Page 89 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
‘The carriage is waiting, Your Grace.’
Xavier escorted the ladies outside and down the steps. He handed Miss Lowell in first and then Barbara.
He held her hand a little longer than was needed and she glanced up. The anxiety in her eyes took him aback.
He wanted to offer her some sort of assurance. ‘I am sure you will feel more yourself in the morning.’
She shook her head slightly as if to indicate his words were no help at all.
He released her hand, closed the door and watched their carriage move off.
He needed to get to the bottom of what was wrong between Barbara and her father.
‘I expected a warmer welcome, daughter,’ the Ambassador said, the morning after Barbara had attended the theatre with Xavier.
Barbara lifted her chin. He must think she would feel blessed to have him call.
When she was a child, she would have done anything to gain his attention. And he hadn’t taken the slightest bit of notice. Until he’d realised she could be of use.
At first, she had basked in his warmth towards her, until she’d realised he cared nothing for her, and only cared about the advantage she brought to further his ambition.
He had done well out of her marriages. He was now not just a minor diplomat but an ambassador to Portugal with a medal to prove his worth to the crown.
‘How good of you to call, Father,’ she said coolly. ‘It would have been nice to have been forewarned of your presence in London.’
‘Barbara,’ Aunt Lenore said, fussing with her lace collar. ‘Your papa is a busy man. Youcannot expect—’
‘But I do expect,’ she interrupted. ‘I expect him to show common courtesy and inform me of his intended arrival.’
‘Nonsense, child.’ Her father flicked dismissive fingers. ‘When the King commands my presence, I cannot be dawdling about writing letters. I come post-haste.’
‘I doubt the King knows you exist.’ The King didn’t know anyone existed if what Barbara heard was true. The King was completely mad.
Her father glared at her. ‘What has you out of sorts? Your aunt tells me you left the play early last night because of a headache. I hope it is not measles. I gather it is going about.’
‘If you knew anything about me, Father, you would know I had measles when I was six. But, of course, you would not recall. I was at school at the time.’ At school all alone and terrified she was going to die. The nurse had been horrible to her, because father hadforgottento pay the school fees for more than one term.
Truth to tell, he’d probably forgotten he had a daughter.
‘Tsk-tsk. Barbara. Do not speak to your father with such disrespect,’ Aunt Lenore said.
She would sooner not speak to him at all.
‘Why are you here, Father?’
‘Cannot a father visit his own daughter?’
He could. But he rarely wanted to. ‘How very paternal of you.’
‘I was pleased to see you wearing the Lipsweigerparure last night, my dear. It becomes you. You should wear it as often as possible.’
Suspicion writhed in her stomach. Father never asked her to do anything unless there was a purpose behind it. ‘Why would you care?’
He shrugged. ‘It adds to your consequence. I hear you have been making a bit of a stir. Only the wealthiest can get away with that sort of thing. Might also attract an advantageous offer.’
Her stomach dipped. ‘I am not looking to attract any sort of offer.’ She should not wear the jewels ever again.
‘Listen to your father, dear,’ Aunt Lenore said. ‘He understands these things.’
