Page 35 of The Lady Who Said No to the Duke

D ealing with the gossip proved easier than Thea had feared, particularly when she had the satisfaction of personally cutting the ground from beneath Lady Severns’ feet the day after she returned home.

They were both guests at a Venetian Breakfast, held in the afternoon and, as far as Thea could see, with no connection whatsoever to Venice.

Little tables were scattered around all the reception rooms of Lady Trenton’s town house, a string quartet playing in one room, a harpist in another.

Whenever anyone sat down, footmen produced trays of delicious titbits and glasses of wine, ratafia or lemonade.

Thea, strolling through to find a spot where the harpist and the ensemble were both not audible at the same time, found herself standing behind Lady Severns as she was informing her companions that Lady Thea Campion had eloped with Randolph Linton.

‘Her Mama was in hysterics, my dears! And the Dowager Duchess of Langridge was most put out.’

‘Oh, my goodness,’ Thea said, sliding into a vacant seat at the table.

‘How these foolish rumours do get about! You are making bricks from straw, dear Lady Severns. Mama was upset because I was supposed to be receiving a certain…er… gentleman at home, and I had mistaken the time and been distracted by Mr Linton, who was showing me the sculptures.’ She produced what she hoped was a smile halfway between modest and triumphant.

‘And here the gentleman in question is. Do excuse me.’

Thea went directly to Hal, who had just entered, and laid one hand on his arm. ‘Try to look possessive,’ she whispered.

‘I can do that.’ He laid his hand over hers and gazed down into her eyes. Thea felt something tremble inside her. ‘But why?’

‘I am scotching Lady Severns’ scandal broth,’ she said, careless about mixing her metaphors.

‘Ah, I see.’ He lifted her hand to his lips, then tucked it into the crook of his elbow. ‘Let us scotch broth by all means, but also set the cat amongst the pigeons.’

Thea laughed at his nonsense. The tremble had now settled into something more like fluttering, which was not so unpleasant, but very…disturbing.

‘Yes, definitely there is fluttering,’ Hal said.

‘What?’ Could he read her mind?

‘The pigeons. Look around you.’

Thea fixed what she hoped was a serene smile on her lips and obeyed.

Yes, they were being watched and with great interest. People were whispering, some of the matrons were smiling approvingly, and one or two, who must have had ambitions for their own daughters, looked as though they had swallowed wasps with their wine.

‘I am glad we have met today,’ he said. ‘I had intended allowing you some peace and calling tomorrow, but now I can discover when would be convenient for you.’

‘For what? I mean, why will you be calling?’

‘To start making arrangements, of course. To fix a date for one thing and to decide where we will be married.’

His voice had risen a little and Thea saw Miss Marchmont, whom they were passing, look at them sharply.

Yes, she had heard the word married and her eyes were wide.

Nobody was going to believe Lady Severns’ gossip now, and anything Lady Helena might come up with would be dismissed as jealousy by everyone who knew her spiteful tongue.

‘Papa thought you would wish for Leaming Castle,’ Thea said.

‘Would you mind? Do you not wish to be married from home?’

‘Papa said the castle was more suitable for so many guests and that the chapel is very fine. And it will be my home afterwards,’ she added.

That pleased him, she realised, as he moved his arm to squeeze her hand more tightly against his ribs. Under her fingers she could feel the beat of his heart, strong and steady. What would it take to make that heartbeat race? she wondered, and felt herself blush.

‘Can you do that to order?’ Hal had bent his head and was almost whispering.

Really, Thea thought, if they actually embraced here, right in front of the harpist, it would not be more obvious that they were in…were betrothed.

‘Do what?’

‘Blush so charmingly.’ He touched her cheek with his free hand.

Did he want her to burst into flames?

‘Oh. No. I am just a trifle discomposed. People are staring at us so.’

‘Let them stare. I have no problem with them admiring my duchess.’

Yes , she reminded herself, that is what he wants, his duchess. His very convenient duchess with the right ancestry, connections and upbringing. There is only one of us here who is in love.

Did Hal think she had forgotten and forgiven his deception?

That he no longer had to atone for that?

Not that Thea knew what would constitute an apology that would make her trust him completely again, and trust was the problem for her.

He had deceived her completely before. How could she ever believe what he told her about his feelings now?

She would never have to lie to Hal about her own, she was certain, because there was never going to be a declaration of love for her to respond to.

‘Is everything all right?’

A quick upwards glance showed her the concern on Hal’s face. ‘Yes, of course.’

‘Only you sighed just now. Such a very deep, sad-sounding sigh.’

‘My new shoes pinch,’ Thea improvised. ‘You would sigh too if your feet hurt.’

‘Is it necessary to suffer for fashion’s sake?’ he asked quizzically.

‘Sometimes I think so, but then I imagine having to wear the styles of Mama’s youth, or Grandmama’s, and I am devoutly glad no hoops are involved, let alone wigs and powder and patches and feathers.’

‘Hoops are still worn for Court Drawing Rooms,’ he reminded her. ‘And ostrich plumes.’

‘I know,’ Thea said with a shudder. ‘And it is so ridiculous—the hoops are still required, but the waists have risen with fashion, so the hoops are right under one’s arms and one cuts such a ludicrous figure.’

‘I hear the Prince Regent has vowed to do away with hoops when he ascends to the throne.’

‘How distasteful that he anticipates his own father’s death by speaking of plans for when he succeeds him,’ Thea said.

‘I agree. It is doubtless verging on treason to say so, but I have never encountered a more selfish or self-centred person in my life.’

‘I agree. So we can begin our married life in the Tower of London for our opinions,’ she said with a laugh, her spirits restored a little. It felt good to have her friend Hal to share jokes or silly fantasies with again.

Not that friendship would get her very far in the marriage bed, Thea thought, her spirits taking another sudden plunge.

* * *

There had been something upsetting Thea the day before at that ridiculous Venetian Breakfast. Hal realised that he was fidgeting with his gloves as the carriage sat unmoving in Piccadilly’s customary jam of traffic.

The congestion was caused by an incoming coach from the west of England arriving at the White Horse Cellar, he guessed. That was enough of a show to regularly draw crowds of onlookers, one of the ‘sights’ of London that visitors would include on their itineraries.

He pulled off his gloves and laid them on his knee, smoothing them into order as he thought back. Thea was no longer angry with him, he was sure of that. At times the day before it was as though they were back at Holme Lacey and were friends again, able to share a joke or laugh at the ridiculous.

There had been moments too when he thought she might be feeling some of the physical attraction that he most certainly was.

That delicate blush… He did not think she was afraid of him, of that side of marriage, which was a relief, both because he wanted her to feel safe, but also because, selfishly, he was finding it increasingly difficult not to sweep her into his arms and…

No. Because then she became cool, just a little formal and there was a distance between them he could not explain.

Perhaps she had not forgiven him after all, did not trust him completely.

He had no idea how to deal with that, except by being totally honest with her at all times.

And taking great care not to rush things, to give way to his own feelings.

But she had spoken of Leaming Castle as home . That meant a lot. He would have to make certain she felt like that once they were married.

The carriage was moving again and must have been for several minutes, he realised, glancing out of the window. He was almost at her door and it was time to make a fresh start.

The family were waiting for him in more force than he had expected. All four of Thea’s brothers were on parade, the strain of behaving themselves visible on the faces of the two youngest. But they shook hands politely and stood quietly for a few minutes of small talk.

Hal was certain he saw movement in the pocket of the youngest—Ernest, was it?—a mouse or a frog most likely. He caught Thea’s eye and tipped his head in the direction of the youngster and saw her spot the same thing. Her lips twitched.

‘I think the boys can run along now Hal has met them, don’t you, Mama?’ she asked.

‘Yes, of course. Say goodbye, boys.’

They all bowed and obeyed, although the oldest one, Piers, showed some resentment at being labelled a ‘boy’ and classed with his young brothers. Hal could see himself filling the role of elder brother to that cub before long.

Lady Wiveton steered them all towards a grouping of chairs and a sofa with, beside one of them, a notebook and pencil.

Lists , Hal thought. Here we go.

‘Now, the date for the wedding is the first thing we must agree upon,’ his future mother-in-law declared once they were all seated. ‘A Spring wedding would be delightful. April, perhaps?’

‘I had thought November,’ Hal countered.

‘November? But it is almost that now.’

‘Yes, a month’s time, I think. The twenty-seventh,’ Hal said agreeably, as though she was not staring at him, aghast. ‘Then Lady Thea will have enough time to be used to the castle before Christmas. I intend celebrating Christmas and the New Year in style.’