Page 93 of When a Duke Loves a Woman
When their dance ended, he did indeed introduce her to his sister, Lady Caroline, and two of her friends, Ladies Georgiana and Josephine.
“Miss Trewlove is a woman of business,” he told them. “An independent sort.”
“How intriguing,” Lady Caroline said, while her friends nodded. “Are you a dressmaker, then?”
“No, I own a tavern.”
The ladies’ eyes widened. “Scandalous,” Lady Georgiana finally uttered. “Utterly scandalous.”
“Yet intriguing,” Lady Caroline said, and Gillie was beginning to suspect the lady and her brother led boring lives since they found everything “intriguing.” “I daresay, Mitford, we shall see Miss Trewlove safely delivered to her chaperone if you wish to go on.”
“I don’t wish to be rude,” he said.
“I’m actually of an age where I don’t need a chaperone. I can see to myself, my lord. Thank you for the dance.”
“My pleasure, Miss Trewlove.” And he walked away.
“Conversation is such a chore for him,” Lady Caroline said. “I am impressed, Miss Trewlove, that you managed to put him at such ease he didn’t stutter. Now, he’ll go search out a corner where he can read whatever small book he has tucked away into a pocket.”
“I found your brother a delight, Lady Caroline. He cares for you immensely.”
“And I for him. So how is it that you know Thornley?” the lady asked.
Mrs. Smythson had taught Gillie that one did not ask personal questions, and Lady Caroline’s seemed rather personal. The ladies in this group were more girls than women, so perhaps they hadn’t learned all the proper niceties yet. If anything, they were only a tad older than Fancy’s seventeen years. She had a difficult time envisioning Thorne with any of them, but then that was no doubt spurred by jealousy. These girls were marriageable; she was not. “Our paths crossed one evening near my tavern.”
“Tell us more about your tavern,” Lady Georgiana demanded. “However did you come to own it?”
“Well, I purchased it.”
“Why?” Lady Josephine asked.
“Because I’m a bit stubborn and find working for others to be disagreeable.” While the Smythsons had been fair to her, she’d longed to be in complete charge of things.
“But the wrong sort of people go to taverns,” Lady Caroline said.
Angling her head in surprise, Gillie held the woman’s gaze. “Laborers, merchants, seamen. I suspect a good many of the gentlemen here stop by a tavern now and then. Do you not find the Duke of Thornley upstanding?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course we do.”
“He has visited my tavern. As has my brother. He owns a hotel and a good many buildings and other businesses.”
“He’s as rich as Croesus from what I understand,” Lady Georgiana said. “Are you wealthy as well, Miss Trewlove?”
The two other ladies gasped. “Georgie!”
The lady slapped her hand over her mouth. “My apologies, Miss Trewlove. I forget myself. You have no airs about you which makes you rather easy to talk to.”
“I’m not offended, Lady Georgiana. I’ve been asked worse.”
“Still, I was rude beyond measure. Lovely weather we’re having of late.”
Gillie smiled conspiratorially. “Do you really enjoy talking about weather?”
“I abhor it. I’d rather discuss you. You must have incredible freedom.”
“I can do whatever I like, but mostly I work, because I like that people come to my tavern at the end of the day to relax. I’ll pour them a pint and they’ll tell me their troubles, and mine then become insignificant.”
“My troubles always seem so great, perhaps I should open a tavern,” Lady Josephine said.
