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“What I mean…” She sighed, her expression softening. “… you, as well as anyone, know the importance of title. Furthermore, you know the importance of appearances. Most people, dare I say, would rather spend their days locked away indoors, doing as they please, but you, as well as everyone else here, are not most people. And if you mean to set a good example for your daughter…” she trailed off, no need to finish that point.

He curled his lips. “That is a dirty trick.”

“A clever one though, no? If you expect your daughter to behave a certain way, should you not do the same?”

He groaned and ran a hand through his hair. “It is not that I do not wish to be seen nor that I would rather sit up here and work.”

“What then?”

What could he even say? Nothing that would change his grandmother’s mind? If anything, his reason for not wanting to go to said garden party was the exact reason she might insist. A point made often now, becoming more and more prevalent the older he became.

It was time that Frederick found a wife. It was time that he married, had a male heir, and went about securing his lineage as was expected. A mode of operation that even he could not find a reasonable argument against, even if he hated the idea to its core. But not because he was against marriage per say, rather, because he had tried it once already, failed miserably at it, and wasn’t sure he could go through it again.

His last wife had hated him. Despised him. Loathed the ground he had walked on. If not for Isabella, Frederick would have liked to have never thought of her or that marriage again. Especially the end of it… what had happened… the guilt he still felt and the pain it brought him when he even considered the chance it might happen again.

“Fine,” he sighed as he pushed himself back, collapsing into his chair, body sinking in defeat. “I shall attend. For one hour only.”

“Wonderful!” She clapped her hands together. “I knew you would see things my way.”

“Being as persistent as you are tends to have that effect. I need to change clothes first,” he said.

“Take your time; take your time,” she crooned. “We shall be here all day.”

“Do not say I never do anything for you.” He shook his head at her.

She laughed. “Oh, so magnanimous of you. And it might be nice if, for once, you chose not to be as you are and instead be as you should.”

He frowned at the cryptic comment. “Meaning?”

“These are my friends,” she said. “People who I admire and who admire you. They will be expecting to meet a duke who is theepitome of proper etiquette and poise—nice,” she emphasized. “A proper host.”

“I am not the host if you will remember.”

“Please, Frederick,” she pressed on him. “You know what you are like—you scare people, dear.”

He snorted. “I hardly think that is accurate.”

“It is,” she said rightly. “People know of your less than hospitable demeanor, and I have seen grown men shake at the mere thought of speaking with you.”

Frederick could not help but smile at that. “Is that so?”

“It is not anything to be proud of, and… and if you insist on behaving that way, well…” She clicked her tongue. “Then you can stay here.”

“If that is the case…”

“I was speaking exaggeratedly!” she hurried. “But it should not be too much to expect you to be polite. And affable. At the very least, do not say anything that will force me to spend the rest of the day explaining away your behavior. Please, Frederick. For me…” She pouted at him.

“I promise I will behave,” he said with a bereaved sigh. “For you only, grandmother.”

“And…” She waltzed to the door, reached it, then stepped through before turning back. Her eyes flashed at him, and he knew exactly what she was going to say before she said it. “Just so you know, I have made sure to invite many a young lady too. Many a single young lady.”

He fixed her with a glare. “Do not even start.”

“What!” she cried. “I am just saying…” She pumped her eyebrows at him. “It could not hurt to meet a few. You are not getting any younger.”

“Neither are you.”

“Ha! Fine, have it your way.” She clicked her tongue, shook her head, and was about to leave when she poked her head back through. “Oh, and one more thing…”