Page 99 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

She must have seen me.

She didn’t speak but looked intently at the Duke.

“Ooh!” exclaimed the Duke.

He had forgotten he had planned to say something.

“Your mother is insistent that she doesn’t want you with the daughter of that man,” he said.

He went straight to the point, as always.

“But I have imposed myself on her, lending out my neck for you at the same time. I want you to end whatever you have with the daughter of the Earl of Norfolk in the proper way. I want the Earl to have no reason to believe you were not honest in the pursuit of his daughter’s heart at any time. Make the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos accept you and let us have a memorable wedding. Your happiness is only achieved with whom your heart decides.”

William smiled broadly. He felt like running across the table to embrace the Duke but the composure of a man of ton prevented him from doing that. He looked at his mother; she wasn’t smiling but she was not frowning either.

That is the look of resignation.

“I thank you father, for your understanding and you too Duchess, for seeing things my way. I already planned to do all these and will try to attain those goals as soon as possible.”

His mother nodded and looked back at her food. Lord James tapped William on his lap before standing up.

“Thank you for a lovely meal, Your Grace Duke but I need to get back my home now. Paperwork is sure to have overridden my desk,” Lord James said as he pushed his chair backwards.

“I was nice having you, James, as always,” replied the Duchess.

“Father, mother, Regina,” William said as he stood up and followed his friend away.

Lord James had gone far in front of William and entered his room quickly. He was out by the time William got to his door, bag in hand.

“You are already leaving,” William said.

“Yes,” he replied. “I surely have work waiting for me and my heart as seen no rest since last night. I will go to the Montague mansion first to see Emma.”

William pushed his friend forward.

“Lover boy, who knew that it would be someone who you once described as a bluestocking that would capture your heart,” William said.

Lord James turned his neck back to reply as he walked out.

“She is not. She’s different so everyone just sees if fit to call her that,” he replied.

They walked down the stairs and stood at the bottom.

“Francis,” William called out.

The boy came out from the garden, holding a bitten-into green apple. He bowed when he got to William.

“Go to the stables and have James’ horse here now,” he told him.

The boy ran, putting his apple between his teeth. He came back almost immediately, with the horse ready to go. Lord James rubbed the mane of his horse and said words that William could not hear to it. After a few sentences, he mounted it.

“So we will see on the morrow, friend” he said to William.

“I will be expecting you,” William replied.

The horse trotted out of the compound, Lord James bouncing along on it. Just as he exited the Marlow compound, another horse carrying a rider, a young boy, ran into the compound. The horse ran swiftly veering to a stop just before it got to William.

“Mr. William?” the boy said as he used his reins to bring his mount to calm.