Chapter Five
Watching the young ladies walk away with Lord Radcliffe beside Lady Eleanor, Lucian let out a heavy sigh and scowled, hard, before turning away.
That was not very well done.
His conscience pricked him but Lucian ignored it, walking across the room to find a glass of brandy and, thereafter, to step into the shadows. It was fairly easy for him to hide away in solitude, for most of the ton wished to be seen, wanted to dance and converse and laugh with the other guests who had been invited and none would be hiding themselves away as he had done. From here, he was able to watch all the goings on but at the same time, stay back from it all.
“She was pretty, at least.” His head tilted just a little as he considered the lady he had just been introduced to. Lady Rosalind, he remembered, recalling how her green eyes had flashed as she had spoken to him, her face flushed almost as red as her hair. Indeed, he recognized that he had not made a good impression and part of him had squirmed in mortification over his behavior but he had not changed or altered his manner in any way. He had told himself that it was necessary, that he had no need to be cautious and careful with propriety and such like. The ton already thought of him as a dark and dismal Duke and he had no need to alter their perception, did he? He had seen it in the eyes of the guests as he had made his way into the room, had noticed how some of them stepped back from him. Clearly his reputation was preceding him and Lucian, as determined as ever not to care about such things, had shrugged off their lack of warmth toward him.
And then, he had met Lady Rosalind and what he had been speaking of with Lord Radcliffe as regarded marriage and the like, had come swiftly back to his mind. She was a young lady in need of a husband, it seemed, and to be the daughter of an Earl was high enough standing to suit him. Lucian was not entirely certain what had driven her away from society, nor was he wholly clear on what wrongs her brother had committed to incur the wrath of the ton. Nevertheless, he apprehended that their aversion to the family would place Lady Rosalind in a rather precarious position when it came to securing a suitable match.
Which is where, he considered, he might then come in and offer a solution. It would be an answer for them both, for he would be able to marry without any great difficulty and she would find herself wed to a Duke, thereby negating some of the negative views from those in the ton and elevating her family a little more. Surely that would be a good thing for her family, would it not? A hint of a smile touched Lucian’s lips.
I can hardly imagine any father refusing such a request. Particularly not one who has already had society looking down upon them for some indiscretion.
“But I do not know her character,” Lucian murmured to himself, before lifting the glass to his lips. She had already shown him that there was some tenacity there, certainly, but he did not entirely dislike that about her. To see her so determined, to see the courage that she had within herself to speak to him in both firm and yet calm tones spoke of a resolve and that was something that Lucian appreciated.
Though Lady Pearl had the same resolve when she told me she would ride with me. And because of her desire and the happiness she had in being in my company, I gave in to that.
The thought made him shudder and Lucian closed his eyes before throwing back the rest of his brandy. Perhaps that was not a good thing about her character after all. Perhaps he desired someone who would do just as he asked without question, who would not push back with her own determinations. But, Lucian considered, he might not have any choice in the matter for, as his friend had already made clear, there were not going to be a good many ladies eager to become his bride and certainly very few fathers who might push their daughters towards him!
“And this way, I will save time and effort,” he said aloud, nodding to himself. “I will not have any need to survey society in search of such a lady. If I go to Lord Fairmont and he agrees, then the matter will be completed and all will be well.” Setting his glass down, Lucian lifted his chin and after a moment, began to make his way into the crowd, doing his best to ignore the sidelong glances and hurried whispers which accompanied every step. His breathing grew a little quicker all the same, disinclined towards their scrutiny and he scowled hard, shooting an angry glance here and there which, in return, brought some startled gasps and, unfortunately, more whispers.
A dark and dismal Duke indeed.
With that thought lingering in his mind, Lucian spied Lord Radcliffe and, ignoring the fact that his friend was somewhat irritated with him, drew near. Lady Eleanor and Lady Rosalind were nowhere to be seen.
“Radcliffe.” He set a hand to the man’s shoulder. “I must ask for your help. I must know –”
Lord Radcliffe stepped back, his eyes wide but his jaw tight. “I am afraid I have no desire for your company, Strathmore. ”
Lucian frowned. “I understand that you disagreed with my questions to Lady Rosalind but there is no need for you to stand back from me because of it.”
“Disagreed?” Lord Radcliffe closed his eyes, a breath hissing from him. “You may not understand this, Strathmore, but I have been utterly ashamed by you this evening.”
“Ashamed?” Still confused, Lucian spread out his hands. “I do not understand. You were not a part of the conversation.”
Letting out another breath, Lord Radcliffe shook his head, put his hands to his hips and then looked away. “I am your friend. I was the one who suggested an introduction between the two ladies and yourself – one of which, I might add, I have an interest in. In speaking as you did to Lady Rosalind, you not only shamed yourself but also brought that shame to me.”
Sniffing, Lucian tried to dismiss his friend’s words. “I do not see how.”
“Because I am your friend. Or because I am meant to be your friend. At this juncture, I am not certain that I wish to maintain our friendship.”
Lucian’s jaw dropped, shock pouring into him. “Simply because I asked a few slightly impertinent questions?”
“Because you caused Lady Rosalind pain! Because you would not desist when it was clear that you not only should stop but also apologise! Because it is clear that you care for nothing and no-one but yourself. That is not the gentleman you once were, the gentleman I knew as my friend.” Lord Radcliffe shook his head again, his hands dropping to his sides. “I do not think that I can do anything more to help you. I have tried, God knows I have tried to pull you out of this despondency you wrap yourself in, to prove to you that the guilt you insist on carrying is not your own but you are determined to let it cling to you all the same. I cannot do so any longer, not when you are as cruel and as uncaring as you have been. I am ashamed to call you my friend.”
Lucian blinked, a coldness beginning to trickle down his back.
“Good evening, Your Grace ,” Lord Radcliffe continued, no longer using the less colloquial name for Lucian, making it clear that there was now a distance between them. “I do not think that I can be of any more use to you.”
“Radcliffe, wait a moment.” Lucian stepped forward, reaching out but his friend had already gone, turning on his heel and being immediately swallowed into the crowd. Dropping his head, Lucian tried to sort out the swirling feelings in his chest, tried to understand the confusion and the upset which now nestled in his heart though he did not know why. Indeed, he knew that he had behaved poorly and that he was not as he had once been but never had he expected Lord Radcliffe to turn away from him! He had thought that his friend would understand, had expected him to simply shrug and look away whenever Lucian chose to behave in a way that was a little less than proper but now, it seemed, that was not to be.
Lifting his head just a little, Lucian glanced around, seeing the way that one or two of the other guests near him were now either speaking in low tones to another or, much to Lucian’s frustration, glancing at him and then pulling their gaze away. It was clear that some had overheard what Lord Radcliffe had said and, no doubt, that would now be spread through the ton without delay.
Inwardly, Lucian groaned and then hung his head, pushing one hand through his thick, dark hair as he fought to find clarity. I can speak to Lord Radcliffe later, he determined, taking in a breath and raising his head. If news about what was said to me is to be spread around London, then I am best to find and speak with Lord Fairmont at once.
Aware of the slight trembling within himself from the shock of Lord Radcliffe’s words and actions, Lucian strode through the crowd, expectant that it would part for him. Quite how he was to find Lord Fairmont, he did not know, but the urgency he felt in speaking with him was now all the greater. Spying an acquaintance, he grasped his arm, interrupting the gentleman’s conversation without a flicker of hesitation.
“Lord Fairmont,” he said as the gentleman frowned. “Are you acquainted with him?”
“I am.” The fellow’s frown grew deeper. “Though I was in the midst of conversing with –”
“It is of great importance. Might you find him for me?”
The gentleman blinked, surprise in his expression, only for his gaze to travel over Lucian’s right shoulder. “He is just over there,” he answered, gesturing to a man with a small, grey beard and full head of hair, swept to one side. He was broad shouldered and tall, with a sense of authority practically emanating from him. “Now, Your Grace, if you will excuse me?”
Lucian did not even pause to thank the fellow, instead he strode towards the broad-shouldered gentleman, taking him in. He could see no similarity to Lady Rosalind though he did notice the way that one or two of the other guests were looking at him and then pulling their gazes away – just like they did with Lucian himself. Seeing that there was no-one speaking to the gentleman, Lucian paused for just a moment, cleared his throat and then came closer to him. The moment the gentleman caught his eye, Lucian inclined his head .
“Lord Fairmont?” he asked, as the gentleman nodded. “The Duke of Strathmore.” He lifted his head. “I have a matter of urgency that I should like to discuss.”
“Urgency?” Lord Fairmont’s eyebrows furrowed, sitting heavy upon his eyes. “I do not think that we have ever been introduced before this moment, Your Grace, so I cannot understand what it might be that you wish to speak to me about!”
Lucian blinked, having expected the gentleman to acquiesce at once, given Lucian’s own standing and title. Mayhap, he considered, this was where Lady Rosalind got her tenacity from. “I quite understand.” He cleared his throat and then looked to the lady next to Lord Fairmont, presuming her to be the gentleman’s wife. “Lord and Lady Fairmont, forgive me for the hasty interruption and the rushed manner in which I have spoken. It must have come as quite a surprise, I am sure.” With another clearing of his throat which gave him a moment or two to gather his thoughts, Lucian spread out his hands. “I come to speak to you about your daughter.”
“Rosalind?” Lady Fairmont asked, her voice wavering just a little, her eyes wide. “Your Grace, whatever you might have heard about her, I can promise you that it is entirely false!”
“Heard about her?” Lucian frowned.
“Yes, I presume you have heard something,” Lady Fairmont continued, her hand now on her husband’s arm. “It is a considerable distress to me – and I daresay to all of us – that once the ton becomes aware of any rumour or scandal concerning an individual, they feel compelled not only to accept it as truth but also to disparage the reputations of all those even remotely associated with that person! I can assure you that my dear Rosalind is nothing but perfectly proper, well mannered, well-spoken and genteel, regardless of what might be whispered about her at this present moment.”
Understanding what the lady was saying and what she meant in regard to rumors, Lucian shook his head. “No, my lady, you quite misunderstand me. I come to speak to you not because of any rumours or the like.”
“No?” Lord Fairmont harrumphed, his eyes like steel as he fixed his gaze to Lucian. “Then for what purpose do you wish to speak to me about my daughter?”
Lucian managed to smile, a sudden rush of nervousness flooding through him as he tried to find the right words to say. “Because I think, Lord Fairmont, that she and I might make a very fine match and, therefore, I have come to seek her hand in marriage. ”
Silence came from both Lord and Lady Fairmont for some minutes. Neither of them so much as even glanced at one another but instead, both of them simply stared back at Lucian as though he were some sort of astonishing being they had never seen before.
Lucian swallowed.
“Mayhap I should call upon you to discuss this in further detail?” he asked, as Lord Fairmont began to blink furiously, running one hand over his face. “Tomorrow?”
“I – I think that might be best,” Lady Fairmont managed to say, her voice faint. “Did you say that you wished to marry our daughter?”
Nodding, Lucian tried to smile, struggling with the tension he now felt. This was not what he had expected, not the reaction he had anticipated and now, he felt very unsure of himself, as if he were standing on uneven ground. “I do. I have only just been introduced to her and –”
“You have only been introduced to her this evening?” Lord Fairmont now sounded incredibly confused, frowning hard at Lucian who nodded. “And somehow, within that short space of time, you have decided that you wish to marry her?”
A tightness came into Lucian’s jaw. “Indeed. I believe that she would suit me very well as she clearly is genteel and quite proper, as you yourself said, Lady Fairmont, and that is all I require.”
Lady Fairmont blinked, her mouth opening and closing though she did not say a word.
“Well, I think that it would be best if you came to call,” Lord Fairmont finally answered, evidently regaining some of his composure. “Might I ask, Your Grace, have you expressed any of this to my daughter herself?”
Recalling just how upset Lady Rosalind had been when they had parted, Lucian shook his head, his throat now a little scratchy as he began to imagine what it would be like when her parents informed her of his request. “I think it would be best coming from you, Lord Fairmont. I would never force a young lady to marry me, of course.”
“I appreciate your consideration.” Lord Fairmont tilted his head, just a fraction, his eyes still sharp. “You are aware, I am sure, that you have a reputation, Your Grace, and it is not a particularly pleasant one. I will not force my daughter into this match, should she have no real desire to marry you.”
A streak of anger rushed up Lucian’s spine but he simply spread out his arms and then let his hands fall to his sides. “Of course, Lord Fairmont. I quite understand that you are concerned for your daughter and that in light of hearing of my reputation. ”
“Which you do not deny?”
Lucian shrugged, refusing to let the anger within him burn so hot that it overtook his words. “I have spent a long time out of society’s view and my response to those who have written to encourage me to be present back into the ton has not been particularly considerate, so I do not refute that. Nor do I pretend that I am not of a somewhat dark and dismal disposition, as the ton say, but I have had much in my past to weigh upon me and that has brought me to my present state of mind. I say this all to you so that there is no falseness between us, no pretense. I am just as you see me and, to be frank, just as the ton see also.” There was no point in hiding anything from the Earl, Lucian considered, for no doubt Lady Rosalind would say the same, if not more, when she came to express her feelings about Lucian and his behavior towards her. He wished to be perfectly clear with Lord and Lady Fairmont, understanding that they had as much to safeguard themselves against as he did. The whispers of the ton touched their family just as it did him and, whether Lady Rosalind liked him or not, Lucian knew he might well be her only choice.
“I understand.” Lord Fairmont glanced at his wife who still remained wide eyed and clearly utterly shocked. “Thank you for your honesty, Your Grace. Might I ask you to call upon me tomorrow afternoon? That will give me enough time to speak with my daughter and with my wife.”
Lucian inclined his head. “That is quite all right. Surely, I can call tomorrow. Good evening, Lord Fairmont, Lady Fairmont.” With a nod, he turned away and walked back through the crowd, ready to seek out a quiet corner for himself where he might hide away.
The deed is done.
Letting out a slow breath, Lucian turned so that he could lean back against the wall, letting his gaze ripple over the crowd. He could not imagine what the conversation would be like when Lord Fairmont told his daughter of Lucian’s request! He wondered if she would be just as shocked, just as stunned as her parents had appeared to be or if she would break down in upset and despair at his request. Certainly, she would not express any sort of happiness or pleasure, he was sure.
“But I shall find out tomorrow,” he murmured to himself, a small, almost contented smile spreading across his face. If she agreed, then they would marry and he would return to his estate with his duty done and the family line taken care of… and if she did not, then he would have to find someone else to wed him, which would be rather irritating and would delay his return to the Strathmore estate.
“Let us hope her father convinces her,” Lucian murmured to himself, his smile beginning to fade away. “I think I should be quite satisfied with Lady Rosalind as my bride… even if she would never be satisfied with me.”