Page 2 of Matters of a Duke’s Heart

Moments later, she looked behind her again, pausing. The back of her neck prickled, as if she was being watched, but when she searched around, she only saw several couples up ahead paying her no mind.

The paths all intersected with one another, and she swept her gaze over them all, trying to find the source of her worry. When there was nothing there, she turned her attention back in the direction of the Orchestra.

The prickling didn’t dissipate. Felicity inhaled sharply, trying to swallow down her fear. Perhaps the lord she had met wasn’t far away and had come back to check on her.

Shoes on the paths behind her had her glancing again but as soon as she did, there was a skid of

noise, a rustle of bushes, and Felicity saw the corner of an emerald-green tailcoat disappear into a hedged alcove, out of sight.

She thought about calling out, to know if anybody truly was there, or if her panic was playing tricks on her.

But she didn’t, and fear clenched around her chest. She was defenseless if she did call out, or that could be interpreted as garnering attention.

Her breath short, Felicity quickly hurried away.

She didn’t want to be caught wandering alone.

Soon, she saw the top turret of the Orchestra, and her chest eased in relief. Finally.

Her mother immediately spotted her, and her eyes narrowed on Felicity as she beckoned her over.

“Where on earth did you go?” Her mother asked, her voice high with hysteria. “I had poor Mr. Barrett hounded to look for you!”

“Mama, I am well,” Felicity insisted, not wanting to cause her mother any distress, even if her own heart fluttered with the residual anxiety of her own.

“I am here now. I got pushed off the main path.” She said nothing of her encounter with the handsome stranger, or her scare over potentially being followed by another man.

What color had the lord’s tailcoat been? He wore dark colors but… green?

She could not recall but she was certain he hadn’t followed her. After all, why follow her when he had dismissed her plea for help?

That meant there had been another stranger.

Felicity swallowed, mustering a smile at her mother. “Do not let my mishap ruin this for Daphne. Where is she?”

“She is speaking with the Countess of Harlbury’s daughter over there.”

Felicity’s mother’s voice was still curt with worry rather than the anger Felicity expected with being gone for so long. Felicity looked to where her sister stood with one of her friends, the two of them animatedly talking as they not-so-discreetly looked around at the young lords in attendance.

“She will have no trouble finding a suitor,” Felicity noted. Her sister was pretty—the very gem of the ton, really. She had already been named one of the most eligible ladies of this Season’s debuts along with the girl she was speaking with, Lady Tessa Harlbury.

“Your father has Lord Graham in mind,” Felicity’s mother told her, but a quick assessment showed no sight of the young lord.

“A future marchioness, then?” Felicity asked.

“I want the best for you both,” her mother said. “It will be a rank higher for Daphne. We have no sons to continue your father’s earldom, so I wish only the most elevated ranks for you both. I even have my eye on a duke’s son for her.”

And what of me? Felicity was not brave enough to ask her question.

Her mother had chosen the same options for her upon her own debut.

It was her own fault she had not succeeded, too lost in her search for love and not enough on duty.

She wanted to marry; she did not want to need to marry, and that was why she had already passed two Seasons without securing a match.

“You have received enough offers, Felicity,” her mother scolded, as if reading her thoughts. “I presented you with the sons of marquesses and earls. You refused them all. Even Lord Sanford.”

“Lord Sanford was already graying at my debut,” Felicity muttered. “And none of them ever truly asked about me. They wanted my qualities for boasting purposes rather than to get to know me. I was a checklist for them rather than a person.”

“Felicity,” her mother sighed, shaking her head.

A pinch of guilt nestled in her at how weary that sigh sounded.

“You are my eldest daughter, and I worry for your future. This is your third Season. You must marry well, my darling. Do you… do you not think it is time to put away these ideals of love and focus on your future security?”

When Felicity could only lapse into silence, her mother continued.

“After all, I did not love your father when my own parents set up our marriage. But in time, I came to love him. I came to see Merriweather House as a home. Perhaps you might follow in my footsteps. Love can always blossom, Felicity. In fact, some people may argue it is a quiet blessing if it does not ignite immediately. That way, you know the love is deeper and far greater, for it has had time to brew.”

“Brew,” Felicity echoed. “Mother, it is the matter of my heart, not a cup of tea that will strengthen with time.”

At that, her mother smiled reluctantly. “All I ask is that you keep an open mind. In fact, we are attending Lady Cardale’s ball next week. Will you let me set you up for some dances?”

Felicity nodded dutifully. “Please, though, Mama, do not introduce me to more men old enough to be my grandfather. My father, even.”

Her mother sighed again, linking her arm through Felicity’s. “Darling, if you continue to refuse every younger suitor in London, and beyond, then you have to understand you leave your father with less and less options to provide me with for you.”

The worst part was that Felicity did understand, and that was partially why she felt so wretched. She could not betray the yearning her heart had for love, but she would only corner herself by clinging tightly to that.

She gazed out at her sister, hoping that Daphne would have enough time to find her love match, even if Felicity was half-resigned to the fact that her own might not happen. Not this late on, anyway.

Daphne finally spotted her and rushed over. “You were gone for so long I half feared you were lost among the Dark Walk!”

“Heavens,” their mother laughed. “Do not mention such a scandalous thing so loudly, Daphne.”

Daphne blushed but giggled quietly, taking her place at Felicity’s side again. In her pale blue dress, and with her blonde hair and the green eyes the sisters had in common, she was the perfect image of a ton lady on the cusp of a prosperous Season, no doubt.

Good things will happen for her, Felicity thought. And for me… I can only hope I can please my mama and that my love match is waiting for me. For she was aware of her time running out, and she could not be the Season’s spinster. Her heart ached at the thought of it.

She turned her gaze to where an announcer stood atop the Orchestra platform.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being guests of Vauxhall Gardens on this celebratory evening.

Mr. Barrett has prepared a most admired firework display for you this evening to commemorate, as well as a short announcement of the new addition to the gardens. Do enjoy your evening. Thank you.”

The low, rough voice of the handsome stranger that had dismissed her so abruptly echoed in her mind, his dismissive enjoy the celebration lingering.

As Felicity listened to the speech, she looked out at the crowd, wondering where he had disappeared to, for she did not see him. Forcing him from her thoughts, she let her mind wander further. Who else in the crowd might catch her eye at next week’s ball?

Was her future love in attendance?

Could she still hope for the love match she had long dreamed of?