Page 13 of The Truth about the Duke (Whispers of the Ton #5)

Chapter Twelve

L ydia smiled as the Duke of Melrose and Lord Kendall took the dance cards from Lady Miriam and then Lady Ann. She had noticed the interest that came into Lord Kendall’s expression when he had first set eyes on Lady Miriam, though she knew they were already acquainted. It was of great interest to her to see that he was almost entirely focused upon her, his every look and every word given to Lady Miriam – to the point that the Duke of Melrose had been forced to ask him to make the introductions! She did not know Lady Miriam particularly well but she had heard that Lord Kendall was an excellent gentleman and the little time she had spent in his company had only confirmed that.

Bringing her hands together, Lydia slowly slid the silk ribbon from her wrist, fully prepared to give the Duke her dance card the moment he asked. Lord Kendall too, of course, for the gentlemen would not be as improper as to ignore her! Given that they had asked for Lady Ann’s and Lady Miriam’s, she was certain she would be next. Her heart leaped at the thought of being led out for two dances by not one but two distinguished gentlemen, a little surprised that she did not feel any hesitation when it came to dancing with the Duke! After their last conversation, she had not felt any dislike or any lingering upset. Instead, there had been a sense of relief – almost gladness – that there was to be no tension or the like between them any longer. She saw a value in his consideration of her, happy to know that he was, at the very least, reconsidering his opinion as regarded bluestockings. To acknowledge aloud that he would be grateful for her aid and assistance as he tried to find the truth about the heirlooms had made her heart happy and it had remained so even until this very moment.

She watched as the Duke handed back Lady Ann’s dance card, preparing now for him to turn his attention towards her.

“I do so love the country dance and thus far, no one had taken it! You cannot know of my delight, Your Grace.” Lady Ann smiled warmly at the Duke and Lydia licked her lips, hoping that he would soon remember to look towards her. The Duke inclined his head just a little, his eyes fixing to Lady Ann.

“I am looking forward to the dance already, Lady Ann!”

Lady Ann beamed at the Duke, turning her body just a little so that Lydia was effectively pushed back from the group.

Her heart began to sink as the Duke laughed at something Lady Ann said, realizing now that Lady Ann was deliberately attempting to secure the Duke’s attention solely for herself. Whilst Lydia was fully aware that it was precisely what every young lady might be expected to do given that it was the Duke that they spoke with, she could not help but feel the sting nonetheless.

She blinked, a little surprised to feel tears behind her eyes as the Duke leaned closer to Lady Ann, evidently appearing to forget that she had been present also. Lydia did not want to blame Lord Kendall for he was standing next to the Duke and further away from her and, given the way he was more than a little interested in Lady Miriam, it was easy enough to understand why he might forget she was present.

But the Duke?

Lydia blinked rapidly again, turning around and making her way from the small group, feeling as though she were slowly shrinking in stature. There was a heaviness in her heart that she could not fully explain, a sense that somehow, she was more than a little lesser than the other young ladies. Lady Ann had been a trifle spiteful in how she had responded in trying to pull the Duke away, that much was clear, but for the Duke to have been so easily pulled aside meant that, to Lydia’s mind, it was clear she was of no particular interest.

But do I want to be? Lydia frowned as she made her way to the side of the ballroom, choosing to hide in the shadows instead of going in search of her mother or Lady Markham. For the time being, she wanted to be alone, wanted to be entirely in solitude so she might work through her thoughts and feelings before returning to the ball. She had some dances still remaining to dance and she could not stand up with either gentleman when her mind was in such confusion, for she would make a dreadful dance partner, and thereafter, her mother would berate her dreadfully!

Why did it matter to her if the Duke did not think of her? Why should she give any consideration to the fact that he had turned away from her and forgotten that she too had a dance card? She had agreed to support him, to help him in his search for the heirlooms but that did not mean that their acquaintance had any special significance! Yes, it meant a great deal that he had not rejected her, given that she was a bluestocking, but she could not permit herself to think that this was the reason he had chosen to ignore her.

Could she?

Her brow furrowed hard as she bit her lip. Could it be that the Duke of Melrose had chosen not to stand up with her, had chosen to deliberately forget her dance card because she was a bluestocking and he could not be seen to dance with her in the midst of a society ball? The heat behind her eyes rose again to a terrible strength and she was forced to blink furiously to push them away.

“And who is it we have hiding here?”

Lydia lifted her head, a little surprised to see a gentleman coming to join her. Panic gripped at her heart as she stepped back from him, suddenly afraid that he had somewhat nefarious intentions. “I – I do not think – ”

“Now, you do not need to look so afraid.” The gentleman smiled and swept into a bow. “I have seen you in company with my nephew recently, have I not?”

“Your nephew?” Lydia did not know of whom he spoke, taking in the grey-haired gentleman and trying to see any sort of likeness to the gentlemen in her acquaintance. “I confess, I do not know who it is you speak of.”

The gentleman chuckled. “Forgive me, I have not introduced myself. It is not the proper thing to do, I suppose, but you shall have to permit me.” He inclined his head. “I am the Earl of Chesterfield. My nephew is the Duke of Melrose and I am certain I saw you in his company very lately, did I not?”

“Oh!” Lydia smiled with relief, glad now that this gentleman did not mean anything improper. “Yes, I am acquainted with the Duke of Melrose. Lady Markham and I accompanied him recently to the library, you might have seen us in the carriage then?”

The gentleman nodded. “Yes, that is it precisely. I confess I could not easily forget a lady with hair the color of the sunset!”

Lydia flushed, hopeful that this was meant as a compliment.

“And where is my nephew this evening, I wonder?” the gentleman continued, turning to look all about him. “Is he present this evening, do you know? He and I have only managed one conversation and as yet, I have not even managed to call to take tea! Is that not quite dreadful!” He grinned as he spoke and made Lydia smile along with him.

“I was speaking with him only a few minutes ago,” Lydia answered, gesturing to her left. “He was just over there.”

As the gentleman turned his head in the direction she pointed in, Lydia was caught by what her eyes took in. Lord Chesterfield had a small scar that ran just along one side of his cheek towards his eye.

Could it be…?

She shook her head to herself, just as Lord Chesterfield turned his attention back towards her. If this was the Duke’s uncle, then he would, no doubt, have seen him over many years and would know precisely what that scar came from. Besides which, she could not even be sure whether or not this gentleman was on the list of the four names that the Duke had been given!

“My own two children are already wed and settled,” the Earl continued, as Lydia smiled quickly. “I come to London at the sole behest of my wife, I confess! If it were for myself, then I would stay at my estate these summer months!”

Lydia smiled and tilted her head. “Do you have a large estate? I have been reading recently about the idea of crop rotation and confess to having found it a most interesting subject.”

The surprise that leaped into Lord Chesterfield’s expression was instant and Lydia quickly dropped her head, a flush of embarrassment creeping up into her face. She had, inadvertently so, spoken of something that a young lady such as herself ought not to know anything about. Yet again, she had given herself away.

“Crop rotation, eh?” Lord Chesterfield’s voice held a note of interest. “I have heard of it but I have not considered it as yet, I confess.”

Lydia glanced up but chose to say nothing more. She did not want to make herself more obvious for that would bring nothing but trouble to her.

“Ah, there you are!”

Her heart leaped up furiously as none other than the Duke of Melrose came towards them both, coming to stand beside his uncle and looking at him in surprise. “Chesterfield, good evening!”

“Good evening, nephew.” Lord Chesterfield set one hand on the Duke’s shoulder. “I have just been speaking with this very fine young lady whom I saw in company with you recently. On a carriage ride to the library, I believe?”

The Duke nodded, though his gaze caught Lydia’s, his eyes searching hers though Lydia did not know the answer to the question that was settling there.

“Lydia, I was just – oh!”

Lydia’s face grew hot as her mother came to stand directly beside her, only for her eyebrows to lift in surprise as she looked to the Duke of Melrose and then to Lord Chesterfield. “Mama, I was just speaking with the Earl of Chesterfield. I was coming in search of you when – ”

“When I interrupted,” Lord Chesterfield said, warmly, turning to bow low towards Lady Hampshire. “Goodness, what a marvel your daughter is!”

A flicker came into Lady Hampshire’s eye and Lydia’s stomach twisted. What was the Earl going to say now? Was it going to be something that would bring Lydia nothing but upset and anger once they were alone?

“I quite agree.” The Duke spoke now before either Lady Hampshire could ask what was meant by such a statement or Lord Chesterfield could say more. “In fact, I also came to interrupt the conversation, which I had not yet apologized for.” He cleared his throat briefly and then bowed his head. “Forgive me for breaking into your conversation with my uncle, Lady Lydia. I had come in the hope of speaking to you for a moment.”

“You wish to speak with my daughter?” Lady Hampshire’s voice was a little quiet, perhaps a little overcome with surprise. “I am sure she would oblige you, Your Grace.”

Lydia threw her mother a sharp look, wishing that she could wipe out any hope that her mother had of Lydia being pulled into a close acquaintance with the Duke. Whatever it was he wanted to say, Lydia was sure it did not hold any real significance.

The Duke nodded and smiled briefly though there was a slight flare of light in his eyes, a light which Lydia could not quite understand. Was it relief? Or something more?

“If you might, Lady Lydia?” The Duke gestured to his left and Lydia, with a nod to Lord Chesterfield and another look to her mother, stepped away from them and towards him. They did not move very far away, however, only a few steps so that her mother could keep her in sight but also so that the Duke might be able to speak freely.

“Lady Lydia.” The Duke turned to her, rubbing one hand over his chin as his eyes darted here and there rather than looking at her. “I did not mean – that is, I understand that I did but it was not my intention to do so.”

Confused, she frowned. “I am afraid that I do not know what it is that you mean, Your Grace.”

“Your dance card. The conversation.” He flung out one hand in the vague direction where he had come from. “I was speaking with Lady Ann, Lady Miriam, and yourself but though I signed their dance cards, I did not sign yours. You disappeared before I could do so!”

Lydia lifted one eyebrow just a little. “And you did not seem to even notice that I was present, Your Grace.” She held up one hand as he began to protest. “I do not mind in the least bit if you are intrigued by Lady Ann, Your Grace,” she continued, ignoring the slight twist of her heart as she spoke, “but to be forgotten is not a situation that I had a desire to linger in. Thus, I took my leave.” She lifted her shoulders just a little, fully aware that she was pretending that she did not feel all that she truly had felt when he had turned away from her. “You did not need to trouble yourself.”

“Oh, but I had to.” The fervency in his voice surprised her. “I had no other choice but to come after you, for I felt myself so ashamed of my lack of awareness, I could not leave it as it stood. I did not want you to feel any injury – or if you already had, as I believe you must do, then I would do all that I could to apologize for it. Which I am doing now.” He inclined his head. “I humbly apologize for my lack of awareness and consideration, Lady Lydia. It was not in the least bit purposeful.”

Lydia swallowed at the knot which had formed in her throat. “Then it was not because you did not wish to dance with me?” Her cheeks grew hot as his eyes shot to hers, having had no intention of speaking so and yet finding that her heart had put words in her mouth before she had been able to prevent it.

“No, not in the least.” The Duke came a fraction closer to her, his gaze searching hers. “I did not do so deliberately, I assure you.” His gaze grew gentle. “Did you truly think that I would do so?”

She nodded. “Yes, I did.”

“Because you are a bluestocking?”

Again, she nodded. “Precisely. I know that you have accepted my help and in that, our connection can be strong and assured. However, in society and for dancing and the like, you might well desire to step away from me, aware that there are those in society who are already aware of my tendency towards bluestocking ways.” She dropped her head and pulled her gaze away. “I can understand that. You are a Duke after all.”

Much to her relief, he shook his head. “No, not in the least. That does not affect my situation at all or my thinking. I would be more than glad to have you stand up with me for at least one of the dances. Would you be willing to give me your dance card? I should like to see if there is even one dance I might be able to take!”

Lydia, aware that she had only a few names on her dance card, flushed. “I am afraid it will not be as full as Lady Ann’s, Your Grace.”

“That does not matter in the least, I assure you.”

With a tightness in her chest still, Lydia took her dance card from her wrist and, a trifle reluctantly still, handed it to the Duke. Their fingers touched for just a moment and a streak of heat rushed up her arm and into her chest, making her heart quicken. The Duke did not look down at the dance card either, holding her gaze for a long moment as though there was something that he too had felt but did not fully understand.

Then, he dropped his gaze and looked at her card. Lydia clasped her hands tightly together and looked away, wondering why it was that she felt such a strange tension twisting through her, why she had this panic gripping her heart as though somehow, she was almost excited by what the Duke was going to offer her.

I must talk to him about his uncle also.

“There.” The Duke smiled and handed her back her dance card. “I hope that will be enough to prove to you that there is nothing about you that holds me back from dancing with you.”

Lydia’s heart thundered furiously as she looked down to see his name written for the waltz. In an instant, she could not breathe, her heart squeezing, her stomach roiling as she tried to take in the significance of this moment.

I am to be dancing the waltz with the Duke!

“Are you quite sure?”

He chuckled and nodded. “Yes, I am quite certain. I know that there may be a few lifted eyebrows and some might be a little surprised that I have chosen even to dance the waltz given that I have not done so thus far, but I think it is quite right and fitting for me to do so.” Smiling still, he leaned a little closer to her. “So long as you are contented?”

“Yes, of course I am,” she breathed, looking down at her dance card again as though to make sure that she had not misread what he had written. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

“I am glad to have been able to rectify my mistake.” With a nod, he turned his head and made to step away. “Excuse me, I shall let you return to your mother now.”

“Wait.” Her hand snaked out and caught his though she let it go again as if it had burned her skin. “Forgive me, Your Grace, I wanted to speak with you about your uncle.”

Thankfully, he smiled, showing no frustration or irritation whatsoever. “What about him?”

Lydia hesitated, licking her lips as she considered how she was to mention to the Duke about the scar she had seen on his face. “I know that you have not yet shared with me the list of the four names that your mother suggested,” she began, speaking slowly and with great care so that the words she chose were all quite suitable. “I did wonder if your uncle might be on that list?”

This made the Duke’s smile fade in an instant. “I beg your pardon?”

She swallowed hard. “Was your uncle’s name on the list from your father?”

Slowly, the Duke nodded. “Yes, in fact. It was.”

“I have noticed that he has a scar on his face,” Lydia continued, though she moved closer to him and kept her voice low as she spoke. “I did wonder if… ”

The Duke’s eyes flared though he did not respond to her immediately. It took him some moments to reply, appearing to need to compose himself before he said anything.

“I have no close connection with my uncle,” he said, eventually. “I do not know him well. Thus, I would have not noticed any such thing on his appearance – or if I had, then I would not have connected it to my heirlooms! Thank you for informing me, Lady Lydia. Mayhap… ” Hesitating, he looked away and then turned his gaze back to her again. “Might you like to take a walk with me in the park tomorrow? There is more than I would like to share with you.”

She nodded, relieved that he had not responded badly to her. “I should like that very much, Your Grace.”

“Then I look forward to tomorrow – and to our dance later this evening.” With a smile, he inclined his head. “Good evening, Lady Lydia.”