Page 23 of Starlight and the Duke (Cherish and the Duke #5)

R ob strode off to find Cherish and relay Aubrey’s request, because the hunt was going to start very soon. He approached the crowd gathered on the lawn, but could not find Cherish among those milling about.

Fiona appeared to have taken charge of this scavenger hunt game and was about to start calling out the pairs. “Make sure Aubrey gets Florence,” he whispered in Fiona’s ear.

“But I had her paired with you.”

“Don’t. Aubrey wants her.”

Fiona’s eyes widened as she stared up at him. “He does?”

Well, not really. But Fiona did not have to be told that Aubrey’s reasons were other than romantic. She did not have to know that he was convinced the girl was doing something other than bird watching and was curious to discover what it was. “Yes, he’s quite smitten.”

“Truly?” She let out a breath and smiled. “Eden will be thrilled for him. She hoped he would find someone to make him happy.”

“Obviously, it is early days yet,” Rob said, careful not to overdo it. “But it looks promising.”

Fiona’s smile broadened. “That is a good start, and all anyone can ask. But Rob, I’ll have to give you the young lady with whom he was to be paired.”

“All right. Who is that?”

“Lady Eloise Barclay.”

He nodded. “That works. I have yet to make her acquaintance. This will be a good opportunity. How long is the scavenger hunt expected to last?”

“About three hours,” Fiona replied.

“Good, then she and I will have time for a long conversation.”

“Excellent,” she remarked, her smile turning a little too bright. “I have only spoken to her briefly, but she seems lovely.”

“Is that so? Then I shall look forward to getting to know her better.”

She tipped her chin into the air. “Yes, do.”

He noticed Fiona’s upraised chin begin to wobble as though she were going to cry.

In truth, he was not surprised. This had been a difficult day for her, first finding out about Cherish being in the family way and possibly Margaret, as well. Then to see him willing to escort another lady around, even if it was at her urging, was still a bitter pill for her to swallow.

“Fiona,” he said gently, “you are the one who is pushing me to do this.”

“I know. But I sincerely want you to meet these young ladies.”

“Then why are you frowning at me?”

“I am not frowning,” she said while doing exactly that. “I am ecstatic for you, so do not try to wriggle out of our agreement.”

“Yes, I can see how genuinely you are smiling,” he said with sarcasm. “Go ahead, call out our names and let’s get on with this game.”

Since he was to spend the next three hours in the company of Lady Eloise Barclay, he hoped she would turn out to be tolerable.

He had to admit, Cherish and Fiona had not done badly in selecting these ladies.

Only Anne was an outright mistake so far, a snake in lamb’s clothing, or whatever the expression.

The point was that she was sneaky and not to be trusted, something Fiona would have spotted immediately had she spent any time in her company.

Perhaps Cherish had been the one to choose her, for Bromleigh’s wife was far more trusting and gullible than Fiona.

Their choice of Millicent was not a bad one, however. Unfortunately, Millicent was an adventuress—intelligent and thoughtful, but meant for a man who also had the desire to explore exotic lands.

Florence was quirky, smart mouthed, and independent. In truth, she reminded him a little of Fiona, and he liked Florence because of this.

But he dismissed her as a possible match because she did not have Fiona’s warmth, and this was a must for him. If he took a wife for himself, she needed to be someone he could trust to love and protect their children with all her being.

That was Fiona. It was not Florence.

And now, he was to learn about Eloise.

Or not, he realized when greeted with a tepid smile from this ton beauty.

She did not appear pleased to see him, and actually retreated several steps as he came to stand by her side now that everyone had been matched to a partner and instructions were given out. There were eight couples paired off and eight of each scavenger hunt item hidden in the woods.

“Eight items on this list. Not so bad,” he remarked, hoping to put Lady Eloise at ease, for she did not look particularly excited to be participating in this game.

She gave him a blank stare.

“We are only required to find one of each.” He cleared his throat, and then continued when she made no remark.

“For example, the duchess has hidden eight eggs painted pink, but we must only take one to put in our basket. If we come across another pink egg, we must leave it for another couple to find.”

She still said nothing.

“Shall we start?”

She nodded.

He groaned inwardly. Did the girl forget how to speak?

He knew she could, for he had heard her chatting with Fiona earlier and laughing at one of her jests. The pair had been quite relaxed and seemed to be enjoying their conversation. But Eloise seemed to be terrified of him.

No, not terrified. Dismayed? Bored? Revolted by him?

Well, he had no idea what was going through her mind.

“So,” he continued, as though this was not agony for him, as well, “we are to be on the lookout for a pink egg, a teacup, a lace handkerchief, a lady’s glove, a man’s snuff box, and…

” He allowed his voice to trail off, since this was getting him nowhere.

“How shall we approach this hunt, Lady Eloise?”

Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

Ah, she speaks. “Well, some of the items might be hidden under a bush and some might be found up in the trees. Shall I look high while you search low?”

“All right.”

“Everyone has scattered in all directions. Is there any spot you would like to search first?”

“I shall follow your lead,” she said, her voice pinched.

Was she scared of him? And for this reason sounded like a timid mouse?

Since most of the couples had started their search off to the right, he chose to go toward the left side of the woods because the underbrush was sparser and the scavenged items would be easier to spot, assuming any were planted there.

He easily found a pink egg and held it up with glee. “Success, Lady Eloise! We’ve got the egg.”

Fiona would have laughed and perhaps done a silly dance to partake in his cheer, but Eloise just looked at him with a blank expression.

She was a bluestocking, right? Supposedly intelligent, right?

Could have fooled him.

He stuck the egg in the basket. “Right, let’s move on.”

It was not long before he spotted a bit of white lace caught on a twig on the low-hanging branch of a tree. “I thought I saw something in the tree, Lady Eloise.” He pointed upward and feigned excitement. “Do you see it? Shall I lift you up to reach it?”

She backed away as though he were an ogre intending to do her harm.

He sighed. “Never mind. I’ll get it.”

Fiona would have shoved him aside, climbed the tree all on her own, her legs flailing and arms outstretched to grab the item, and then given a victory shout.

“Two items found,” he said with mock enthusiasm. “What shall we look for next?”

“You decide.”

“I see you are agog with excitement,” he muttered, and decided to search for the teacup next. “Of course, we should also keep an eye out for the remaining objects.”

It did not take him long to come upon a teacup.

“Good, we are almost done,” Eloise remarked dryly.

In truth, they were not even halfway to finishing.

He paused in his next search and turned to face her. “Are you not enjoying this game? It is harmless, and an easy way for us to get to know each other. Forgive my bluntness, but it seems you wish to be anywhere but here. Is it me? Or is it just this game you dislike?”

She let out a breath. “Shall we speak bluntly?”

“Yes. In truth, I would just like you to speak, since you have hardly said a word to me all afternoon.”

“I am not trying to be difficult.”

Oh, really?

“I am only here because my parents disapprove of my hopes, wishes, and desires. They are pushing me toward you because you are a duke.”

“There’s a surprise,” he said with disdain.

“They are convinced your title is all the prize I need. Let me assure you, it is not. Nor can I turn my heart on and off at will.”

“Your heart? Have you fallen in love with someone else?”

Please, please. Yes.

Fiona could not blame him for a failed match if Eloise was the one who rejected him. That would neatly take care of all the young ladies they had chosen as potential matches for him, and leave him free to enjoy the rest of this house party unburdened.

“Becoming your duchess,” Eloise said, regaining his attention, “and having others grovel at my feet will not lessen the pain of giving up on my dreams.”

“I am not in the habit of encouraging anyone to grovel.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“Nor will I lock you in a dungeon.”

“I never thought so. You do not come across as cruel. However, you do not come across as scholarly either.”

Was she calling him an idiot?

He smothered a grin. Fine, let her believe he was all muscle and no brain.

“Let us clear the air, Your Grace. I do not dislike you. In fact, I appreciate your efforts to be polite and engaging. But you do not strike me as a man who will ever accept anything less than complete faithfulness in his wife, and I can never promise you this.”

“You would cavort with other men?”

Holy ham hocks. That was quite the admission, especially from a girl who had hardly spoken a sentence to him in over two hours.

“Other men?” she said, the notion seeming to catch her by surprise. However, she did not attempt to deny it. “Perhaps, but I was thinking of my first love, which is scientific research and my general thirst for knowledge. They will always come first in my heart, you see.”

“And what of children?”

“What do you mean? Whose children?”

“Yours. Ours if we were to marry.”

Eloise blushed. “But this is why I am being honest with you from the start. I do not want the distraction of children.”

“No children? Ever?”

She nodded. “That’s right.”