Page 38 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

“Yes, my mother also told me she did. I didn’t ask her to though and was less than impressed when she did,”

Esther nodded again, slowly moving her head up and down as if throwing her words around in her head before releasing them.

“You are a woman’s dream Mr. William. You are handsome and well-known by the ton. You are a skilled swordsman. I have heard tales about your mastery of dancing and skill with women too,” Esther said.

Is it because of what she has heard about me and women? Mother always said my history with women would always come to haunt me.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed your company too. You have been even better than I expected. The thing is,”

William saw her raise her gaze again and when it met his, she dropped it quickly.

She is hiding something.

“I have someone else William. My heart belongs to someone else,” she said.

Her voice was thick as if she was at the brink of tears but William saw her eyes properly, she raised them after saying that. There were no tears in them.

“There is no treachery on the side of my parents please do not think of them in that way. They do not know that my heart already belongs to someone else. I and the person have agreed to tell them and get married in the right time,”

William drew away from her; he moved to the end of the seat. He could see it in her eyes and the tightness in her voice, she was saying the truth. William ruffled his hair with his hand.

Wow, what a turn of events.

He opened his mouth to speak but his voice sounded broken and incoherent. He swallowed and tried again.

“So who is this lucky man?”

Esther’s eyes lit up immediately he asked. She smiled broadly, showing all her teeth, white pearls against her glossy skin.

“His name is Andrew, Andrew White. His father is the Chief Lieutenant in the King’s Guard. Andrew bought all the remaining land we needed for my father to have land big enough to set up a hunting range,”

William had never heard of him before but he guessed that was why Esther had not told her parents about her love for Andrew.

She is scared they will refuse.

“Why don’t your parents know about the state of your heart?” William asked.

Esther smiled in a way that only translated to sadness.

“I am not sure they will agree to such a union. My father has always spoken of getting me married to a man of high societal standing, most likely royalty. That is why he was so willing to allow my attendance to you,” she said.

William laughed for the first time since she had shocked him.

“So your father would not have allowed me approach you that day if I wasn’t the son of a Duke?”

Esther shook her head.

“You would have found that my father is not such a nice fellow. He is stern and stubborn. He would have told you off,” she replied.

William smiled again.

No wonder he had that scowl that day. He only smiled when he saw it was me.

“What about your mother?” William asked.

“My mother is a very simple woman, William. You should be able to confirm that with your earlier mistake. She would have no objections to my choice of husband. Mother always says, your happiness is what matters,”

William was about to comment when she added.