Page 4 of The Duke's Reluctant Muse
“Then I am surprised that you have come to a soiree!” Lord Dalton shot back, leaning back in his chair and lifting one eyebrow. “That is a little foolish, is it not?”
Jonathan bit back a harsh answer, closing his eyes and letting his breath hiss out between his clenched teeth. Silence answered him for some moments and it was not until he opened his eyes and looked again at his friend that he saw Lord Dalton’s smile had finally faded. Lord Dalton was an old acquaintanceand one that Jonathan had let fade during his years absent from society. Lord Dalton, however, had not seemed to even think of that for when Jonathan had first stepped into London society, he had been right beside him again, seeming to delight in Jonathan’s company.
I ought not to be angry with him.
“You are unhappy.”
At Lord Dalton’s words, Jonathan swallowed back his first response. Everything in him wanted to retort that he wasnotunhappy, that he was quite well and there was nothing whatsoever the matter, but the truth was there, refusing to permit him to escape. Besides which, he considered, Lord Dalton was a friend and it was not as though the fellow was well known for spreading all manner of gossip and rumor. He could trust him with this.
“I suppose you are well aware that last Season, my suit has been rejected for a third time in quick succession,” he stated, trying to keep his tone measured although his words sounded a little more clipped than usual. He looked out at the room, his eyes caught on one particular young lady with her yellow gown, dark tresses and dancing brown eyes. Jonathan sighed inwardly, dragging his eyes away and refusing to allow himself to look at her any longer. It was foolish to eventhinkof a lady given his current circumstances. “All of thetonhad seen my evident interest in Lady Beatrice and, no doubt, they must all speak now of how she rejected my suit. It may have been last Season but the mind of society does not easily forget.”
Lord Dalton cleared his throat and looked away. “Indeed, that is so.”
“And,” Jonathan continued, scowling, “theton isalso aware of my previous two attempts with two other young ladies and now must think me one of the most ridiculous men in all ofEngland! This despite the fact that I am a Duke! I have no confidence in society any longer though I am here nonetheless.”
“Well, you did pursue them all rather quickly.”
His skin prickled and Jonathan sent a glance back towards his friend, though Lord Dalton spoke gently and without derision.
“It was clear that you desired a bride, Nottingham.” Lord Dalton spoke with a familiarity that came with a long acquaintance and close friendship and Jonathan could not help but listen. “It is unfortunate that they all rejected your suit but you must see why that is. You were abrupt, sharp in your words, seemingly angry or frustrated in your demeanour with everyone at all times! It was as though you were demanding their interest, rather than merely seeking it. I do not mean to injure you in what I say but I speak what I hope is the truth.”
“I understand that.” With a heavy darkness pooling into his soul, Jonathan nodded but looked away from his friend, setting his eyes, once more, on the young lady in the yellow dress. Was it just his imagination or was there a gentle scent assailing him? Vanilla? Rose? No doubt, it came from her. A sigh pulled itself from his lips as he forced his eyes away once more, reminding himself that he was not a gentleman that any young lady would wish to form an attachment with at present.
“You are considering Miss Hamilton, I see.”
“No, I am not considering anyone,” Jonathan snapped back, raking one hand through his thick, dark hair and scowling furiously. “She is pretty, certainly, but I cannot give her more than a few moments of my attention.”
Lord Dalton shrugged. “She may well be eager for your company.”
“I hardly think so,” Jonathan spat, his anger beginning to curl up within him, sparks in his eyes and a tightness in his chest that he could not easily remove. “Three young ladies have each,separately, cast me aside and have rejected my suit outright. I return to London and within a day of my arrival, I hear whispers about me.” His scowl hardened. “I even heard there was a wager in Whites’ betting book as to how many young ladies would reject my offer of courtship.”
Lord Dalton shook his head. “That is most unfortunate and certainly not in the least bit deserved but I do not think you need to fear theton,” he replied, his eyes no longer dancing and no smile on his lips. “They are not inclined towards kindness, as you have discovered, but you do not need to hide from society.”
“I have no choice but to listen to them all the same,” Jonathan replied, his shoulders dropping and the tightness beginning to loosen around his chest as they began to speak in more equal terms. “They decide whether or not I am suitable foranyyoung lady in thetonto consider, it seems. They determine whether I am to be the subject of gossip or forgiven for my demeanour.Theydecide if I am to have wagers placed against me or if I am to be permitted to go about my business without such a ridicule made of me. I fear now that I shall have no other choice but to wed a lady that every other has overlooked.”
A shrug lifted Lord Dalton’s shoulders. “Mayhap that would not be too terrible an outcome,” he suggested, only for Jonathan to roll his eyes. “No, you do not think so?”
Jonathan shook his head, wishing he could find a way to express his depths of his frustration at even the thought of such an arrangement. “I do not want to marry simply because I am required to,” he told his friend, deciding to speak the truth as to his reasons for such a thing. “I find the idea of being forced into matrimony to be a very disagreeable one indeed, for then one is less likely to have any feelings of interest or affection for the lady in question.”
Lord Dalton turned, tilting his head just a little, his lips pursing for a moment. “You think such a thing to be important?”he queried as Jonathan nodded, all too aware of the heat that rolled up his chest as he spoke.
“I wish to havesomesort of affection or even interest in the lady I wed,” he replied, speaking quickly so that his words were expressed in as hurried a manner as he could manage so that his embarrassment would not increase. It was not like him to speak with any sort of frankness. “It is not that I require to have a great depth of emotion for her – I certainly do not ask for the notion of love - but rather that I would like to feelsomething!” He sighed and dropped his head, grimacing. “I did find myself rather drawn to each of the three ladies I have already approached, for whilst they were all beautiful – exquisite blossoms in a sunlit garden, I would say – there was a gentleness, a sweetness to their character that I found very pleasing." Shooting a quick glance towards Lord Dalton, Jonathan was surprised to see the scowl growing across his face. Lord Dalton shifted in his chair, a hardness in his expression that surprised Jonathan.
“I am not certain that such ‘sweetness’ and ‘gentleness’ as you have described were a true reflection of any of those young ladies,” he said, his voice dropping a little lower. “Youareaware, are you not, that all the young ladies of thetonare expected to present themselves in a certain way?”
There was a hint of sarcasm now in Lord Dalton’s tone and Jonathan shifted uncomfortably, taken aback by the sudden change in his friend’s manner.
“Let us say that Lady Beatrice – the daughter of Lord Bathurst – is a young lady you find yourself interested in. She is nothing but delightful when you are in her company and you become quite besotted with her. Can you be certain that the character she presents to you, the lady that you see when you are with her, is her true nature?”
Jonathan hesitated, spreading his hands. “I should hope that there would be a good deal of truth it in, yes.”
“Then you are being foolish!” Lord Dalton exclaimed, throwing up his hands before sitting forward in his chair, pinning Jonathan with his gaze. “The lady might have a furious temper, which you have no knowledge of until you one day decide to call at an unexpected hour, only to find the entire house in uproar because Lady Beatrice had become displeased with something!”
Pressing his lips together, Jonathan chose to say nothing in response to this. Lord Dalton was now red faced, with his eyes flashing and a tightness in his jaw that spoke of an ongoing and overwhelming anger that his friend still felt deeply. Jonathan did not want to ask further questions, quite certain that Lord Dalton had not had the intention of making himself so obvious. Still, the advice he had given rang true and Jonathan could not pretend that it was irrelevant to his own situation, even if he did not really want to believe it.
“You will be cautious, I hope.”
Jonathan nodded, clearing his throat and coupling his hands together. “I appreciate your advice – and your candour,” he added, as Lord Dalton grimaced, turning his eyes away from Jonathan. “Mayhap I have been a little….hasty in my considerations.”
