Page 42 of Hot Duke Summer

I t wasn’t enough to be just a wallflower. Caroline was striving for actual invisibility, to the point of hiding behind potted palms and ducking behind columns. She was desperate to avoid further encounters with Sir Percival, and given the danger inherent in having further dealings with the duke, it was to her benefit to stay hidden.

Unfortunately, her aunt was not being at all cooperative. She kept dragging Ruby forward to present her to one eligible, if the term was used loosely, gentleman after another. Each time, Caroline would be hauled over to play chaperone to Ruby and the prospective suitors. One could not be an invisible chaperone, as that negated the very purpose of the position.

“What is wrong with you?” her aunt hissed.

“I’m trying to avoid Sir Percival,” she answered with the half-truth.

“You could do worse. He’s got a tidy fortune and a knighthood! What possible objection could you have to him proposing?”

“He didn’t propose. And he will not propose,” Caroline answered. “He has... other ideas where I am concerned. Improper ones that I want no part of.”

Her aunt’s eyes narrowed into midnight colored slits. “Did he... make you some sort of offer?”

“He did.”

“And you turned him down?”

Caroline nodded. “Of course I did!”

“Caroline, I would never encourage you to sacrifice your honor, but you must realize that there are very few gentlemen who would be willing to overlook the sort of... flaws that are attached to your name. Bad enough to be penniless with no marriage portion, but to be illegitimate, as well? Perhaps you should consider his offer. Naturally, if you accepted we would have to part company entirely, but I would never begrudge you an opportunity to secure your future.”

Caroline felt the blood rush to her face. “That is a degradation I will not suffer. I will return to the Darrow School and work as a governess or paid companion before I would—well, I am not that sort.”

“Your mother made that choice and, until she and my brother were taken ill with fever, was quite content with her lot. I would never force you to do such a thing, but do not dismiss it out of hand. Pride and honor will not fill your belly or put a roof over your head.”

Her aunt walked away, and Caroline felt as if her entire world had just been upended. The question of whether or not she’d still have a home if Ruby married first had just been unequivocally answered. Her aunt would toss her into the street at the first moment she could. The purpose of bringing her into their home had only been to provide companionship for Ruby and to help Ruby overcome some of her shyness in social settings. There had never been any feeling for her. Not in the least.

Dashing away a tear that she could not contain, Caroline quickly made her way out of the ballroom. She didn’t care where she went so long as it was quiet and dark and no one would remind her of all the many reasons she would never be quite good enough.

When she was far enough away from the ballroom and any prying eyes, she let her tears fall. Not many of them. Only a few trailed unchecked down her cheeks as she leaned back against the wall and tried to fathom how she could ever have been so blind about her aunt’s motives.

“Is everything alright?”

Caroline’s head came up, and she found herself looking directly into the lovely face of Miss Isabella Parker. She might not have been the most beautiful woman in the world, but she was certainly the most beautiful woman at Averford Hall.

“Fine. Just a bit of a megrim,” Caroline lied, forcing a smile. “The heat of the ballroom has worsened it.”

“There’s a maid in the ladies’ withdrawing room who will fetch you a draught for the pain. I’ll go and get her,” Miss Parker offered.

“No. That’s quite all right. I am on my way there now. Thank you. You’ve been most kind.”

Miss Parker’s angelic countenance was etched with concern. “You’re certain? I hate to leave you alone when you are ill.”

“I’ll be quite all right, I assure you. No doubt Miss Stanhope will come in search of me soon enough.”

Miss Parker smiled warmly. “The two of you are quite thick as thieves. I envy that. I do not have close friends in that way. Women do not seem to care for my company, and men... well, if they are in my company, there is always some underlying purpose, isn’t there?”

Caroline didn’t want to feel sympathy for the young woman before her. From a distance, everything about her life seemed as though it was quite perfect. And yet, she was now forced to admit the grass truly was always greener on the other side. “You are not without friends, Miss Parker. Your kindness will not be forgotten. Thank you again.”

Miss Parker nodded. “Good evening, Miss Davies. I do hope it improves for you.”

After the other young woman had walked away and Caroline was once more alone, she moved toward an alcove that would afford some concealment. There, she slid down the wall, lowering herself until she was resting on the floor. In the distance, a clock struck the midnight hour. It was her birthday. And her entire world was falling apart.

*

Antony had lost sight of Miss Davies. Indeed, she’d vanished from the ballroom, and he had no notion of her direction. So he followed up on the missive he’d sent earlier.

“Miss Stanhope, may I have this dance?”

Ruby Stanhope’s eyes widened in shock, but that shock was quickly replaced with the brightness of conspiratorial glee. “Indeed, Your Grace, I am most gratified by the invitation.”

Antony offered her his arm and led her to the dance floor. It was a country dance which would allow for a significant amount of time to converse, thankfully. Taking their position on the dance floor, he waited until the first chord was struck before speaking. “Where has Miss Davies escaped to?”

Miss Stanhope shook her head slightly. “I cannot say for certain. I know that she had words with Mother earlier. Mother is... well, she has no intention of continuing to provide for Caroline if I wed.”

Antony digested that bit of information. “I see. And is that why you are discouraging suitors, Miss Stanhope?”

“Well, there haven’t been any suitors I cared to encourage, Your Grace. I would only ever consent to courtship or marriage to a man who would be willing to provide support to Caroline, as well.”

“Or perhaps, you could focus your efforts on aiding Miss Davies in making an acceptable match first. Tell me, did you receive my letter?” he asked.

“Only just before the ball. I read it but hadn’t had a chance to respond—do you mean to ask for Caroline’s hand?” she asked.

He gave a jerky nod. “Indeed. That is my intent, but first I must locate her.”

“She will have gone as far from the ballroom as possible. Someplace quiet. Mother upset her terribly,” Miss Stanhope stated. “You should find her at once.”

“As soon as our dance—”

Abruptly, and without warning, Miss Stanhope swooned. Antony caught her before she collapsed to the floor. But what shocked him more than her swoon was the fact that as she lay there limp in his arms while the crowd gathered about them, she gave him a wink.

“Clever,” he whispered, just before he was shooed out of the way by several concerned matrons, each one offering up some vinaigrette or other to rouse the young woman. And in that crowd, Antony simply sank back, further and further, until he could escape the ballroom. Then his search began in earnest. One room after another, he made his way through the lower floors of the house.

He was nearly ready to go upstairs, thinking perhaps she’d retreated to her chamber, when a flash of white in an otherwise darkened alcove under the stairs caught his eye. It was a bit of fabric—the train of her ballgown, he realized. He’d found his quarry.

“It makes me sound like an ogre to say so, but I am quite glad to find you, Miss Davies, when you have nowhere to run.”