Duke in Training, page 4
“I suppose we should return to the ballroom,” she suggested with reluctance because Tessa would much rather remain in the gardens talking with Ellings.
He offered his arm to escort her back inside.
“What do you think Claybrook would do if we shared a second waltz?” she wondered aloud.
“Quite likely have an apoplexy.”
“Then, I suppose we should not overstress him tonight. But there is always tomorrow.”
“You are daring, Tessa, and I rather like that about you.”
Chapter Five
Darius had escaped the ball and returned home not long after he and Tessa had left the garden. He also wasn’t so foolish as to think he could avoid Leopold today. Even if he did not wish to order Darius to avoid Tessa, he’d go on and on about his rules and Darius was tired of hearing about them. Therefore, Darius left his home and wandered around London.
Was it so difficult being a duke that Leopold could not trust anyone? Or, had something happened to make him that way? It was almost as if he were two different people. One that was relaxed and even laughed while in the country but a gloomy difficult person in London.
It was a quandary.
Darius stopped and looked around, only to realize that he’d walked down Piccadilly and stood before Hatchard’s. It had been his intention to go on to White’s but did not turn toward St. James and instead, continued walking, distracted by his thoughts. “Your Grace, I had not expected to see you again so soon.”
He turned to find Tessa exiting the bookshop and thoughts of Leopold fled his mind. She was a far better distraction than he could hope to find in the gentlemen’s club.
“Miss Theresa.” He nodded. “I hope you are enjoying your day.”
“Very much so, Your Grace. Thank you for asking.”
Darius hated being addressed as such. Had he been raised in England and known since birth that would be his title, perhaps he would have felt differently. Unfortunately, the title still did not fit but he suspected that it was likely against the rules for anyone to address him any differently.
He nearly chuckled at having to know yet another set of rules.
“You are in good humor today,” Tessa noted.
“I was thinking of rules,” he answered honestly. Further, seeing her had improved his disposition.
“Oh dear, have more been added to the list?”
“Not to my knowledge,” Darius assured her. “This is a general Society rule, which I am certain Claybrook would approve.”
“Which rule would that be?”
Darius leaned in as he did not wish to be overheard. “I detest being addressed as Your Grace,” he admitted. “Until my uncle died, I was a mister from America, then became Lord Darius when my uncle passed and my father became Ellings, and now…” he held out his arms in explanation. “It does not feel right, as if it should belong to someone else.”
She smiled, her blue eyes holding warmth. “Many would be scandalized by your words, but I am not.”
“A duke had been someone of high rank that lived in England,” Darius answered. “I knew that it was a title held by my uncle, but it was difficult to fully conceive in Louisiana, especially since nobody had ever addressed my father as Lord Samuel, as they should have since he was the son of a duke. He had dismissed such formality, which is why the concept still feels foreign at times even though I have lived here for over a year.”
Darius pulled back, surprised at his confession.
“Fish that is waterless.”
Darius stared at Tessa, wondering at her words.
“Chaucer…The Canterbury Tales,” she offered in explanation. “You are not comfortable outside of what was familiar.”
“You are quite correct in your observation.” Darius chuckled. She was just the person he had needed to encounter today. “Would you care to stroll with me or are you otherwise committed?”
“I have the day free, Your…” She simply smiled. “I would enjoy walking with you.”
He appreciated that she’d not used his title, but how else could she address him where anyone might overhear their conversation?
“I am ready to return,” Lady Bethany announced as she breezed out of the bookshop and stopped short when she saw Darius. She then dipped into a quick curtsey.
He leaned close to Tessa. “I dislike that as well.”
“What?” Lady Bethany asked in alarm.
Tessa laughed. “Curtseying and bowing. This American is still becoming used to our ways.”
“I would be far more comfortable if nobody curtseyed or bowed around me,” he admitted.
“Then I shall refrain from doing so,” Tessa promised. “I could do without stuffy formality as well.”
None of that was between them last spring when they enjoyed early morning walks through Hyde Park.
“Does that mean there will be no scraping and bowing in your Gentlewomen’s Club?”
“You told him?” Lady Bethany nearly screeched.
“Yes.” Tessa tilted her chin, quite pleased with herself. “And further, he approves.”
Lady Bethany blinked. “He does?”
“It is probably because I am an American,” he offered in humor.
Lady Bethany bit her lip as if she wasn’t certain how to respond.
“His Grace has asked me to take a stroll with him. Do you have any objection?” Tessa asked.
“You know I must return home,” Lady Bethany answered and then slid an eye to Darius. “As neither of us brought a maid, you should not be walking with him alone.”
“Then allow me to escort you both,” Darius offered. He was not yet ready to part from Tessa. They may not be able to talk as freely with Lady Bethany accompanying them, but he would still be with Tessa and that was all that mattered.
Bloody hell! He was even more smitten than he was last spring.
Not smitten. In love with a miss who did not return his affection. In fact, she not only treated him as a friend and companion, but almost as a brother, which did not sit well with Darius.
Was it possible that she might see him in a different light or was she so set on being a spinster and owning a gentlewomen’s club that she’d not even consider the possibility of being courted by him and a potential future?
“Your escort is not necessary,” Lady Bethany began to object.
“Ah, but it is. As I wish to continue my conversation with Miss Theresa, and you are her companion, I could not abandon you. Therefore, I will see that you are returned home safely while you chaperone so that Miss Theresa’s reputation does not suffer.” He was learning the rules, even if he did not like them.
Lady Bethany glanced from him to Tessa and then back to Darius. “I thank you for the escort.”
The Duke of Ellings had saved her from a tedious afternoon, or so Tessa assumed. Bethany had only been able to get away long enough to visit a few shops but was then required to be home for afternoon visits, which would have left Tessa with no choice but to return to her home, which she dreaded.
Not that she had anything against her home, but it was too fine a day to be cooped up inside while waiting for visitors or calling on others for intervals of fifteen-minute visits. Besides, she’d be left on her own if there were visitors, save a maid, because her two younger brothers would be off somewhere else and the youngest of the family would not be at home to anyone and would disappear upstairs. Lilith, all of nineteen, preferred not to take part in Society and Tessa suspected that her younger sister might have already vowed to be a spinster.
“I hope we did not interrupt your plans for today,” Bethany offered.
“I had no plans, if I am to be honest,” Ellings answered with a chuckle. “I had thought to visit White’s, but upon reconsideration, it is not where I wish to be.”
“Why is that?” Tessa asked out of curiosity. “Scraping and bowing?”
He laughed. “Claybrook!”
Bethany’s jaw tightened as she took in a deep breath and forced it out through her nose. Emotions must be truly strong if just the mention of the name set her on edge, which was further proof that her friend and Claybrook were very much a match no matter how much either voiced their denial.
“Are you avoiding His Grace?” Tessa asked.
“Yes, and I am not ashamed to admit so,” Ellings grinned. “I have no doubt that he will feel it necessary to remind me of the dangers young women such as yourself pose to my safety.”
Bethany snorted and rolled her eyes.
“I did review his list last evening,” Ellings offered. “Just speaking with you is a violation of rule number seven.”
“What is rule number seven?” Bethany asked, aghast with apparently Claybrook.
“Avoid women who read more than the gossip papers; they have ideas.” His tone issued a dire warning.
“Yes, we do!” Bethany declared. “What other rules does His Grace have?” Bethany’s words dripped with venom.
“Claybrook has perfected number six,” Tessa offered to lighten the mood. “Be boorish.”
“Yes, he has mastered that skill quite well,” Bethany grumbled as they reached her home.
“Thank you for the escort, Your Grace.” She then dipped into a curtsey before turning and marching up the steps to her home. Had Bethany not been such a lady, she may have stomped. The conversation surrounding Claybrook had certainly dampened her mood.
“Are you so certain they are in love?” Ellings asked. “I would be willing to wager they share a mutual hate for the other.”
“Would that wager take place in my club?” she asked, no longer wishing to think about Claybrook or Bethany. It was too fine a day and she had Ellings all to herself. It was a shame that he did not view her as any more than a friend. At least it was a friendship she enjoyed. “Perhaps I may have my own version of the infamous White’s Betting Book.” She laughed.
“Have you decided to allow gentlemen?” he countered.
“If I allow men, then you would be welcome,” she promised.
“Then make note of my petition for entry as it would save me from endless evenings of tedious entertainments.”
“I may just need to make such an exception, otherwise I could not possibly live with myself knowing you were suffering so.”
Ellings placed a hand over his heart. “You are too kind, Miss Theresa.”
“It is a shame you are a duke for I believe you would make a fine actor,” she laughed as they continued walking along with no destination in mind. At least she did not have one and assumed Ellings did not either. This was nice.
“Can a duke not also be an actor?” he pondered.
“I suppose a duke can do whatever he wishes.”
He seemed to ponder the option. “I do not feel I would do well on the stage.”
“Why is that?” She tried not to laugh at the seriousness of his tone.
“You may have noticed that I do not often engage in conversations during functions.”
She frowned. “Now that you mention it, you do spend more time observing.”
“I find pleasant conversation regarding weather, gossip, and fashions painful.”
“Ah, now I understand why you wished to be allowed in my salon, but what does that have to do with the theatre?”
“I would rather observe than be on display. An actor is on display. A new bachelor duke is on display. I prefer not to be noticed at all.”
“I am afraid that is no longer an option,” she reminded him.
“Yes, that was quite clear last evening. Even though I did not dance, each place I looked there were women whispering behind fans, which I would have dismissed had they not been looking at me.”
“I apologize if I drew further attention when I approached you last evening.”
Ellings chuckled. “I was standing with Leopold who frowned at any female who looked in his direction. Further, we are of an age to marry, both bachelor dukes, so it would not have mattered if you approached or not.”
In that, he was correct. Neither duke would be able to attend any function without attracting attention.
“Your approach and our conversation was the only enjoyable part of last evening, so I should thank you for saving me from the discomfort of being studied from behind fans.”
“I will rescue you any time that you are in need, Your…Ellings,” she assured him with sincerity. She’d save him from all women out to trap him if he’d only notice that she could be a candidate for courtship as well.
She tilted her chin and looked up at him in study. Perhaps he did not realize that she would welcome his courtship. Yet, she did not dare tell him so. She may be bold and daring, but not so much that she’d make such a declaration. Besides, what if he declined her offer, then she’d lose what they shared, and Tessa wasn’t yet willing to take that risk.
Chapter Six
Darius was coming down the stairs right as Leopold barreled into his home and issued an order to Darius’ butler that Ellings was not at home to visitors and then shoved a newssheet at his chest on his way to the library.
“Read it!” Leopold ordered.
Darius scanned the print as he followed his cousin and then reached the gossip.
“Are misses getting bolder? One must wonder after Miss T approached the newest bachelor duke to ask him to dance, and the supper waltz no less. While highly improper, one cannot be surprised as it was Miss T, who often pushes the boundaries of what is acceptable while maintaining a perfect reputation. Most gentlemen would be put off by such a daring display, but one must wonder if her initiative may have benefited her as the two were seen strolling together yesterday. Nor were they in Hyde Park where one is expected to view such, but simply along the streets of Mayfair. Further, their conversation appeared serious at times and amusing at other times. The only reason I know is because not only did I see them, but several others reported as well as they appeared to have walked and chatted for nearly two hours.”
“Two bloody hours!”
“When the company is pleasant, one does seem to lose track of time,” Darius answered drolly.
“Now every available miss and lady will be asking you to dance. It is likely they will attempt the same with me,” Leopold yelled then strode to the sideboard and poured a glass of the whiskey Darius had brought with him from America. He would need to send for more as the cases that had traveled with him were nearly gone. It was the whiskey his family brewed and far better than what he could find in England or even Scotland.
Leopold took a deep drink, frowned, and then placed it on Darius’ desk. “I do not know how you can drink that rot.”
“It requires a delicate and superior palate.”
Leopold glared at him and then poured a glass of brandy.
“You must heed my advice, or you will find yourself legshackled to some conniving miss before you know what has happened and be miserable for the rest of your days.”
“You cannot be certain of such.”
“You will see. The next time we are at a ball, we will both be hounded with requests to dance.” He nearly drank all the brandy in one swallow. “I would rather be chased through Hyde Park by a pack of yapping dogs.”
“You do not know that such a thing will occur, though I do enjoy the visual of you being chased by yapping dogs.”
Leopold frowned then finished his brandy. “They cannot be trusted.”
“Who?” Darius asked.
“Females!”
“All of them?” he asked with humor.
“The only safe female is one related by blood.” Leopold added more brandy to his glass. As his cousin may be intent on getting drunk, Darius settled back in his chair and sipped the rejected whiskey.
“Further, gentlemen cannot be trusted either, especially those looking for a wife.”
“I assume you know this from experience?” Maybe Darius would finally learn why Leopold had so little trust in those in Society.
“When one is a duke, the person holding that title no longer matters, just the title and connection.”
“Certainly not everyone is so predatory.”
“They are and you will learn as I did.” Leopold took another drink.
Darius had hoped that he’d be given an example and that it might explain Leopold’s bitterness, but maybe it was something as simple as he claimed. Darius had only been a duke for a few months. Perhaps he might learn the same, though he hoped that it wasn’t true.
“In the ten years that I have been a duke, I have witnessed several attempts to gain my attention and affection and the same for my family as it is difficult to ignore the wealth and connections my family wields. Sadly, my family has discovered there are very good liars amongst the ton and those one would never expect.”
This was the most explanation Darius had ever received.
“Take my sisters for example. Their husbands professed to love and nearly worship them when it was all a ruse. They wanted a duke as a brother-in-law, and a dowry to mend crumbling estates. They used Octavia and Lavinia to gain what they coveted, and my sisters suffered for it.”
Octavia and Lavinia were Leopold’s older sisters. Both had become widows a year and a half ago when their husbands challenged each other to a duel. They were both killed.
“I had not known of their misery or the truth until they were returned to my home, cast out by their in-laws as not being worthy because they had not produced the necessary heirs.”
Leopold paused and added more brandy to his glass and took a deep drink.
“Both of them had been friends of mine. Friends! Not close friends, but their younger brothers were in school with me. I had known them for years and trusted in that close friendship when they assured me that their brothers would care for my sisters. I trusted them when they knew my sisters were being pursued for the purpose of benefiting their families. I had no idea as to their true character or that they would treat my sisters so cruelly.”
“I had no idea,” Darius murmured as he came to realize that Leopold may have very good reason for not trusting anyone.
