Page 5 of The Duke’s Scandal (Bluestocking Book Club #5)

Chapter Four

I must find those two young ladies again.

“Good evening, Your Grace! How wonderful to see you present!”

Amos blinked, then bowed quickly, trying desperately to remember the young lady’s name. “Good evening.”

“I do hope you are dancing this evening, Your Grace?” The young lady’s mother – whose name Amos could not recall either – beamed at him with hope shining in her eyes. “Everyone will be speaking about your presence here this evening and the lucky young ladies that you will stand up with!”

“Alas, I am not to dance this evening,” Amos said quickly, seeing the light in the lady’s eyes fading. “This is the first ball I have attended this Season, and thus, I have chosen instead simply to greet some old acquaintances and, of course, to make some new ones also.”

“Oh.” The young lady glanced at her mother, then, glancing up at him from lowered lashes, gave him a coy smile. “Is there no hope of you changing your mind, Your Grace? ”

A hand settled on Amos’s shoulder. “I am afraid, Lady Gwendoline, that when the Duke of Exeter makes a decision, he is never able to be turned from it. Is that not so, Your Grace?”

Amos glanced at Lord Galbraith as he dropped his hand back to his side, relieved that his brother-in-law had come to his aid.

“Indeed it is,” he said, looking back at Lady Gwendoline, who now appeared to have tears in her eyes.

“Although I am glad to have spoken with you again, Lady Gwendoline. Do excuse me.” With another bow and a small smile, he stepped away, with Lord Galbraith beside him.

They had only gone a few steps when Amos let out a huff of relief, making Lord Galbraith chuckle.

“Was it truly so very bad?”

“I could not recall her name, nor the name of her mother!” Amos exclaimed, pressing one hand to his forehead.

“I have been in London for three days now and have met so many new acquaintances, my head is spinning with names and faces! Thank goodness you arrived when you did, for I should be quite without hope otherwise.” Lord Galbraith had taken his own carriage from the townhouse to the ball, suggesting that Amos might like to linger for a little longer than he himself.

Amos had driven to the ball first and had, upon stepping into the ballroom, been a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of people wishing to speak with him.

It had felt as if he were being pressed on every side, being squeezed into a tight box of people. It was not a pleasant experience.

“This is not what I thought it would be,” he muttered, aware of how near every eye glanced at him. “I understood that there would be a good deal of attention upon me, certainly, but nothing as severe as this. ”

Lord Galbraith snorted. “You are a Duke, Exeter. What else did you think would happen?”

Feeling a little embarrassed, Amos looked away, inadvertently catching the eye of a young lady who immediately flushed and batted her eyelashes.

Amos looked away, his stomach twisting. “I presumed that while there would be some attention placed upon me, there would be nothing of this… intensity. Everywhere I go, I have near every young lady or their mother watching me, eager to come speak with me. I am forced to try and remember their names and titles whilst, at the same time, seeking to speak to them in a manner that does not seem rude, especially when they ask me such direct questions!”

“Such as, asking if you are to dance or not?”

“Precisely! What was I meant to say to that?” Amos pushed one hand over his hair, wanting to tug at his collar but choosing not to do so for fear that he would ruin his cravat.

“If I said that yes, I was, then she would have the expectation that I would ask her to dance. Which I did not want to do.”

Lord Galbraith offered a small, understanding smile. “You are free of it for this evening, so be glad of that. You shall have to dance at the next ball, however, for the ton will begin to speak of it if you do not.”

Amos scowled. “I do not like society a good deal, I think.”

“And yet,” his friend said, with a chuckle, “within it, you must find yourself a suitable bride.”

I fear I have no hope of that. These first three days had overwhelmed Amos somewhat.

There had been so many people near him, all determined to speak with him, to introduce themselves to him, to simply be near him!

How was he ever to find someone suitable when he could not near breathe without garnering the attention of at least five or six young ladies?

“Do not be so disheartened!” Lord Galbraith said, slapping Amos on the back. “The ton will lessen in their attentions towards you very soon, I am sure.” He winced. “It will not lessen a great deal, but it will lessen somewhat. Come, let us stand over here where the shadows hang a little lower.”

This did not bring Amos a good deal of comfort, but the glass of whisky he was handed thereafter, did. Taking a sip, he let out a small sigh and then looked about him.

“Mayhap you will do something dreadful and offend and upset a good many of the ton, ” Lord Galbraith said, with a grin. “That way, you will not have anywhere near the same attention as you have at present.”

Amos snorted. “I have already offended two young ladies, I am afraid, but that was entirely accidental. I was a little foolish and much too forward, I will admit, but all the same, I have no intention of doing anything like that again.”

“Oh?” Lord Galbraith cocked his head. “What did you do?”

With a roll of his eyes, Amos told him briefly about his encounter with not only Lord Meadows but the two ladies he had been speaking with.

“As I said,” he finished, “I spoke hastily and without considering what Lord Meadows might have done. I also fear that they believe I feel the same way as he when it comes to bluestockings.”

Lord Galbraith scrunched up his face. “I do not have much inclination towards bluestockings, I confess.”

“I would never consider a bluestocking, admittedly,” Amos agreed, “but I do not think them a stain upon society, as Lord Meadows seemed to suggest. ”

“And you wish to find them and apologize?”

Amos nodded. “I think it's the right thing for me to do. I do not know their names, however, so that does make it a little more difficult.”

“Your Grace! Why are you hiding in the shadows so?”

His stomach knotted but he quickly pushed a smile to his lips.

“Good evening, Lord Bristol. And to you also, Miss Shelton.” This was an acquaintance he remembered, for Miss Shelton was small, dainty but with such a loud voice, he was certain the entirety of the room would be able to hear her the moment she opened her mouth.

“Might I introduce you both to the Marquess of Galbraith? He is my brother-in-law, present here with me in London for the Season.” Sending the gentleman in question a brief smile, he gestured to the others.

“The Viscount of Bristol and his sister, Miss Shelton.”

“A pleasure to meet you both.” Lord Galbraith swept into a bow.

“A delight to meet you,” Miss Shelton exclaimed, making Lord Galbraith’s eyebrows lift and Amos’ lips quirk. “How wonderful it is for you to be present here with the Duke!”

“It is, yes,” Lord Galbraith said, casting Amos a wide-eyed glance, forcing Amos to fight the smile that pressed against his lips. “Although I confess that I do miss my wife a good deal.”

“Lady Flora, yes?”

Amos turned his head quickly, seeing another two young ladies coming towards him, one with a light smile on her face.

His heart sank. Was he not to have even a single moment of conversation with Lord Galbraith?

Was his every moment to be interrupted by the arrival of either known or unfamiliar young ladies ?

“She is now Lady Galbraith,” Lord Galbraith replied, though warmly. “Lady Deborah, yes?”

“Yes, I am.” She smiled back at him, ignoring Amos whilst her companion gazed up at him with wide eyes as if she were slightly in awe of him. “I was acquainted with Lady Flora – I mean, Lady Galbraith – for a time.”

Which means I ought to recall her also.

“Are you acquainted with the Duke of Exeter, then?” Lord Galbraith asked, as Amos forced a brief smile, seeing Miss Shelton’s mouth open and then close again, evidently desperate to say something that would draw his attention back towards her.

“No, I am not.” Lady Deborah smiled warmly, her blue eyes looking up at him. “I do not think you were in London at the time of Lady Flora’s debut.”

That explains why I do not know her. “I was not, no.” At that time, his father had still been alive and thus, Flora’s debut had been his responsibility. “I would be glad to make your acquaintance, however?”

Lord Galbraith nodded, hastily making the introductions, and Amos smiled, bowed, and did just as he ought to do following a new introduction.

“And then might I present Lady Clara?” Lady Deborah gestured to her friend, who quickly dropped into a curtsy. “Her father is the Earl of Oswestry. Lady Clara, the Duke of Exeter and the Marquess of Galbraith.”

“A pleasure,” the lady gushed, dipping into what was now her second curtsy. “How glad I am to have met you both. When Lady Deborah told me that she was already acquainted with Lord Galbraith, I was truly delighted!”

Because he is my brother in law and therefore, she can be introduced to me.

Amos kept his smile fixed, though his gaze did continually turn towards Lady Deborah.

Yes, she had been a little forward in coming to speak with them, but her attention had been upon Lord Galbraith for a time, he supposed.

And it was her friend who appeared to be so enamored with him!

She, Amos considered, was doing very little to catch his attention. That was of note, he had to admit.