thus, despite my better judgement, I have remained silent.”
Hearing this, Samuel’s entire body shook violently for a few moments as what felt like rivulets of shame and mortification washed over him. Closing his eyes tightly, he curled his hands tight, trying to control the shaking within him. Dropping his head, a groan escaped from his lips as he saw just how cruel he had been. This was his friend—though he might not be so anylonger—but someone he had known for many a year, someone he respected and thought well of. Lord Crawley had always been excellent in his advice, though Samuel had usually disregarded it, and had, Samuel knew, put up with a good deal of nonsense and frustration given all that Samuel had chosen to do. How, then, could he have been so callous as to threaten to push Lady Christina away from such a gentleman? How could he have done such a thing? Was he truly as selfish and cruel as all that? Was that the sort of gentleman hewishedto be?
“I am sorry.”
Opening his eyes, he looked directly back at Lord Crawley, taking in a deep breath before saying the very same thing again.
“I am sorry.Trulysorry. I ought never to have said such a thing to you, I ought never to have made such a threat. It was selfishness that spoke to you, my own personal determinations wanting to force your hand and, now that I see it, I feel nothing but shame.” Lifting his shoulders, he let them drop, seeing the slight narrowing of Lord Crawley’s eyes. “You do not have to believe me. Indeed, I see that you doubt me and I quite understand that. It is just as I said to Lady Florentina when I asked if we might improve our connection, I do notexpectyour trust. But if it means even the smallest thing, then I can assure you that I speak the truth.”
Lord Crawley’s brows knotted together.
“I ought never to have said such a thing,” Samuel finished, his heart heavy and weighted in his chest. “I can only apologise.”
All he received in return was a nod. Samuel, not certain what he ought to do or say next, remained silent, letting his gaze go to the walls of the hallway in which they were, taking in the paintings that hung there. There were many others walking back and forth between rooms, but none of their conversations held the slightest intrigue for Samuel. All he cared about was hearing what Lord Crawley would say.
“Did you truly ask Lady Florentina to improve your connection?”
Samuel nodded. “I did.”
“I will ask her.”
A slight lift of Samuel’s lips spoke of his wry understanding. “Then she will tell you that I asked her if we might become friends. As foolish as that might sound to you—for it did sound quite ridiculous to me also—that is what I asked her for. And she has, much to her credit, done that very thing. Whether she trusts me or not is yet to be seen, however.”
“Your Grace?”
Samuel’s heart jumped as Lady Florentina came into view, her eyebrows lifting slightly as she took in his companion. “Lady Florentina.”
“Lady Florentina, good evening.” Lord Crawley inclined his head. “I was in conversation with the Duke, as you can see, but if you require him then I can step back, of course.”
Lady Florentina smiled and Samuel’s own lips curved. “I thank you.” Her eyes turned to his, a softness there which made Samuel’s whole being warm suddenly. “The next dance is the waltz, Dartmoor.”
“Ah.” A grin spread right across Samuel’s face as he stepped away from Lord Crawley, suddenly more than eager to be in her company again, to have her close to him as they danced. “Finally, we shall have our waltz, Florentina.”
She accepted his arm with a smile, not so much as glancing at Lord Crawley. “Yes, it seems that we shall.”
