Page 16 of The Burdened Duke (Willenshires #4)

Lavinia inspected her reflection, worrying her lower lip between her teeth.

Well, I never thought I’d start worrying over my clothes because of a man , she thought wryly.

She’d chosen a checked green muslin, not entirely suitable for a house party but quite good enough for a picnic. The day was fine, if a little overcast, and the promised rain had not arrived.

Spirits were high. People were looking forward to the picnic, Gillian most of all. Apparently, Lord Langley – who had been sitting next to her at supper the previous night, while Lavinia found herself sandwiched between a prim and disapproving widow and a middle-aged gentleman who mostly ignored her and slurped his soup – had asked Gillian to show him how to make daisy-chains. This had come on the heels of Gillian confessing herself an avid gardener. Personally, Lavinia was sure the man could have come up with something better than making daisy chains , but Gillian was charmed and excited, so that was that.

It was pleasant to see her sister enjoying herself so much. Lord Langley’s attentions at supper had been marked, his disappointment at not seeing her at the Park most intense.

And once Gillian is gone, Lavinia thought, not for the first time, It will be just Mama, Papa and me.

That wasn’t a particularly pleasant thought.

She tweaked anxiously at a curl, turning her figure this way and that, to make sure the gown still looked suitable. It was last year’s gown – no, the year before – and the guests here were a remarkably fashionable crowd. Miss Bainbridge, for example, had not worn anything at all from last year’s Season, if gossip was to be believed. Not even a pair of gloves or a bonnet. Her entire wardrobe was new.

And here we can barely afford rent on our London house, Lavinia thought grimly.

Lady Brennon came bustling in, resplendent in a white lawn dress, covered in embroidered flowers, and an old-fashioned straw bonnet.

“Well, well, Lavinia, not ready yet? Gillian has been ready for quite some time! They are all getting ready to leave. Shall we go?”

Lavinia took one last look at herself in the glass.

This is as good as it is going to get.

“Yes,” she said mildly. “I’m ready.”

***

The picnic was to be held on a hill behind the house, with beautiful views overlooking a valley, a large pond spread out below. Despite the heavy clouds overhead, it was fairly warm, and there was no danger of rain.

The guests trailed out of the house in twos and fours, talking and laughing. The servants had, of course, gone on ahead with the supplies and so on, with a few of the ladies bringing baskets with their own extra goodies and picnic blankets, for the joy of spreading their own blanket out.

Lady Brennon was one of those women. She strode along by the dowager’s side, both deep in conversation. The Dowager Duchess was apparently too slight and weak to carry her own basket, so Lady Brennon carried them both with ease.

Lord Langley came and found Gillian very quickly, and they soon fell to the back of the group, with a cheerful, round-faced chaperone following along behind. Lavinia was left to walk alone.

She had spotted the duke at once. He walked with his brothers and sister, along with the in-laws. He kept his head down and seemed preoccupied. Miss Bainbridge had not yet fought her way to him.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, Lavinia thought, drew in a breath, and sped up her pace. She fell into step beside the duke, who glanced briefly down at her with a guarded expression.

For some reason, Lavinia’s heart sank.

“Good morning, your Grace,” she said brightly. “Are you looking forward to the picnic?”

“I do not particularly enjoy eating out of doors,” he answered hesitantly. “But I don’t wish to spoil the atmosphere.”

“I’m sure no one would think that.”

He gave a tight smile and a bow, and then abruptly sped up his pace, soon leaving Lavinia behind.

She could have scurried after him, though, if she had had less self-respect. As it was, Lavinia stared at his retreating back for a moment, trying to work out what, exactly, had just happened.

He had snubbed her. No, it wasn’t a definite snub, but it had been pointed. He had made a polite but brief reply, and then hurried away. He didn’t want to talk to her.

Did I say something wrong? I thought that yesterday, we…

She pinched off the thought abruptly, swallowing hard. The truth was, she did not know what had happened between them the day before. She hadn’t understood what was going on at all, until the man came haring out of the house, screaming and waving his arms like a madman. It might have been funny if she wasn’t suddenly afraid he was going to do something awful, like throw her over the fence.

She could still feel his strong fingers on her shoulders, his arm around her waist. It had been clear from his face that he knew he had made a mistake, a breach of propriety.

Nobody had seen, though, for which Lavinia was thankful. No doubt she would have suffered the worst of it, being the lady in question, the one who had gone out to see horses of all things.

But their conversation afterwards had been… well, it felt almost as if she were seeing the real man behind the dukedom. It was thrilling. Lavinia had believed, truly believed, that things had changed between the duke and her. Perhaps a friendship might flourish, heaven knew she needed friends.

Perhaps it might become something more. Perhaps. It horrified her to feel her heart surging at this thought. Of something more . With him .

It was frustrating to be kept away from him at dinner, but Lavinia had managed it gracefully. She was sure she would have an opportunity to talk to him today, and she was right.

She had had the opportunity, but he had hurried away almost at once.

Glancing around, Lavinia was relieved to see that nobody else had seen it. Sighing, she applied herself to climbing the last stretch of their walk, up the hill towards the peak.

***

“Would you care for some currant jelly, your Grace?” Lavinia spoke up.

The duke flinched, as if he had not seen her at his elbow.

The blankets were all laid out, most people reclining with their friends. The food was being laid out, and some people were strolling between the blankets, clearly deciding where to sit.

The duke was one of those people, looking rather at a loss. Lavinia had risen to her feet and gone to stand beside him.

When he only stared blankly at her, she gestured to her picnic blanket, laden with goodies, currant jelly among them.

“You could join us,” she offered.

He swallowed hard, avoiding her eye. “I… I think I ought to sit with my mother, Miss Brookford. But thank you for your offer. It was… it was very kind, and the currant jelly looks remarkably good. Thank you.”

He made a stiff, awkward bow, and then hurried away, leaving Lavinia at a loss once again.

At least, he made to move away and would have done if she had not reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

Now that was a terrible breach of propriety, and she dropped her hand away at once. He had already stopped dead, face beet red.

“I beg your pardon,” she said quietly, glancing around to make sure nobody else had noticed. “But I have done something to offend you, your Grace?”

His eyes fluttered shut, just for a moment. “No, nothing. I… Do excuse me.”

She said nothing, letting him walk away this time. Lavinia watched him weave his way through the spread-out blankets, shoulders hunched and head down.

As he passed the Bainbridges’ blanket – only the three of them sat there – Miss Bainbridge spoke to him. Of course she did. Lavinia could not hear what she said, but the inviting smile and tilted head said it all.

The duke hesitated, only for a moment, and then lowered himself to sit beside her on the blanket. Miss Bainbridge threw a quick, triumphant look over her shoulder, meeting Lavinia’s eye squarely.

She turned away, crimson, and left Miss Bainbridge to her success, flopping down on the blanket again.

“What are you standing around for, dear?” Lady Brennon remarked, entirely engrossed by her cream biscuit. “Why don’t you pour us all some tea?”

Lavinia poured the tea.

***

After the picnic, there were games of croquet and bowls, and even a few mild-mannered card games conducted between groups of people on their picnic blankets.

Lavinia did not join in. She sat on her blanket, staring into space, wishing she had an appetite for the dainties spread out before her.

Why the sudden change in attitude? She wondered, for the hundredth time. What did I do to offend him?

Nothing came to mind, but there must have been something. His manner had been more than plain. Even now, she could see him playing a game of croquet with Miss Bainbridge, a pained expression on his face. It was clear that he did not want to be there, playing that game.

And yet, he is doing it. Oh, if I were a duke – even if I were a man – I’d never suffer my way through any nonsense like this. I should do what I liked. I should say what I liked.

Lavinia was so lost in her sour thoughts that she didn’t hear the other woman approaching until she flopped down beside her on the blanket.

“Penny for them,” Katherine said, grinning.

“I… I beg your pardon?”

“Penny for your thoughts,” Katherine repeated. “You looked entirely lost in thought. They must be interesting, then. Your thoughts.”

Lavinia grimaced. “Quite the contrary, I’m afraid. They’re rather uncharitable. I’d rather forget them myself.”

Katherine nodded, making herself more comfortable. “I saw you sitting here alone, and thought that we could have a little talk, you and I.”

“What an ominous way to start a conversation.”

Katherine gave a sharp laugh. “Oh, you are quite the wit, Miss Brookford. I mean that in the most flattering manner, as you surely comprehend. You express your thoughts with such candour.”

“More often than I should.”

She shrugged. “It’s a refreshing sort of honesty. One doesn’t see it a great deal in Society.”

“I… I believe your brother said something similar to me, once.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “Yes. William, on occasions, is either the cleverest man I have ever met, or the most foolish. It is as if he cannot make up his mind.”

Lavinia had to bite back a smile at that. “You are his sister; it is your prerogative to be ungenerous.”

“Spoken like a sibling yourself. You have only a sister, is that right, Miss Brookford? No brothers?”

Lavinia’s face fell. The familiar nausea and misery lodged itself in her gut. She looked away.

“Only Gillian,” she responded, voice quiet. When she looked back, Katherine was watching her, a furrow between her brows.

“Forgive me,” she said at last. “I… I believe I have overstepped. I’ve upset you.”

Lavinia shook her head. “It’s nothing, truly. It’s no secret, I think, that I do not feel particularly comfortable in this sort of Society. House gatherings are not my forte. But you have been so kind to me. I don’t think I would be doing either of us a service if I were to take offence now.”

Katherine watched her carefully, pursing her lips. “You are very generous.”

“I am never quite as generous as I should be.”

“I suppose none of us are. But that is not why I came over here, Miss Brookford.”

Lavinia lifted an eyebrow. “Pray, continue. Share with me the nature of your enigmatic undertaking.”

Katherine grinned. “Straight to the point. I like it. The thing is, Miss Brookford, I want to talk to you about William.”

She flinched, despite herself. “T-The duke?”

“He isn’t the duke to me, my dear. The thing about William, is that he’s… well, he’s something of a mystery. He gets the oddest ideas in his head, and once they’d lodged in there, there isn’t much a person can do about it.”

“I noticed as much,” Lavinia mumbled, before she could stop herself. She glanced up and found Katherine looking at her again, a sort of knowing look on her face.

She saw him snub me, Lavinia thought, heart sinking. It was a little embarrassing, but she was getting good at swallowing embarrassments these days.

“Don’t give up on him, Lavinia,” Katherine said abruptly. “You… you seem to be good for him. I know my brother, and I know how he can’t stand the falseness and silliness of the Season. He wants an anchor, somebody he can rely upon. Somebody who sees him for who he is, not the Duke of Dunleigh. I feel that some other ladies – although they might be better suited to the role of duchess – may not see him correctly, if you know what I mean. They may not understand him. I am not looking for a duchess for my brother, Miss Brookford. I am looking for his wife. A life partner. Somebody who will make him happy, and somebody that he can make happy. I have seen what it is like, for a married couple that are not well-suited. It is upsetting. It is unfortunate. It generally cannot be remedied. I don’t want that for William.”

Katherine let out a long breath at the end of this speech, leaning back to gauge its effect on Lavinia.

She took her time before responding, a little shocked at the forthrightness of this speech. And at a picnic, no less, with all of their friends and guests around!

“It can’t have been easy for you to say all of that,” she managed at last. It felt like a rather feeble thing to say, but it was better than nothing, after all.

Katherine only grinned. “Oh, yes, it’s a most shocking speech. I rehearsed some of it in my head before I came over here. You aren’t offended, I hope, by any of it?”

Lavinia shook her head. “No, of course not. But I think… I think perhaps you have misinterpreted the relationship between the duke and myself. He is a fine man, but I am sure he sees me as nothing but a good acquaintance.”

Katherine looked away, a smile playing over her lips.

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. As I said, Miss Brookford, please don’t give up on him. He’s a fool, sometimes, but things have happened to him to make him that way. He’s a fine man with a prickly exterior.”

“Like a hedgehog.”

Lavinia wasn’t entirely sure where that comment had come from. She rather wished she hadn’t said it, but of course it was too late now. Katherine suppressed a smile.

“Yes, Miss Brookford. Exactly like a hedgehog. You take my meaning, though, I think?”

She bit her lip, glancing down. “Yes. Yes, I think I do. I only hope you aren’t placing too much faith in me. You overestimate me.”

Katherine climbed to her feet, shaking stray pieces of grass from her skirt.

“Miss Brookford, you underestimate yourself. Good day.”

With that, she walked off, leaving Lavinia with her head spinning.