Taming the Wild Duke

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

“ W on’t you come into the drawing room, Sirs?” the butler offered as Simon and Aaron stepped into the front entryway of the house. “His Lordship will greet you while we wait for Lady Lilian and Lady Jane to come down.”

“How long will they be?” Simon asked. He immediately earned a glare from Aaron as well as an elbow in the side.

“We would be very pleased to step in and see the Earl,” Aaron said to the butler. “Thank you.”

Simon flicked a glance toward the sweeping staircase before following the other two men toward the drawing room.

“I didn’t intend to be rude,” he muttered to Aaron. “I was just genuinely curious.”

“I don’t know how the rumors that you’re some kind of lady’s man can continue to circulate with such confidence,” Aaron murmured back. “Anyone who saw you in action would know you’ve never seriously courted a woman in your life. You should never ask about how long a woman will take in getting ready to go out. And you must always stop in and speak with her father first whether you want to or not.”

Simon felt himself bristling slightly at being given a manners lesson by his friend. “I didn’t say I didn’t want to speak with the Earl,” he argued. “I just… Lord Vonn, it’s good to see you again.”

The old man had risen from his deep armchair by the fireplace as they entered the room. Now, he held out his bony hand to them, shaking each man’s hand in turn. Simon found himself searching the Earl’s face for any sign of disapproval. He had not officially asked the Earl’s blessing to court Lilian, and he found himself strangely anxious about doing so. Perhaps now would be a better time than any.

“I understand you two gentlemen are taking my lovely daughters to the opera tonight,” the Earl commented in his gently creaking voice. “I’m sure it will be an enjoyable time for them.”

“Yes, sir,” Aaron replied. “Thorne has procured a box for us, so we shall be able to watch the proceedings in comfort. I assure you, your daughters will be well taken care of.”

“I didn’t doubt it, my boy. I didn’t doubt it,” the Earl said as they all sat. Then, his eyes landed on Simon’s. It was a measuring look though not an unkind one.

Simon cleared his throat. “Yes, my lord,” he replied. “It will be my sole goal tonight to see that your daughters have a wonderful time.” A strange tightness filled his chest, but he forced himself to continue, “While we are on the subject, Lord Vonn, I would like to be clear about my intentions toward your eldest daughter, Lilian. She has agreed to allow me to court her, so long as you are amenable.”

The Earl’s wiry gray eyebrows lifted, but it seemed to be more with pleasure than surprise. He chuckled slightly, shaking his head. “Lilian knows her own mind, Your Grace. If she has said yes, I will not say no.”

The tightness in Simon’s chest eased, and he smiled in return. “Thank you, my lord.”

The Earl nodded, fixing his eyes on Simon searchingly. “Lilian is a fine young woman,” he said seriously. “I trust you will treat her with the utmost respect and sensitivity for her feelings.”

For a moment, Simon’s brow crinkled. Then, he realized what the Earl was warning him against—breaking Lilian’s heart. Of course, the old man would have heard the rumors. It was on the tip of Simon’s tongue to tell the man he had actually proposed to Lilian outright, and she had been the one who wanted to take things slowly, but he bit his tongue. Let the women divulge what they wanted. He would not have a hand in it.

“On that, my lord, you have my word,” he said instead. After one more searching glance, the Earl nodded, seeming pleased. Across the fire lit carpet, Simon could feel Aaron’s eyes on him. When he looked across, his friend was grinning triumphantly.

“We’re ready!” The musical voice came from behind them. Immediately, both Aaron and Simon rose, turning toward the door. Jane and Lilian came in together, Jane leading slightly. The moment Simon’s eyes landed on Lilian, his awareness of the others in the room was compromised. Lilian was always objectively beautiful with her glossy waves of chocolate-brown hair, her flawless complexion, and her aristocratic features. Tonight, though, she was frankly breathtaking.

Her tall, slender frame was clothed in an off-shoulder garnet red gown that swept the rug. Over it, she had draped a black fur wrap, and she wore a few glossy black feathers tucked into her hair. As Simon’s eyes met her warm, brown ones, she smiled. He found himself smiling back, anticipation for the night ahead rising to fill him where he had felt only vague nervousness before.

It was like this every time he came to call. He looked forward to spending time with Lilian, but it wasn’t until he was with her again that he was reminded of how fascinating he found her. Her expressions engaged him as no other woman’s had. He could not wait to hear her speak and tell him what she was thinking.

“You ladies look absolutely beautiful this evening,” Aaron said. Simon started, realizing he’d simply been staring like a dolt. Where was the charm he had worked so hard to develop years ago? More and more often recently, it seemed to disappear in Lilian’s presence.

“Yes, yes. You are stunning,” he murmured. Lilian’s smile grew, even as her eyes skated away, landing on her father.

“John has promised to see you up to your room whenever you are ready, Father,” she said. As she passed Simon, he caught a whiff of her fragrance, like flowers freshly opened but touched with the warm velvet of dusk. He turned, watching as she laid a hand on her father’s arm and dropped a kiss on his cheek. Jane followed her, dutifully doing the same.

Seeing the girls’ devotion to their father made Simon feel wretchedly tender and kindly toward them all. He attempted to harden himself slightly as Lilian turned back to him. It was no use turning into a hapless sop. She would lose all respect for him. And he wasn’t in this for feelings, he reminded himself. Catching feelings might only complicate things. He needed to keep this a business interaction. Friendly but unemotional. That’s what they had agreed to.

Still, he could not deny the warmth that filled him as Lilian’s hazel eyes met his again, and she slid her hand through the bend of his elbow.

“Are you ready now?” he asked, and she nodded.

“Having already experienced and judged your tastes in literature, I’m looking forward to doing the same with the opera you have chosen for us to attend tonight,” she said, her voice lightly teasing.

Simon summoned a severe look. He was starting to recognize when she was poking gentle fun rather than being truly critical, and he always enjoyed it. “I’ll ask you kindly not to judge how cultured I am merely on a single recommendation,” he retorted. “Also, I’ll have you know my mother recommended this particular opera. I have great respect for her taste in music.”

“Ah, well, I anticipate sharing your respect,” Lilian said quietly. They had reached Thorne’s carriage. He’d picked up Munro on the way here. Holding out his hand, he helped her in before stepping back so that Aaron could help Jane in. Aaron stepped in after her, and Simon stepped in last of all after nodding to his coachman.

They had left the seat next to Lilian free for him. He sat next to her, hyperaware of the way her wrap brushed the shoulder of his own jacket. They had never sat this close before. The only other time he could remember being so close to her was when they were dancing. In the dimness of the carriage, though, he could not see her bright eyes as well as he had been able to in the flickering illumination of the ballroom.

Jane and Aaron spoke quietly most of the way to the opera hall. Simon and Lilian were uncommonly quiet. He wondered what was going through her head. They were only five days into their courtship, and he found himself full of growing curiosity. Whenever she did not speak her mind, he longed to know what was inside of it.

Finally, they reached the opera house. The men disembarked, turning back to assist the ladies. As Lilian and Simon fell into step, heading up the brightly lit stairway into the building, Lilian finally spoke again.

“You mentioned this was your mother’s recommendation. I do not hear you speak of the Dowager Duchess frequently.”

“Ah, well, she is away, visiting my sister, Harriet,” Simon explained. “Harriet is expecting her first child any day now.”

“Congratulations to her and your family,” Lilian said, the words sounding memorized. Lilian always knew the right thing to say in a situation whether she said it or not. It was another thing about her that peaked Simon’s curiosity whenever they were together—wondering what she was going to say and when. The more candid and unpracticed she was with him, the more he liked it.

“I hope you will meet them before too long,” he said. “My family, that is.”

For a moment, Lilian’s golden eyes widened as she gazed up at him. Then her lips parted. “I would like that very much,” she said.

They caught up with Aaron and Jane, who had turned to wait for them.

“You’ll have to lead the way to your box, old man,” Aaron said. Simon nodded. He and Lilian took the lead, pacing up the vivid carpeting of the stairs. Lilian was looking around as they ascended, taking in the scrollwork of the bannisters and the arched ceilings.

“You mentioned attending operas in the past,” Simon commented. “Have you missed it?”

“Some,” she replied quietly. “But it’s been so long.” She dropped her eyes to her gloved hand sliding up the banister. “We mostly only attended them before my own mother passed, and it wasn’t entirely because of my father’s age that we stopped attending. Music was my mother’s passion. After she was gone…somehow it hurt more to think of her when I was near the things that she enjoyed.”

“Oh…” Simon felt his brows furrowing. “I hope tonight’s experience will not be a painful one for you. You have only to say if you don’t wish to do the activities I suggest, Lady Lilian.”

Quickly, she looked up at him, a slight shake of her head silencing his outburst, a smile playing about her lips. “No,” she said, “I’ve greatly looked forward to tonight.”

She did not elaborate further, which was unfortunate, Simon thought. It left him thinking that perhaps it was his company that was so diverting. Perhaps his company that she looked forward to just as he looked forward to hers.

He forced himself to look away. Lilian was certainly going to believe the tales that he was a shameless flirt if he continued to feel so enamored by her. He found himself fighting to regain the cool distance he was used to feeling around the women he had escorted hither and thither in past years.

“Here we are,” he said, stepping forward to pull back the velvet curtain allowing them into the balcony he had reserved for the night. “Aaron, if you will remain with the ladies, I will see about ordering us some refreshments.”

Lilian’s hand slipped from his arm as he stepped away, but he refused to mourn the loss of it. He needed distance to regain his perspective. Perhaps Lilian was right—he had been reading too much Byron. It was dragging him back to his boyhood days of easy infatuation.

“Thorne.” He turned to see that Aaron had followed him back into the passageway. “Let me get the refreshments,” his friend insisted. Simon frowned.

“Why?”

“Well…” Aaron hesitated, tilting his head as he studied Simon’s expression. “You and Lady Lilian are newly courting. You should have the opportunity to spend more time with her.”

“I am spending time with her,” Simon muttered, glancing at the thin curtain that separated them from the women. He lowered his voice. “What are you going on about, Munro?”

“Nothing!” Aaron insisted. “I was just trying to do you a favor by letting you stay with her while I…”

“I’ll get the refreshments,” Simon interrupted. He couldn’t say exactly why Aaron’s intrusion was irritating him so much. Perhaps it was because he almost wanted to take him up on his offer.

Aaron lifted his hands in a defensive gesture, also glancing toward the curtain. “Very well. What’s gotten into you, old chap?”

“Nothing. It’s just…” Simon shook his head. “You’re acting as if Lady Lilian and I are courting because we intend to fall in love. However, you know very well that’s not what this is about.”

Aaron nodded, looking confused. “You’re courting her because you want to marry her.”

“Right. Marriage is a far cry from falling in love.”

Now Aaron was nodding. His eyes narrowed, and Simon didn’t appreciate the knowing expression he gave him. “That may be true,” the other man said, “but no one is saying falling in love would be a bad thing for two people who intend to get married.”

“ I’m saying that,” Simon hissed. “In this case, it could be a very bad thing.” He lifted his hands, gesturing emphatically. “Lilian—I mean, Lady Lilian doesn’t want that kind of marriage, and neither do I. We want a strictly business arrangement without the interference of emotions.”

Aaron shrugged. “Fine,” he said, “you get the refreshments. But just allow me to say…” He leaned closer, a wicked smirk on his face as he whispered, “‘The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks’.”

Simon growled, spinning on his heel and heading toward the counter where food and drink could be procured. He felt hot and bothered—and inexplicably anxious. Maybe this had all been a very bad idea. But it felt too late to back out of it now.

There were four velvet-cushioned seats in the balcony. Jane and Lilian settled into the two middle seats. Lord Munro, who had finally come back from exchanging what had sounded like an intense whispering match with the Duke in the corridor, stepped to the railing and leaned on it, peering down at the stage below.

Jane leaned close to Lilian and whispered, “Isn’t this just divine?”

“What part of it?” Lilian whispered back.

“Everything!” Jane gushed. “I’m so happy you agreed to let the Duke court you, Lil. I love that we can do things like this together.”

“We were doing things like this together already,” Lilian reminded her. “I was just a chaperone.”

“You know what I mean.” Jane narrowed her eyes, looking miffed. “Admit it. It’s much more enjoyable this way, is it not?”

“It is,” Lilian finally admitted. “Just…please don’t get your heart too set on the Duke and me, Janie. I don’t know if it’s going to work out.”

Jane leaned closer, dropping her voice to a whisper as Lord Munro turned back to join them. “It will work out if you let it, Lilian. What are you afraid of?”

Lilian shifted in her seat, letting her eyes drift over the colorfully dressed crowd that was gathering, filling the floor seats and box seats equally. Lord Munro had drawn Jane’s attention away, but Lilian found herself still trying to answer the question her sister had raised. What was she so afraid of? The answer wasn’t a simple one. However, a few moments later, when the Lord stood up to step into the hall and look for the Duke’s return, and Jane turned back to her expectantly, Lilian had at least part of her answer ready.

“You saw what happened with Priscilla at the park the other day,” she said. “I keep expecting it to happen again—with her or other ladies. If the tales that circulate about the Wild Duke are true, there must be countless women out there who feel they have some claim on him. And what if he also feels that way?”

Jane’s face had sobered. Her blue eyes were wide and clear as she studied Lilian’s face. “You think he would be unfaithful to you?”

Lilian flushed. It felt too bold a statement to make when their courtship had barely begun. At this point, her claim on him felt the most tentative of all. “I…I don’t know,” she murmured. “I feel there are simply too many possibilities—too many unknowns.”

Jane reached for her hand, and Lilian let her take it.

“Oh, Lil,” her sister said quietly, “I’m fairly certain that every courtship feels that way at the beginning. You have to give it time. Be open to finding the answers to all those unknowns.” She glanced up, over Lilian’s shoulder, and smiled.

“Here we are,” Lord Munro’s voice said from behind them. “Thorne has rustled up some tea and biscuits. Nice going, old man. You’re certainly striving to impress tonight.”

Glancing back, Lilian was just in time to see the Duke’s face flush slightly as he held aside the velvet curtain for a steward. The man bore a wide tray into the box and settled it on a stand next to the seats.

“If you need anything else, please just ask,” he said.

“Thank you, Mr. Stevens. We’ll do that.” The Duke nodded to the man as he bowed his way out, and Lilian felt her reservations ebb once more. She smiled as he poured her a cup of tea and then took a seat beside her. Lord Munro served Jane and settled beside her as well.

“Is it the tea and biscuits that have made you smile?” the Duke said quietly beside her. “Or something else?”

For a moment, Lilian bit her lip, wondering how much to say. Jane’s advice was still fresh in her mind, though. She found herself leaning toward being as open and honest as possible in hopes that the Duke would reciprocate.

“I’ve noticed that you make it a point to learn the names of the servants, everywhere you go,” she commented, looking him in the eye. “And you thank them for their service.”

“Of course,” the Duke said, his forehead wrinkling slightly. “They’re people just the same as everyone else. I appreciate them, and I want them to know.”

“I like that,” Lilian replied. “Not everyone feels the same.”

She watched as the Duke’s lips tightened slightly, and his eyes flickered away.

“That’s true,” he said quietly. What was he thinking about? Was it someone in particular that came to mind? She wanted to ask, but at that moment, the orchestra began to tune below. The opera was about to begin.

Outwardly, Lilian turned her attention forward, but inwardly, she couldn’t help but be highly conscious of the man at her side and all the mysteries he still held. She tried to imagine him as her husband. Would they become close enough, she wondered, that she would eventually know what he was thinking when he looked a certain way? Would he share his entire past with her, and she with him?

Or would they forever be mere acquaintances, passing in the hallways with polite smiles, remaining largely mysterious to one another? The second option, which was largely what she had imagined when they had discussed a marriage of convenience, suddenly struck her as feeling extremely melancholy. She would have her independence, it was true, but what about a feeling of home and family?

She knew that was what her father and sister had in mind when they had conspired to talk her into being open to a courtship in the first place. Was it possible she was coming around to their way of thinking? If so, the courtship she was presently in might not be the answer she had at first thought it would be.

Do I want to fall in love now? she found herself asking. She glanced at the Duke as a momentary silence fell, signaling the start of the opera. Turning his head, he met her gaze. Completely without her consent, Lilian’s heart leapt. She found it impossible to read the emotions churning behind his eyes, but she saw them there, and something inside of her responded.

I don’t want to be polite strangers, she thought. We can’t be just polite strangers.

She blinked, and the next moment, the Duke looked away, turning his attention to the stage below where the opening number had begun. Lilian quickly turned her attention there as well, trying not to be so very aware of the Duke’s arm against hers. As the music swelled, filling the concert hall, she found herself thinking of her mother.

What would you think of all this, Mother? I’m courting a duke, and perhaps I will marry him. He’ll give me everything I thought I wanted up to this very moment. Why am I suddenly afraid that won’t be enough?

Tears sprang into Lilian’s eyes as she gazed down at the sparkling spectacle before her and remembered her mother.

I would give anything to have you beside me now. To see your joy and ask your advice…

Lilian startled as a big, warm hand suddenly closed over hers. Looking over she found the Duke of Thorne watching her. He leaned closer, his face etched with concern.

“Are you all right?”

Lilian nodded, sniffing and blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over. The Duke dug into his pocket and produced a big, white handkerchief which she accepted gratefully. She had to remove her hand from his to blow her nose and wipe her tears, but the moment she finished, he surprised her by once again enclosing her fingers in his. It was comforting. She found herself clinging to his hand as they leaned back in their chairs. Once again, he leaned close so she could hear him over the music.

“I’m sorry your mother can’t be here,” he said softly against her ear.

Lilian nodded, swallowing the lump that lingered in her throat. “I am as well,” she murmured, turning to look at him. His green eyes were so full of warmth and sympathy, she was afraid for a moment that she might cry again. She managed to pull herself out of it by focusing instead on how nice it felt to have someone notice how she was feeling—and seem to care.

“I’m happy to be here, though,” she added. “It’s beautiful. Thank you for bringing us.”

“You’re welcome,” the Duke said. After a moment, he leaned back in his chair, and she turned her attention back to the stage below them. He didn’t let go of her hand, though—and she was glad. She held onto it like an anchor as she lost herself in the bittersweet beauty of the music and her memories.