Page 8 of Never Doubt I Love (Calloway #3)

“Lud, what a dull party this is.” Hugh only half-stifled his yawn, keeping his eyes locked on the hostess.

Poor Mrs. Bates. She thought the duke’s acceptance to her dinner party meant she was rising in social status, but based on her pallor and trembling hands, she seemed to realize she had made a misstep by inviting him. It was not her fault that she hadn’t thought to include any of Hugh’s followers in her guest list. At least then Hugh might have been moderately entertained. As it was, the other guests mingling in the drawing room had thus far been too intimidated to approach the duke, leaving the three Bailey brothers to sit on their own at the edge of the room.

Alexander threw a quick glance toward the door. Miss Calloway was supposed to be in attendance this evening—the only reason Hugh had come—and while a part of Alexander hoped she would not appear and therefore would keep a good distance from Hugh, the other part of him desperately wished to see her again. Feeling any sort of affection toward her was dangerous, but she continued to surprise him each time he encountered her.

He chuckled. As if three interactions were enough to change his mind about remaining single. Miss Calloway intrigued him, nothing more.

“What are you laughing about?” Hugh demanded.

Alexander did not let his smile falter. “Merely thinking about how difficult you can be,” he said under his breath.

Hugh grumbled. “We have not even been subjected to dinner yet, and already this is a waste of time. We are leaving.”

Charles made it to his feet before Alexander grabbed his arm. “What?” Charles snapped.

Alexander could feel the room collectively holding their breath, waiting to see if the duke would insult Mrs. Bates so thoroughly by leaving before dinner had even started. At least Hugh hadn’t risen yet. “Your Grace, if you are genuine about finding yourself a wife, you must make public appearances.”

Grunting, Hugh folded his arms across his chest. “I know that, but it does not mean I am required to attend every blasted party thrown by every simpleton beneath my touch. I hardly expect to find anyone of worth in such a pitiful neighborhood.”

Clenching his jaw, Alexander nudged Charles back into his seat and surreptitiously measured the expressions of the other guests. Of course Hugh had spoken loudly enough for everyone to hear, and while he was right about them all ranking below him, that hardly meant none of them were worth his interest.

“What of Lady Daphne?” Alexander said, keeping his voice low. “Her father is the Marquess of Stallworth.” And a man not likely to part with his daughter to a rake like Hugh. But pursuing the girl under the marquess’s supervision could keep Hugh busy for a while.

Charles scoffed. “The girl is four and twenty.”

“What is wrong with that?”

“I need an heir,” Hugh grumbled, “not a woman nearly in her dotage.”

If his brothers truly thought a twenty-four-year-old was past her prime, they were more ridiculous than Alexander had thought.

“What of Miss Calloway?” Hugh asked. Alexander stiffened. “I thought you said she would be in attendance tonight.”

“She must have been waylaid.” Alexander offered a silent prayer that Miss Calloway would remain at home this evening. “But there are other—”

“Ah, there she is. Finally.”

As Mrs. Bates hastened to the door to greet Miss Calloway and the Foresters, who had accompanied her tonight, Alexander kept his focus on his hands in his lap. It had been only a day since he’d spoken with her at the Mansfields’, and yet his heart pounded at the thought of seeing Miss Calloway again. He had not thought his heart still worked, but it seemed the organ had permanently revived under her kind words last evening.

He needed to be careful when interacting with her while Hugh was around. He couldn’t reveal any of his growing interest, or his brother would take it as a sign that he should step in and lay his claim.

“Pity she is with the blasted Foresters,” Charles muttered. “That fool can do no wrong in the eyes of the ton .”

Alexander had always somewhat admired Nick Forester; he had no title to his name but had once claimed as much if not more influence than Hugh. A few months back, Forester and his now-wife but then-rival had been at the heart of London gossip, which was not always kind, but they had navigated their way beautifully. They both looked happy, something that surely vexed Hugh to no end. He had tried his hand at wooing the wealthy Mrs. Forester before she was married, but she had been too clever to fall for his charms. He was never angrier than when people rightly assumed he was nothing more than a rake with a title, and Alexander hoped his brother would not make a scene. This was the first time Hugh and Mrs. Forester would be around each other since the Foresters had wed.

Finished with their greetings with Mr. and Mrs. Bates, the Foresters took in the room, as if trying to decide where to begin. Miss Calloway, on the other hand, locked her eyes on Alexander.

He felt her gaze down to his toes. He stood, deciding he had best follow orders before Hugh made any moves of his own. Aware of the eyes on him, he crossed the room and bowed when he reached Miss Calloway and her party. “Miss Calloway, I was beginning to fear you were unwell.”

Lud, she had a beautiful smile. It radiated from her, as if the expression came from more than just her lips. Alexander could hardly believe no man had fought for her hand for that smile alone.

“A wheel broke on our carriage on the way over,” she said, her cheeks turning pink.

“I suppose I should stop participating in midnight races with Calloways’ barouche.” Mr. Forester’s lifted eyebrows indicated he was in jest, but whispers broke out among the crowd anyway. Surely they didn’t believe his words.

Mrs. Forester squeezed her husband’s arm. “Enough of that, my love.” Then she fixed her eyes on Alexander, curiosity in her gaze.

Forester spoke next. “Emma, darling, this is Lord Alexander Bailey. His brother, whom you have met, is the Duke of Tipton.”

“Ah.” Her expression immediately shifted to one of distrust, which almost brought a smile to Alexander’s mouth. Not only had she ignored Hugh’s interest when she met him, but it seemed she was also intelligent enough to expect his relatives to be much like him. She would be correct with Charles, but Alexander hoped he walked a different path.

Miss Calloway’s words repeated in his mind, just as they had done all day. You seem to have a good heart, my lord. He desperately wanted her to be right.

Alexander bowed to Mrs. Forester, keenly aware of his brothers’ eyes on him. If he bowed too low, he would be acting beneath his station, but if he bowed too little, he would feel as if he were being rude. “Mrs. Forester, it is an honor. I believe I had the pleasure of hearing your lovely singing voice at Lady Glenberry’s musicale not long ago.”

“You heard us in the gardens?” Miss Calloway asked.

And it was only at this moment that he remembered it was Miss Calloway who had been singing with her chaperone in the gardens. His heart seemed to stumble in his chest once or twice as the memory filled him. It was a sensation he had not felt since... well, in a long time. “In-indeed. You are both quite talented, and I only wish I could have told you so at the time.”

Miss Calloway’s cheeks blushed a pretty pink. “Thank you. I was too nervous to sing in front of a crowd, but Mrs. Forester convinced me to join her in the garden.”

“I hope you will bless Society with your voice before the Season has ended.” Alexander considered it a feat to keep his voice steady, and he credited the ability to his years of keeping a blank face around his brothers. “Or, if not, I hope at least I will have the opportunity to hear you once more.”

“I see charm runs in the Bailey family,” Mr. Forester said, his eyes jumping to the duke before returning to Alexander, then to Miss Calloway.

In order to keep Hugh happy, Alexander needed to charm Miss Calloway, or at least keep himself in her good graces, but he certainly did not want to give her the impression that he might be interested. It was a delicate line he would be walking, one he hoped he could balance. “Miss Calloway, how has your Season been thus far? I understand you connected with Mr. Knowles last night. He is a fine gentleman, so I hear.”

Though Mr. Forester continued to watch him with interest, Miss Calloway brightened. “It seems Mr. Knowles, for all his desirable qualities, does not especially appreciate the color yellow, which happens to be one of my favorites. I was telling him about the many yellow gowns I delight in wearing, and he all but ran away from me.”

Alexander found himself smiling, which would be dangerous if he did not keep Hugh at his back. He needed Hugh to think he abhorred his assignment rather than enjoyed having the excuse to speak with Miss Calloway. At least there was a whole room between them. “How unfortunate.”

“Indeed.”

“I’ve never seen you wear yellow,” Mr. Forester said, raising an eyebrow.

If the man insisted on being a part of the conversation, Alexander wondered whether he himself would be able to impart any more insights this evening. Miss Calloway had already used two of his tidbits of information, and if her eager expression meant anything, she wanted more. There were plenty of single gentlemen in attendance this evening, many of whom would take an interest in her.

Alexander found himself wishing to give Miss Calloway every reason to turn them all away. Disliking a certain hue may have been a ridiculous reason for a man to give up his pursuit of a beautiful and wealthy woman, but it meant Miss Calloway was free to find someone better suited to her.

Miss Calloway placed her hand on Mr. Forester’s arm for a moment, giving him another smile that made Alexander’s stomach twist. “It is a more recent favorite,” she told him. “And I would hate to become attached to a man who did not allow me to wear whatever I’d like.”

“As you should,” Mrs. Forester replied with a smirk.

“Within reason,” Mr. Forester complained. Then, taking another look at Alexander, he nodded his head toward the room as a whole. “Liv, perhaps you should continue on and speak to—”

“Do you know the other guests here tonight, Lord Alexander?” Miss Calloway didn’t bat an eye at speaking over Mr. Forester, which was as surprising as it was endearing.

Alexander had always admired confident women, particularly those who refused to let Hugh’s title intimidate them. Something told him Miss Calloway did not care if a man was a duke or a pauper. She paid attention to the man himself.

Alexander smiled at Miss Calloway and leaned in, lowering his voice. “Unfortunately, I do know many of the people here. You may have a few prospects, though I would not recommend the two in the corner.”

Together, both Alexander and Miss Calloway looked at the sofa where Hugh and Charles sat with their bored expressions still perfectly intact. Hugh sat up straighter—not that he ever slumped—and met Alexander’s gaze, as if waiting for an introduction, but Alexander ignored him. Dangerous, but he had his excuses ready. It will take time for Miss Calloway and her chaperones to trust me, and her brother will need that trust to ever accept your interest in his sister. He still hoped Hugh would set his sights elsewhere sooner rather than later, but Alexander would do everything he could to maintain a relationship with Miss Calloway, if only to protect her.

It wasn’t just Hugh she needed to be wary of, and Alexander would do his best to keep the fortune hunters at bay. If he found someone truly worthy of her, he would stay out of the man’s way. But that was quite a task.

He knew so little of the woman, yet he knew few men would deserve her.

Miss Calloway snickered. “You think so little of your own brothers?”

“We Bailey men would be nothing without the family title,” he said with ease. “I am only glad the mantle of duke fell to my brother and not to me.”

“You do not wish to be a duke? But you could have a voice in the House of Lords and care for countless people beneath you.”

Hugh hadn’t cared for anyone but himself in years. Alexander was not privy to much when it came to the family estate, but he knew enough to know that the tenants living on the Tipton lands were hardly cared for. Alexander had once tried to sneak food to some of the poorer families after stumbling upon their dilapidated cottages while out walking, but a footman had alerted Hugh before he ever made it to the stables to saddle a horse with his supply of bread and cheese.

According to Hugh, the tenants did not work hard enough to pay their rents, and the estate would fail if he forgave any of their debts. If only Alexander had learned more about running an estate, he might know whether Hugh spoke the truth.

He cleared his throat. “I do not need a title to care for others,” he said, hoping Hugh could not hear him. “It is why I am eager to learn from your brother. I hope to purchase some sort of business that will allow me to employ a few people.” He didn’t know how he would purchase anything, given his strict allowance, but he had been saving as much as he could. He would have a better idea of his options once he met with Lord Calloway next week.

“How admirable,” Miss Calloway said, and the smile she gave him filled him with warmth. “And I cannot blame you for not wanting to be a duke. I would hardly wish to be a duchess, if given the option.”

She would not be, if Alexander had any say in the matter.

“You should meet Mr. Harris,” Mr. Forester said, once again inserting himself into the conversation and giving Alexander a look that seemed to be one of warning. “You don’t want to monopolize anyone’s time.” He held out his arm to Miss Calloway. Was his word of caution for Miss Calloway or for Alexander?

Regardless, Alexander couldn’t afford to have someone else control the situation. It seemed Miss Calloway would either be with her brother or with Mr. Forester throughout the Season, and Alexander would have his work cut out for him in appeasing everyone involved. It would be so much easier were he not working alone, but what could he do? He didn’t know whether he could trust Mr. Forester or even Lord Calloway to be discreet were he to admit the difficult position he was in, and confiding to the innocent Miss Calloway and subjecting her to the pressure of dealing with Hugh would fill Alexander with guilt. She deserved to enjoy her Season, not spend the whole of it in a game of pretense.

Though Miss Calloway seemed reluctant, she took hold of Mr. Forester’s arm. But then she looked back at Alexander. “Do you know Mr. Harris, my lord?”

Alexander did not know much, but he knew to trust Mr. Forester’s opinion. If Forester liked the man, he must be worth the introduction. He ducked his head. “I have not had the pleasure of making Mr. Harris’s acquaintance,” he admitted.

Miss Calloway dimmed, though she kept her smile in place. “A pity. Perhaps you would like an introduction as well?”

Was she afraid to meet the man? She seemed so confident and self-assured, but her hazel eyes carried something akin to fear.

Though he did not especially want to turn to look, Alexander could feel Hugh’s eyes on him. He had spent too long speaking to Miss Calloway, and the duke was getting impatient. Either Alexander would have to pretend he had been dismissed, or he would be expected to make an introductions to his brother. “Perhaps another time,” he said, bending into a bow. “I am certain Mr. Forester would be happy to tell you what he knows about anyone in the room and be far more helpful than I could, Miss Calloway.”

Oh, she did not seem happy with that comment, and Alexander wasn’t sure what to do with that. Though Mr. Forester smirked, as if being the authority on gossip were a triumph, Miss Calloway’s eyebrows pulled low. Her expression contained as much sadness as it did disappointment, which made little sense.

“You and I could still be friends,” she said softly, and then Mr. Forester led her across the room to meet the quiet Mr. Harris.

Alexander reluctantly returned to his brothers, trying to keep his eyes on the floor even though they were pulled in Miss Calloway’s direction each time he caught the sound of her voice over the low murmurs of conversation throughout the room.

Charles nudged his arm as he sat. “Three conversations with the chit and you still haven’t won her over? Your Grace, I told you not to trust Alexander with—”

“That idiot Forester seems to be playing the role of guard dog well,” Hugh said, cutting off Charles’s words.

Alexander nodded. “Miss Calloway is protected by more than her brother.” All the better for her.

“You need to make your intentions clearer.” Hugh scratched his chin.

“Simply find her in an empty corridor and have your way with her,” Charles grumbled. “That is what I would do.”

“And that is why I have entrusted this task to Alexander. Miss Calloway is to be my wife, and I will not have her spoiled.”

Alexander’s stomach seemed to tie itself in knots as a wave of dizziness passed over him. He would never compromise a lady, even if Hugh asked him to, but the thought of anyone being “spoiled” left a bad taste in his mouth. As if women were like fruit, to be enjoyed when freshly plucked rather than after they had been left too long or someone else had taken a taste but decided they were not for him. Even at his worst, Alexander had never seen women as goods that could be spoiled.

He shuddered. “From what I have gathered, Miss Calloway wishes for affection more than anything. She will not be easily won.”

“She could certainly do better than Harris,” Charles said, sneering as he looked over to where Mr. Harris was gazing at Miss Calloway with clear interest. “The man hardly makes a thousand pounds a year.”

“That is more than what you earn,” Alexander muttered under his breath. Without Hugh, both he and Charles would be completely destitute, something Charles seemed to forget constantly.

Hugh narrowed his eyes as he watched Miss Calloway laugh at something Harris said. “Alexander, I expect you to make more of an effort with the girl. I will not have some commoner claiming a dowry he does not deserve.”

Alexander would do better to keep his thoughts to himself, but he wondered if Hugh might set his sights elsewhere if he knew more about Miss Calloway. “Miss Calloway has already demonstrated her dislike of anyone who is after her dowry. She has no reason to settle for anyone who does not prove himself to admire her as a woman with her own thoughts and ideas.”

“How horrid,” Charles said.

But Hugh, to Alexander’s dismay, brightened, the interest in his eyes doubling. “A strong-willed woman would make a fine duchess, would she not?”

Alexander would be lying if he said no, but he’d expected his brother to be of the mind that a woman should be quiet and complacent, following orders as readily as the staff.

“Do you see the way she commands attention without trying?” Hugh continued. “Imagine how Society would envy me with such a pretty wife on my arm.”

Again, he was not wrong. Nearly every single gentleman seemed drawn in Miss Calloway’s direction, as if she were the sun after a month of nonstop rain. She may be young, but she had a joy for life and an innocence that shone on her face, and she had already pulled another young woman into the conversation with Harris. Yes, she hoped for methods of turning away men who saw only her fortune, but she had said it was as much to help other young ladies find their matches as it was for herself, which made her an incredibly kind and thoughtful person.

She was too good for Hugh, and that made the duke’s interest so much harder to stomach.

“Perhaps we are going about this the wrong way,” Hugh said, scratching his jaw. “Alexander, you are clearly too dull to charm her into taking an interest in you, but she does seem to enjoy conversing with you.”

“Devil knows why,” Charles grumbled. “I still think I should—”

“You must discover her likes and interests,” Hugh continued. “Tell me what makes her smile, and I shall do the rest.”

Alexander would not be doing that. He could make a show of being interested in her, but giving Hugh actual advantages in his pursuit? Heaven forbid Miss Calloway actually consider Hugh if he convinced her to look his way. Perhaps he should admit the truth to the Calloways after all.

Hugh gripped Alexander’s arm. “I know that look of defiance, Brother,” he said, his voice low and rough. “You will tell me how to woo Miss Calloway, or I may need to consider finding smaller lodgings for Mother. She hardly needs the space, now, does she?”

Like her income, Mother’s newest lodgings were pitiful as it was, and Alexander clenched his hands into fists. He had once hoped that a son would never treat his own mother with disdain or follow through with the threats he made, but Mother had already been forced to move twice since Father’s death, at Hugh’s insistence. Alexander had to assume his brother would force her to do it again if provoked.

“Very well,” he said, though he would have to be careful. He could not sacrifice Miss Calloway’s life for his mother’s or the other way around. With his heart sitting heavy like a rock in his chest, he prayed he would find a way to protect them both. Ideally without throwing anyone else into Hugh’s clutches. He had no idea how he would manage that, but he had to try.