Page 11 of The Mad Duke of Walendale (Scandalous Courtships #5)
“Lady Vivianne.”
Edmund bowed his head and then rose, though Lady Vivianne did not even attempt to bob a curtsy. Instead, she watched him with dull eyes, her lips thin as she folded her arms across her chest.
“Good afternoon,” Edmund tried again, though the lady did not say a single word to him in response. “I hear that your brother has informed you that we are to court?”
“Indeed.” Lady Vivianne sniffed and turned her head away. “Though he has also informed me that I must do everything I can to make certain that our courtship leads to engagement.” She arched an eyebrow and glanced back at him. “You have made it clear that you do not wish to marry.”
I do not wish to marry you , Edmund thought to himself, though he did not say such words to the lady for fear of injuring her. “I do not like being forced into anything,” he said, after a few moments of consideration. “And I am afraid that this courtship is something which has been forced upon my shoulders.”
Lady Vivianne lifted her chin. “My brother says that you are neglecting your duties by refusing to seriously consider matrimony.”
A prickle of irritation crossed Edmund’s shoulders. “I understand that your brother truly desires me to marry you, Lady Vivianne, but my father did not put any demand for such a thing within his will and as such, the decision was left in my hands. Now, while I will entertain this for a time so as to protect both of our reputations, might I suggest that we walk so that the ton take notice?”
He did not wait for Lady Vivianne to agree but instead, began to walk along the path, leaving her to either follow along with him or remain where she was and return to her brother. Inwardly, Edmund found himself deeply angry, frustrated that Lord Jedburgh had done all these things without even once seeming to think of his sister and, in addition, that she was going along with all that her brother had stated though, Edmund considered, he could not blame her for that. No doubt she had been told a great many things by Lord Jedburgh and had come to London with the thought of soon becoming a Duchess. To have those thoughts and hopes dashed, he realised, had to be a little trying.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace.”
Edmund lifted his head, only for his stomach to drop low as he saw Lady Lillian curtsying towards him.
“And to you, Lady Vivianne. I do not know if you recall that we have already been introduced, though it was not – ”
“I do not recall you.” Lady Vivianne lifted her chin, her lip curling, her tone a little less than friendly. “If you would excuse me, I am taking a short walk with the Duke of Wrexham.”
Edmund flushed hot as Lady Lillian dropped her gaze, her cheeks growing red with obvious embarrassment. “Lady Vivianne, there is no need to speak so. I am more than happy for the interruption.”
Lady Lillian glanced at him only for her gaze to tug away again, as though she could not bear to look at him when he was in company with the lady the ton knew he was courting. “I did not mean to interrupt your walk. Excuse me.”
The urge to reach out and grasp her hand, to beg her to stay, to linger, was so strong, Edmund could barely fight it. He took in a breath and closed his eyes for a moment, struggling with the anger which swirled around him and the frustration which followed it. Lady Vivianne had no right to speak to one of his acquaintances in such a manner and yet, she had done so without hesitation.
“Are you coming to join me or will you stand there and try to block out the sight of me?”
Edmund’s eyes flared wide. “Lady Vivianne, I will not have this! I will not have you push aside those of my acquaintance simply because you do not wish to speak to them! Do you understand me? It is entirely improper, not to mention rather rude!”
Lady Vivianne shrugged. “I care not.”
Edmund curled his hands into tight fists. “You must understand, I have no interest in courting you and I can step away at any time. If you continue to behave in this manner, then the ton will quickly understand why I ended the courtship, for they will all hear of your rude manner and dislike of others.” He waited, feeling a little triumphant and expecting Lady Vivianne to buckle under the threats he had placed there, only for Lady Vivianne to shrug again.
“I care not,” she said, for what was the second time. Her gaze locked with his for just a moment and, in that, Edmund’s anger faded away. There was a sadness in Lady Vivianne’s eyes, he was sure of it. A sadness which, mayhap, she was covering with callousness and disregard.
“What – ” He dropped his head, silencing himself. He did not need to ask her about such a thing, did not have any need to discuss the lady’s situation. After all, he was trying to bring their connection to as swift a close as he could, was he not? There was no reason to ask her why she appeared troubled! With a shake of his head, he began to walk again, though he made sure to stand at least a foot away from the lady and did not once offer to take her arm.
They walked in silence for some time, with both Lady Vivianne and himself having very little to say to each other. Edmund despised the silence but, at the same time, had very little thought of interrupting it with conversation for what had he to say to the lady?
“Is that not he?”
Edmund frowned, seeing two young ladies whispering behind their hands, their eyes going to his face though, as they passed, one of them giggled loudly. Glancing over his shoulder, he wondered what it was that was being said, quite certain that what he had heard from them was about him though he could not know precisely what it was about. His frown grew deeper as another three ladies came towards them and, again, the very same thing happened. Their eyes went to his face, broad smiles spread across each one and one of them laughed, though the other two hushed her immediately.
“What is happening?” Lady Vivianne glanced at him, then gestured behind her. “I can see that there is something being said about you, though I must hope it is not about our connection for that would be most displeasing.”
“I do not know what is being said.”
She looked at him again, scowling. “Are you certain that you have not started a rumour just so that you can free yourself from me?”
Edmund snorted. “Of course I have not. Why would I do such a thing when all I need to do is to announce that I am no longer courting you?”
Lady Vivianne’s frown lifted just a little. “Then what are these whispers about?”
“I do not know.” Edmund spread out his hands at her disbelieving look. “I can assure you, I have no knowledge as to what is being said. I shall soon find out, however, I am sure.”
“I do not want to have any whispers being spread about you, given that we have only just begun to court,” Lady Vivianne sniffed, lifting her chin and scowling at him. “Are you certain you have not done such a thing on purpose?”
Edmund shook his head. “I do not think that I shall answer that question, Lady Vivianne, given that I have already told you the answer once already.” He did not look at her again but found himself turning, wondering where Lord Jedburgh was. “Ah, there is your brother now. Mayhap you might like to return to him, Lady Vivianne, given that our conversation has ceased and I now have another matter to attend to?”
She glared at him but then turned on her heel and hurried away to her brother without so much as offering him a single word of farewell. Doing his best not to let his irritation come out in either his expression or in any words he might throw at her retreating back, Edmund turned on his heel and stormed away from her, filled with both relief and frustration – relief that he was no longer in company with the lady and with frustration that he did not know what it was that was being whispered about him. He wanted to ignore it, wanted to tell himself that it was not worth pursuing but the niggle within him, the curiosity about what it was that was being said would not leave him. somehow, he would have to find out.
Lady Lillian.
Edmund stopped short, seeing her talking to Lady Dinah, who had come out with Lord Weatherly for a short stroll in the park. His heart clattered in his chest and he paused for a moment, wondering if it would be right for him to interrupt their conversation. It would be entirely selfish of him to do so, of course, for the purpose of his heart was to find out what was being said though, he also had to admit, he did want to speak to Lady Lillian again, to show her that he was no longer in company with Lady Vivianne.
Edmund closed his eyes and blew out a long breath. The conversation with Lady Vivianne – what there had been of it – had been both difficult and, quite frankly, angering. He did not want to be anywhere near the lady but she appeared to be just as determined as her brother was for them to wed. “No doubt she wants to be a Duchess,” Edmund muttered, pushing one hand through his hair before, after a few more moments, making his way towards Lady Dinah and Lady Lillian. His heart quickened as Lady Lillian looked back at him, before looking away again very quickly indeed. The smile which had been on his lips faded quickly at her reaction, berating himself for hoping that she might respond with warmth and interest. He was courting another lady now, was he not? And even though he had explained the situation, even though he had told her of the hope within his heart, that did not mean that she was without upset in seeing him with Lady Vivianne. With a sigh, Edmund turned away rather than going towards her, suddenly losing his desire to go and speak with them both.
All in all, he considered, as he made his way back to the carriage, this had been nothing short of an utterly dreadful afternoon.