Page 30 of The Duke's Gamble
“You are truly as has been said,” he murmured, though Florentina did not understand what he meant. “Thank you, Lady Florentina. I am truly grateful, whether you believe that of me or not.”
Then, just as her mother and sister swept into the room again, the Duke bowed low and, turning, bid them all farewell.
The moment he stepped out of the room, Lady Haddington rushed towards Florentina, grasping both of her hands tightly. “My dear girl, whatever was it he wished to say to you? You are flushed, and your eyes are full of concern.”
“I am quite well, Mama.” Florentina pressed her mother’s hand in return but smiled quickly “Truly, I am well.”
“Then what did he say?” Christina wanted to know, glancing over her shoulder as though she feared the Duke might reappear at any moment.”
With a slight lift of her shoulders, Florentina offered them both a small smile. “In short, I believe that he wants to be my friend,” she answered, her heart softening all the more. “And that, somehow, we might find a way of contentment together. It does not mean that I shall have great happiness in my marriage but itdoespromise me a little more contentment than I would have enjoyed before.”
“Goodness.” Lady Haddington’s eyes were rounded, though there was a smile which soon followed. “Well, that is wonderful, so long as you believe he can be trusted.”
A quiet laugh broke from Florentina’s lips. “Yes, Mama, that was my thought also,” she admitted, as Christina went to ring the bell for tea. “But I suppose time will tell whether he is genuine in his desire. Though,” she finished, softly, “my heart prays that he is. For that, I know, would change everything.”
Chapter Twelve
I do not know what has come over me.
Samuel considered Lady Florentina as she danced in the arms of Lord Barlow. It had been a little over a sennight since he had discovered himself at her mother’s townhouse, striding into the house as though he owned it and, thereafter, telling Lady Florentina the strange emotions which swirled through him as though, somehow, she would understand. He had spoken openly of his confusion and in doing so, had found that simply looking at her had brought him clarity. There had been shame within him—though he had been loath to admit it—and from that, a mortification that he had lost not only the company of Lord Crawley but also the company of Lord Allington. The troubling consideration of his character had made his heart thunder, his mind furiously working through how he viewed himself as opposed to the true person he presented to society and, indeed, to Lady Florentina and now, sometime after that, Samuel found his thoughts a good deal more settled.
Yes, he had been foolish in attempting to earn as much property and wealth as he could; not because the desire in itself had been in any way idiotic but rather in the way he had gone about it. To have such a lack of consideration for Lady Haddington and her daughters when he had first walked into the house was something he now found to be truly mortifying, wishing that he had reacted and behaved in an entirely different manner.
Though, as yet, he had no intention of giving up the house entirely. To do so would be to give up his betrothal to Lady Florentina for she would have no requirement then to marry him and Samuel was struggling to eventhinkof such a situation. This last week, he had spent a good deal more time in her companyand with every smile she offered him, every conversation they shared and every dance they stood up for together, Samuel felt himself becoming a little more pulled towards her. The thought of ending their betrothal was no longer something that brought him any joy though quite what hewasfeeling at present was not something he could understand and certainly could not express either.
“Your Grace! Good evening to you.”
Samuel’s thoughts were interrupted by none other than the incorrigible Lady Dinah, who Samuel thought in frustration, seemed determined to practically hang on his arm at every occasion they attended. “Lady Dinah, good evening.” He inclined his head. “I do hope that this evening is pleasing to you.”
She tilted her head. “I must ask you, Your Grace, when willyouhost an evening of some kind? I am sure that whatever it is you will throw will be the most exceptional evening of all!”
Samuel blinked in surprise. Even though Lady Dinah could often be bold in her manner and he was well aware of that, her questions and her frankness still astonished him. He drew himself up, looking away from her. “I am afraid, Lady Dinah, that I have no intention of throwing any sort of affair, as disappointing as that might be.”
“Oh?” Lady Dinah’s eyebrows lifted. “But thetonare speaking so highly of you of late, I am surprised that you would not think to host a decadent evening of a certain sort.”
This pricked up Samuel’s ears in an instant. “They are?” His whole body warmed. “How wonderful, I did not know such a thing!”
“Oh, yes!” Lady Dinah set a hand on his arm, gazing up at him. “I heard Lady Gosford and Lady Nightingale stating just how excellent a character you had and how highly those in thetonthought of you. I am sure there was conversation as regardswhat society might expect from you by way of entertainment but alas, if you do not feel able—”
Suddenly invigorated by her words, Samuel lifted himself up on his toes for just a moment, practically bouncing as he grinned. This was what he wanted from theton, what he wanted for himself and now to hear that he had begun to achieve it… well, that was quite wonderful!
Though recall, you are only now realising that you ought not to be focusing on such a thing,said the quiet voice of his conscience, as Samuel’s smile faded a little.Have you not only just been thinking about all that you oughtnotto have done? Are you going to be so quick to return to it all?
“Your Grace?”
Samuel cleared his throat, forcing his smile to return. “Lady Dinah, how very kind of you to share such a thing with me. I shall consider hosting some event, of course, but—”
“How wonderful!” Lady Dinah squeezed his arm—which she had not as yet released—as her eyes twinkled up at him. “What shall it be? A ball? A soiree? A dinner party?”
“Wait a moment! Did I hear thatyouare going to host a ball?”
At the familiar voice, Samuel turned to see Lord Crawley’s eyebrows lifting so high, they were close to his hairline. “Lord Crawley.” Feeling a little panicked, he shook his head. “No, I have not had any real thought about such things. It is only—”
“The Duke is merely considering what sort of event he ought to host.” Yet again, Lady Dinah interrupted him and Samuel closed his eyes, shutting out the sight of Lord Crawley’s astonished face. “I think a ball would be the most exciting. All of thetonwill be speaking of it! And you can show just how extravagant your wealth is also, of course.”
A deep longing grasped a hold of Samuel’s heart at this and, opening his eyes, he found himself nodding.
“You are throwing a ball?” Lord Crawley rolled his eyes. “Might it be because of some…announcementthat you might wish to host such an event?”
