Page 94 of When a Duke Loves a Woman
“Don’t be a silly goose, Josie,” Lady Caroline said. “Marriage is in your future, my girl.”
As if on cue, three gentlemen approached. Lady Caroline introduced Gillie to a marquess, an earl, and a viscount. Then the gents escorted the ladies onto the dance floor. Gillie turned to find Aslyn standing nearby.
“I was keeping watch in case I needed to step in, but that seemed to go well,” her sister-by-marriage said.
“I’m a curiosity.”
Aslyn smiled. “As am I. The daughter of an earl who married a commoner. People speak to me as though they’re not quite sure who I am any longer.”
“I’m sorry you had to come on my account.”
“On your account and Mick’s. As much as he claims otherwise, he still has a desire to be accepted by the nobility. Attending affairs such as this one will eventually lead to that acceptance.” She wound her arm through Gillie’s. “So let’s mingle, shall we, and speed that acceptance along.”
Aslyn introduced her to several other girls, and while each name was preceded by the wordLady, Gillie couldn’t quite view them as anything other than lasses. They were so deuced young.
Had she ever in her life appeared so innocent, so fresh faced? She wasn’t comfortable when she was the topic of conversation, even though, like Lord Mitford’s sister and her friends, they seemed intrigued by her independence, but she was always grateful when the conversation drifted onto other matters. Inevitably they tittered about how handsome Lord F was or how funny Lord G could be or how witty Lord K was. While she had nothing of consequence to contribute to those conversations, she knew madness would take hold if her evenings were spent doing little more than discussing the attributes of gentlemen.
But then these ladies were searching for a husband, and perhaps that was the way one went about it. What she did know was that the individual attributes these lasses practically swooned over in one gentleman here and another there, all came together in Thorne. That he had their attention and the yearnings of their young hearts. That if he were to ask any one of them for her hand in marriage, she wouldn’t hesitate to accept.
That whatever time with Thorne remained to her would be short-lived.
“I’m pleased to find you’re still here,” Thorne said quietly as they strolled along the garden path where the occasional burning torch provided a modicum of light.
He’d invited her for a turn about the gardens, and since her next few dances were free, she’d gladly accepted. Three other gentlemen had approached Aslyn for an introduction to her and had then proceeded to ask Gillie for a dance. While she enjoyed circling the floor, no one else brought her the pleasure Thorne did. So she was glad she was available to stroll through the garden with him. It was torment to watch him waltzing with one woman after another, even as she understood he was expected to do so.
As soon as they’d gotten outside, he’d draped his jacket over her shoulders, and she welcomed his warmth seeping through her skin. Perhaps there was an advantage to having so much exposed after all. “Talking with nobs isn’t as taxing as I thought it would be, especially when I can turn the conversation from weather to liquor. Even the ladies seem to be intrigued by the notion of my freedom to do as I please.”
“I daresay you’ll have them all traipsing off to run businesses if we’re not careful.”
“Would that be such an awful thing?”
“A lord’s wife has a good deal of responsibility: overseeing the management of various households, depending on how many properties her husband holds, making morning calls, which might seem trivial, but they create alliances through which their husbands benefit. They wield a great deal of power over Society, which is not to be discounted. They are also engaged in charitable works. Who would do all that if they were occupied with business?”
Occupied with business as she was. “It does seem overwhelming, but I think you underestimate how much they could oversee.”
“Perhaps. But then they are also to produce an heir and a spare.”
“I understand why you need a son, but a child should be wanted for more than that.” She didn’t think he had been. And a wife should be wanted for more than land and her womb.
“You seem to have caught the attention of a few gents. I noticed I’m not the only one with whom you’ve waltzed.”
“Nor am I the only one with whom you have.”
“True. It’s obligation on my part.”
“To pass the time on mine until the final waltz of the night arrives,” she said provocatively.
His grin flashed in the darkness. “Why, Miss Trewlove, I do believe you’ve mastered the art of flirtation.”
“I merely speak what’s on my mind.”
“I like that about you, Gillie. I always have.”
They walked along in silence for several minutes, and she could almost envision doing this every night instead of sitting on her steps.
“You should see these gardens in the daylight,” he said. “They’re quite colorful.”
“They smell lovely.”
