Page 35

Chapter Three

“ I am sure it is fine.” Andrea scanned the crowd in the ball room, fidgeting as Cecily fussed over her dress for what seemed like the hundredth time.

It had been a week since the baptism, and she was at the Dowager Duchess Caverton’s ball. Cecily had spent much of the three days dragging Andrea to and from the modiste.

After much negotiation, Andrea had found herself wearing a dress more elaborate than she had ever worn before. It was a deep purple with gold embroidery, cut in the style of the continent with matching shoes and gloves.

“Fine is not good enough. Now hold still, this will only take a moment.” Cecily adjusted her gold necklace around Andrea’s neck and then nodded in approval. “Good. Now you look perfect.”

“I feel like a fool.” Andrea rolled her shoulders out.

“You look radiant.” Her friend beamed.

Andrea tugged at the sleeve of her dress. “Everyone is looking at me.”

“That is the point. We want them to notice you.” Cecily gave her a reassuring squeeze. “Have you decided which of the men you will pursue? I still cannot believe the length of grandmother’s list. There must have been at least fifteen names!”

“Seventeen, actually.” Andrea patted the small bit of paper she had tucked in her glove. “And I thought I would start with Duke Havilliard.”

“A duke!” Cecily’s eyes widened.

Andrea shrugged. “I do not think anything will come of it, but he is talking to your grandmother right now and she could make the introduction.”

“Be still my beating heart. The sheer romance of it will overcome me.” Cecily rolled her eyes and shook her head exasperatedly.

“I am not here for romance, Cecily, I am simply trying to find a suitable husband who will allow me at least a modicum of freedom.” Andrea squared her shoulders, frowning at her friend.

Cecily was adjusting something else on Andrea’s dress. “And you do not care if he is handsome?”

“Why would I?” Her frown deepened.

“You are going to spend the rest of your life with him. He might as well be pleasant to look at.”

“I suppose.”

They fell into silence while Andrea watched the Duke talking to the Dowager Duchess. He seemed handsome enough, and the Dowager Duchess had recommended him. She had also recommended several of her own family but Andrea could scarcely blame her for that.

Cecily’s voice brought Andrea back to the present moment. “And what is your plan for approaching the Duke?”

“I thought I would just ask him to marry me once your grandmother introduced us.” Andrea shifted uncomfortably as Cecily gaped at her.

“Tell me you are joking?”

Andrea pursed her lips, resisting the urge to hug her arms around herself. “It seemed the most expedient thing to do.”

“Expedient!” Cecily massaged her temples with her fingertips. “Andrea, you are trying to get a husband.”

“Exactly. I am not trying to find a love match, but simply arrange a business deal. It is simply a marriage of convenience, I do not need some coy, grand performance. If I just ask him, and he is not interested, I can simply make my way to the next man.” Andrea frowned as she watched her friend use a thumb and forefinger to massage her brow.

“Even in a marriage of convenience, you need to be an appealing prospect!” Cecily’s exasperation was clear in her voice.

“What would you do?” she gestured to her friend.

“Flirt a little! You do know how to do that, do you not?” She said it as though she were simply pointing out that the sky was blue.

“Of course not!” Andrea’s cheeks flushed such a deep shade of scarlet, she was sure it clashed horribly with her dress.

“It is easy, we can practice a little here.” Cecily glanced around them.

Andrea canted her head at her friend. “You want me to flirt with you?”

“Just pretend I am a tall strapping young man.” She stood up a little straighter, putting her hands on her hips in a way that almost made Andrea laugh.

Her mind had gone frustratingly blank. “What should I say?”

“Well, why not say you like his eyes?” Cecily suggested.

“But what if I do not?” Andrea frowned.

“It does not matter Andrea. You just need to play to his ego, flatter him a little and then get him talking. Ask him lots of questions about himself. Men love the sound of their own voice.” In deeper tones, Cecily continued, “Good evening, Lady Andrea.”

This is ridiculous. Andrea forced herself to smile at her friend, wondering if the smile looked more like a grimace. “Good evening, Duke Haviliard. I um… you have nice shoes I suppose.”

“Better, but perhaps we could leave off the I suppose. Be a little more definite. But not too definite. He may think you abrasive.”

“I am never going to be able to do this.”

“Of course you will. Now go and get yourself a husband!” Cecily adjusted Andrea’s necklace one more time, and gently pushed her forward. “I think they have just walked onto the balcony.”

Andrea stumbled as she made her way towards the balcony Cecily claimed the Duke had walked towards. The last shred of her confidence had vanished and she tried to keep all of Cecily’s advice in her mind. She stepped onto the balcony, but there was no one to be seen.

The sound of footsteps caught her attention and she saw a girl who could have been no more than nineteen slinking into the shadows.

“Curious.” Andrea muttered, following her as her own curiosity got the better of her..

The girl had the distinct look of a hunter pursuing their prey. The hair on the back of Andrea’s neck stood on end as they moved further into the gardens. The music and laughter of the ballroom was replaced by the sound of footsteps and the rustle of leaves in the wind.

Just when Andrea thought she should turn back, she hear the sound of a man’s exasperated sigh. “So that is who she is after.”

The Duke of Caverton was leaning against a nearby tree, his eyes closed and a slight frown on his face. The moonlight on his features and the absence of his usual easy smile made him look like a work of art.

Her moment of distraction almost made her lose sight of the girl.

Casting about, she saw a flash of yellow that was the debutante’s dress.

She was hiding in a bush, a little way away from the Duke, so intent on her target that she seemed oblivious to everything else.

He would have to pass the bush to get back to the ball, and Andrea had a sneaking suspicion that he would not be allowed to do so.

“And just what do you think you are doing?” Andrea tapped the young girl on her shoulder.

The girl gave a startled yelp, her eyes going wide as she whirled to face Andrea. “Oh… Um… I was just… I needed some fresh air.”

“And that meant you had to hide in a bush?” Andrea arched an eyebrow.

“I… What business is it of yours?” The girl’s lip trembled.

Andrea shrugged. “It is none. But I do not like schemes, and you have the look of someone scheming.”

“I am doing nothing of the sort.” The girl shook her head.

“Really? Because it looks to me like you were setting an ambush, hoping to stumble into a certain duke and force him into marrying you.” Andrea’s jerked her head towards the Duke and fixed the girl with a hard stare.

Her voice came out sharper than she had expected, and the girl’s eyes filled with tears. “I… I did not want to. My mother… She… Well, she said that I had to. That this would be the best way to get a good husband. She wanted me to be the diamond of the season but that has gone to Lady Geraldine.”

“The diamond may be the most sought-after gem, but that does not mean the others are any less beautiful.” Andrea’s face softened and she held out a hand to the girl, pulling her to her feet. “What is your name?”

“Penelope Cartwright. Miss Penelope Cartwright.” Penelope answered, dusting off her dress.

Andrea nodded. The girl’s mother was the ton’s biggest gossip and one of the most power-hungry women she had ever met. “I am Lady Andrea Cowper.”

“You are the one who- nevermind.” The girl’s cheeks flushed with colour, and Andrea suspected she had been about to repeat a particularly salacious rumour. “Mother will be furious with me.”

“I am sure it will pass.” Andrea gave Penelope’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “You have plenty of time to find a husband. Do not let anyone push you into a match you do not deserve.”

“But he is a duke, surely there can be no better match?” Penelope frowned.

“He may be a duke, but you do not know the first thing about him. A title tells you nothing of a man’s character. For all you know, he could be the most monstrous villain.” Andrea’s father’s face appeared in her mind.

Penelope tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, chewing on her bottom lip. “But he seems so nice.”

“Seeming is not the same as being. You should get back to the ball. There are plenty of young men who I am sure would be most worthy of your affections.” She gestured back towards the ballroom. “Do not let yourself be forced into a life time of unhappiness.”

For a moment, Andrea was worried that the girl would insist on remaining, after all, she knew only too well the hold a parent could have on their child. Thankfully, Penelope nodded and gave Andrea’s hand one last squeeze.

“You are much nicer than I thought. Thank you.” She smiled and disappeared back into the ballroom.

Andrea watched her go, her head canted towards the young girl. She felt like she had expended the very last of her energy and the thought of trying to find a man, talk to him and convince him to be her husband was enough to make her cry.

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Nicer than she thought? What on Earth do people think of me?”

“I could tell you, for a price.” A man’s voice said from behind her.

She jumped and whirled around to see Duke Caverton surveying her with an amused smile on his face. “Do you truly think I am such a monster, or were you exaggerating so that you might steal me for yourself?”

Irritation flared to life in her chest. “Neither. I simply did not want to see a girl throw her life away on someone else’s wishes.”