Page 9 of Her Temporary Duke (Rakes and Roses #2)
“ Y our Grace! Thank you for accepting my humble invitation. It is most gratifying to see you here,” Tewkesbury greeted enthusiastically as Seth entered the dining room.
A handful of other people were already present. They stood talking quietly, holding glasses of sweet sherry. The Dowager Countess sat by the fire in an imposing, throne-like armchair, holding court with three ladies. They looked up as Seth was announced, and he groaned inwardly.
“I see you have invited the Baroness of Eastwick,” Seth muttered dourly.
“Why, yes. Are you alone? Is Lady Nightingale not joining us? It will mean an odd number at the table,” Tewkesbury said, sounding concerned.
“She is, but I was traveling from my estates at Hillcrest,” Seth lied, “it wasn’t convenient to go all the way to Hanover Square on my way here, so I sent word asking her to meet me.”
Tewkesbury seemed taken aback, searching for words. Seth clapped him on the back with a laugh.
“Must keep women in their place, you know?” he smirked, playing the careless rogue to the hilt.
Tewkesbury smiled weakly, glancing at his mother, who was glaring disapprovingly at Seth.
“I do so admire your candor, Your Grace. I must confess that one of the reasons I was so keen to move to London and become immersed in the ton was to learn something about women. I come from a rather sheltered country estate, you see.”
His look of hopeful eagerness flattered Seth. The man clearly viewed him as a role model.
“Forget the ton, Tewkesbury. Allow me to sign you into my club, Catesby’s; the women there are far freer with their affection than any of the stuffy le bon ton ,” Seth sneered.
At that moment, a servant announced the arrival of Lady Amelia Nightingale. Seth looked around to see the woman in question stalking into the room. She fell into a curtsy by the Dowager Countess before turning to Seth and Tewkesbury.
“May I be allowed a word with His Grace alone, Lord Tewkesbury?” she asked in an icy tone.
Tewkesbury excused himself, leaving Seth and Amelia alone at one end of the room. He smiled at her. She glared at him.
“You refused to call for me, forcing me to arrive alone. Why would you do that?” she demanded.
“I did not wish to attend. You forced my hand,” Seth pointed out.
“Did I force you to propose marriage?” Amelia demanded, barely keeping her voice under control, “why do you offer such insult to your betrothed?”
Seth opened his mouth to say that he did not want to be betrothed to her, but knew it would be fatal.
If no one overheard, it would be his word against hers, but who knew what criteria Tharpe Monkton would regard as a failure to meet the terms of his father’s will?
He was not willing to give the man any opportunity to deny him his birthright.
Then there is the problem of those gorgeous eyes. They challenge and provoke me so. I find myself wanting to do things to make her angry.
“Well?” Amelia demanded.
“I am sorry. I just did not think,” Seth replied, attempting just enough placation to keep from seeming that he was the one looking to break off the engagement.
“You did think, though. You sent me a message demanding that I meet you here,” Amelia said hotly.
Seth raised an eyebrow, both attracted by her anger and intrigued.
“Amelia, I have never known you to be so angry and to show it so visibly. I truly am seeing a different side to you these days. Shall we join the rest of the company?”
But Amelia would not be deterred. As Seth took her arm, she pulled free, stepping closer to him and holding his gaze. Her beauty was distracting, making it difficult to think of plans to present himself as cool toward her. Part of him wanted to seduce her, champing at the bit to attempt it.
She would surely be my greatest conquest. How have I never seen it before?
“I will not be taken for granted,” she muttered in a quiet but resolute voice. “I see how things have been, and they must change.”
Seth frowned at her choice of words. Before he could speak, Amelia had flushed bright red, suddenly flustered.
“I mean... oh, botheration, I am quite sure you know what I mean!” she said in vexation.
“I am… not so sure that I do. I don’t believe I have taken you for granted,” Seth insisted, knowing that he had done so deliberately and deciding that complete denial would be the fastest way to convince her that he was not a suitable husband.
“I will not allow it,” she reiterated, regaining a measure of composure.
She glared at him fiercely until a diffident voice came from behind them.
“Would you care to join us?” said Tewkesbury.
“Yes, old chap, we would,” Seth answered brightly.
He offered his arm to Amelia, who finally took it.
Seth led her to the group, noting the pointed look he received from the Baroness of Eastwick.
She had fiery red hair and a beauty spot on her right cheek.
Seth remembered their brief liaison and wondered if she still harbored hard feelings toward him for being cast aside.
“A pleasure to meet His Grace’s latest fiancée,” she grimaced at Amelia, proving to Seth that she did.
“His latest? Does he have many?” Amelia replied innocently.
At that moment, Seth could have kissed the Baroness of Eastwick. She could not have played into his hands better if she had been given a script to perform!
“He collects them, my dear. As though it is a hobby,” the baroness muttered begrudgingly.
“Hardly the subject for tea,” the Dowager Countess protested.
“I agree,” Amelia said, “and I assure you, my lady, that this hobby will end with me.”
It was a bold statement delivered with strong, almost fierce conviction. Seth forced a smile, playing the dutiful fiancée inside, though questions erupted.
Who is she? How has she been transformed from the woman I had almost driven away? And how can I be so drawn to her? I am a step from achieving my goals, but I want to throw it all away to have this extraordinary woman be my next conquest.
Tea arrived, and Seth found himself seated next to his betrothed. The Dowager Countess had patted a chair to her left for Amelia, who took the seat, though she seemed suddenly discomfited.
As tea was served, Seth leaned closer to his betrothed and whispered, “A situation tailor-made for you. The ear of the highest-ranking person in the room.”
Amelia looked slightly alarmed, though she controlled her expression quickly.
Seth wondered at her giving so much away.
Amelia was someone comfortable in the company of Dukes and Duchesses, even minor royalty.
He had been genuine in his assertion that she would feel at home seated next to the matriarch of this event. But she seemed anything but.
“Is that a slight?” she whispered back.
“Not at all, merely an observation.”
“Perhaps I am simply not in the right disposition to entertain aristocracy,” Amelia whispered again, taking up her teacup.
“I hope that you will be able to bring me up to speed with the society of London these days, Lady Nightingale,” the Dowager Countess exclaimed, “I lived in London as a youth but moved to Berkshire when I married. It has been many years since I enjoyed the sophistication of urban society.”
Amelia coughed as she swallowed a mouthful of tea, hurriedly putting the cup down and reaching for a linen napkin. Seth frowned at the reaction, sipping from his own cup.
“I shall do my best, your ladyship,” Amelia finally smiled, “I do beg your pardon, the tea was hotter than I expected.”
“Who should I invite to my first candlelight supper, do you think? I am famous for them in Berkshire, and I should like to establish them on the London calendar as well. It is so important in such matters to invite the right people,” the Dowager Countess remarked pompously.
“Who? Well, let me think…”
“Invite the wrong people and an event is doomed from the beginning,” the Dowager Countess went on.
There were murmurs of sycophantic agreement around the room, and all eyes were on Amelia. Seth realized, in shock, that she was at a loss.
Whatever is the matter with her? She knows the names of our society’s principles and should be able to reel them off without hesitation. It is as though she has lost her memory…
He could not bear her discomfort and set down his teacup.
“I would think that the Duke and Duchess of York should be invited, being royalty but not so high as to be inaccessible,” he declared with confidence, “then the Cornwallis, and I do believe that the Duke of Lancaster is also in town for the season. I would take advantage of that; he rarely stirs from the North these days but is a sought-after company in every salon and ballroom in London.”
“Wellington, I presume,” Tewkesbury put in.
“How could one forget the Duke of Wellington!” Amelia chimed in, “a hero and a gentleman. I would invite him before even the Duke of York.”
The Dowager Countess seemed satisfied with these answers.
Seth was watching Amelia closely, and he caught the flush of her cheeks and the slight gasp of relief when the conversation moved on.
She looked sideways at him as she sipped from her teacup.
It might have been his imagination, but he thought he detected a slight smile—of gratitude, perhaps?
He felt momentary pleasure at being able to help her out of a difficult situation, even while he did not understand how it had arisen in the first place.
He smiled back before remembering his own situation. Befriending Amelia did him no good whatsoever. He needed to drive her away.
For some reason, that thought did not seem as easy as it had been. After tea and cakes and an hour of tedious conversation, the cups, plates, and saucers were cleared away, and the Dowager Countess suggested a game of cards for the ladies. Amelia smiled brightly at that.
“I know a game that is a great deal of fun,” Amelia was quick to put in, “it is called Noddy . I have played it with my family many an evening.”