Page 10 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
“Fife’s daughter is getting married, is she? I had not realized. Good for her.”
Herbert’s face registered the naked surprise he clearly felt and he shook his head in disbelief.
“Surely you have been invited to the union, Your Grace! It promises to be a grand event. It will be three days of festivities. I daresay I am stunned you have not heard of it!”
Leonard pursed his lips as he tried to recall such an event on his roster but he could not. It was hardly surprising that no one had mentioned the invitation to him. If his mother and sister intended to go, they would not think to ask him. They would be certain he would refuse as he had so many other affairs in the past.
And they would be right to believe so. Days of festivities—how frivolous.
“It matters not. I would not care to attend such an event. Fife is half a day away and I have matters to attend here.”
“Your Grace! This will be the event of the decade! I daresay the Baron has spared no expense for his daughter to be wed. She is his only child.”
“I am aware. I have studied the peerages and titles more than I care to recall,” Leonard sighed. “I am certain it will be an affair to remember but I have not the least interest in attending. I doubt very much that my absence will be noted.”
Herbert clamped his mouth closed as he realized protesting the virtues of such an attendance was an exercise in futility.
“Now, if you please, Herbert, a moment ago, you seemed to feel this paperwork was a matter of great urgency.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
In minutes, Leonard had applied his looping signature to the pages before handing them to his lawyer.
“Is there anything else, Herbert?”
“No, Your Grace.” Leonard suspected the man had a great deal more on his mind but did not wish to pursue the issue. What would be the point? Leonard had no interest in such trivial matters. The Fife and Curry duchies were quite far removed from Pembroke and he did not oft do business that way. He was not bound to offend anyone with his absence and with a wedding which promised such a crowd, he would not even be missed.
Herbert excused himself and Leonard was left alone in the study. Inexplicably, he thought of the wedding Herbert had discussed and was unable to shake from his mind the idea of attending. Their household was oft invited to galas and events but Leonard rarely joined in the festivities. If he were to attend a party, it was when he traveled to distant lands and he knew no one. To Leonard’s mind, there was little enjoyment in the same dull noblemen and vapid women he had known all his life. It was difficult to enjoy oneself with wagging tongues and scrutinized looks enveloping him at every turn. Yet, perhaps it was because his own union was nigh, Leonard found himself considering Lord Curry’s wedding. He turned toward the portrait of his father.
“Well, Father? What say you?” he asked lightly. “Should I make an appearance with the family and stun the masses?”
“Are you taking leave of your senses?” Catherine asked, fluttering into the room in a ruffle of lilac skirts and lace. “To whom are you speaking in an empty room?”
Leonard did not answer her question but instead posed one of his own.
“Catherine, have we been invited to a wedding in Fife?”
His sister blinked at the abrupt conversation change but immediately nodded.
“Indeed we have. Mother and I leave at dawn.”
“I would like to attend.”
The words surprised him as much as they did Catherine. She eyed him warily.
“Of course, Leo…” she paused. “I daresay I am stunned that you would consider it. I cannot recall the last time you attended any such event. What makes this union special?”
Leonard gave her a charming smile but he could feel a slow blush forming under the collar of his starched shirt.
“I am soon to be wed, or have you forgotten? I would not mind the opportunity to observe a union before venturing into my own.”
“I have not forgotten.” There was contempt in Catherine’s voice and her eyes narrowed warily. “How could I forget the miserable wench to whom you are betrothed?”
“Mind your tongue!” Leonard said sharply but his tone lacked sincere anger. His sister’s dislike for his fiancée was hardly a secret. Priscilla herself was aware of Catherine’s deep disdain for her.
“Sincerely, my dear brother,” Catherine said dismissively and waved a hand in displeasure. “You cannot possibly believe your fiancée has a single thought floating through that head of hers.”
“Catherine! You are perilously close to arousing my anger,” he warned but again, he disbelieved his own words. It was difficult to feel anything but indifference toward Priscilla when he knew the match between them had been born from convenience. Even so, his keen sense of chivalry did not allow for Catherine to speak so brazenly and awfully about her. His sister made a clucking noise with her tongue and sat at the desk, her eyes shadowed.
