Chapter 6
David looked out the window as the carriage trundled along, the countryside passing by sedately. It was close to sunset, so the sun was starting to go down. It was really beautiful. David hoped that he could see it in full view when he got to the ball.
God, why did he have to turn up to this thing?
After a long day getting everything organised and keeping his sisters entertained, David just wanted to spend the evening at home, sitting in the library with a glass of Scotch and a book.
That was quiet enough for him. But he had to attend this ball; otherwise, it would be considered rude.
Not for the first time, David wished he weren’t a duke.
He could get away with turning down invitations as the heir, but not now.
And he couldn’t think of a legitimate reason not to go that wouldn’t get picked apart.
Also, Henrietta and Gwen had urged him to go and join everyone.
It was like they wanted him to go and meet people.
Most importantly, meet a potential wife.
David knew he needed to fulfil his duties and find a wife, but it felt too clinical and unromantic.
It was uncomfortable for him, and David didn’t want to wander up and down a ballroom eyeing the young ladies who didn’t have a husband or suitor waiting around them.
That made him feel like he was eyeing up animals ready for slaughter at the market, and that had been awkward when he had done that.
Besides, as Henrietta had repeatedly reminded him, this ball was being thrown to welcome the new Duke of Bayntree back to the area. The attention would be all on him. David had a feeling that he was going to end up being overwhelmed with everyone focusing on him. He didn’t like that.
At least Joseph would be there. He was a friend of the host, after all. Would Eleanor be there as well? And what about Caroline? David would certainly feel better having Caroline there.
It had only been two days since they had last seen each other, spending the afternoon with his sisters and having dinner, and David was missing her. He knew this was silly, but he couldn’t help it.
Caroline had made something inside him relax, and he felt less tense about what was happening.
The knot in his stomach since his father died was pretty much gone when she was around, something David hadn’t realised was happening until Caroline had been around him for a couple of hours.
There was peace despite everything going on.
What was going on there? David had no idea what was happening with him and Caroline. He had enjoyed her company when they were children and was heartbroken to leave her behind. Being pleased to see her again was one thing, but this? It felt … different.
How had she managed to get to five-and-twenty years and still be unmarried?
She was beautiful, warm, and friendly, and she certainly had enough grace to conduct herself properly in mixed company.
How was she approaching spinsterhood when she was everything a gentleman wanted in a wife? That didn’t make any sense.
Either the gentlemen in the ton were blind or incredibly stupid. Or maybe it was because she had no money. Sure, Caroline had a title, but she was broke. Was that the reason?
How could men be so shallow? David couldn’t understand it.
It didn’t take long to get to the house where the ball was being hosted.
As David was getting out of his carriage, at the end of a long line of waiting carriages for the other guests, someone started walking towards him from the house.
Tall, lean with ash-blond hair wearing a lilac coat, his boyish grin was wide as he approached David. It was enough to make David smile back.
“I was beginning to wonder where you were.”
“Good evening, Joseph.” David clasped his friend’s hand. “I’m glad to see you here. At least there’s one friendly face.”
“You think there are going to be some unfriendly ones inside?”
David made a face.
“You recall how people started treating me once I became the Duke of Bayntree? It was like those who had known me for years were kissing my feet. I felt like I needed to wash my feet constantly.”
Joseph burst out laughing.
“Don’t start with me on that image. That is far too much for me, and I shouldn’t be laughing so badly right now.”
“But you see what I mean, don’t you?”
“Oh, I do. I’ve witnessed it, and I can see some of them actually doing it.”
So could David. It was frustrating that as soon as he inherited the dukedom, people started to behave oddly, almost like they didn’t want to upset him.
The tension built as if they thought something was going to happen and they were planning on asking him for something.
David had a feeling his former friends would ask him for financial help; the one to pick up the tab at the end of the day.
After experiencing that for several weeks, David had distanced himself from people he once called his friends and acquaintances. He didn’t want to be seen as a walking money bag. What was wrong with being a normal person with a different title?
At least he still had Joseph; his oldest friend had been there for him since they were barely walking. He was at his side, even after David left Hertfordshire ten years before. Joseph was reliable in every aspect.
If you could keep in touch with Joseph, why didn’t you do the same with Caroline and Eleanor? Why were they different?
David pushed away his thoughts. He didn’t know the answer to that and didn’t think he would find a proper response.
“Well, trust that I won’t let that happen tonight,” Joseph declared. “Nobody is going to do anything bad to you.”
“You do realise that everyone is aware that I’m an unmarried man, and I’m looking for a wife?”
“What?” Joseph did a double-take as he started to turn away. “Really? You’re looking for a wife.”
“Not exactly,” David admitted. He took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. “I have to do my duty now. For my sisters. I need to look out for them.”
“You do realise that your wife isn’t going to become their mother, don’t you?”
“I know, but they’re still so young …”
Joseph chuckled.
“Don’t let Henrietta hear you say that, or she won’t be happy. She doesn’t like being treated like a little girl.”
David knew that, but in his eyes, Henrietta was still his little sister. It was going to be hard to see her come of age and enter Society when she was old enough. Only a couple of months before she turned sixteen, and in two years she would be eighteen.A grown woman.
Eighteen still felt far too young.
“Come on, let’s go inside. I need a drink before I have to face everyone.” David nudged his friend into moving, giving him a smile. “By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask: how does it feel to be called an earl? Have you got used to the title?”
Like David, Joseph had come into a title of his own.
His sister’s older brother had been the Earl of Guildford, but he had never married or had any legitimate children.
He had passed away a couple of months back, and Joseph was the next closest male, so he had taken the title.
Joseph had been reeling that he had gone from a viscount’s son to an earl in his own right ever since.
At least he was not having the problem David had of people changing their tune as soon as they discovered the new title.
Joseph made a face.
“It’s not that great anymore now that the novelty has worn off. It just feels … odd. A part of me wants to return to my old title and have a bit more obscurity.”
“I know what you mean.” David grunted. “At least you didn’t have to lose a parent to get the title. I mean, you lose a relative, but …”
“I know what you meant, David. I hadn’t seen my uncle in years.
He and Father didn’t get along, so I was surprised when I was told that he had left me as his heir.
I had almost forgotten about him, seeing as the last time I saw him I was about six.
” Joseph frowned. “Life is just … it’s strange, isn’t it?
And the only way we can have a step up in life is to have someone close die on us so we get it all. ”
David knew that to be true but would rather have his father back.
He would prefer the person over the title at any time.
The responsibilities and the tough choices that came with being the duke were too much for him.
And he had to be a guardian to his sisters.
As much as he loved them, David didn’t think he could do a good job. They needed their father.
“Look, can we stop talking about things that will make us sad?” Joseph asked a little too brightly.
“We’ve got a ball to attend, and you and I need to be on our best behaviour.
We’re going to have a lot of pretty ladies giving us their undivided attention, and we shouldn’t ignore their attempts to approach us, should we? ”
“Speak for yourself,” David muttered.
Joseph was still laughing as they reached the steps up to the front door.
That was when David spied the petite fair-haired woman in dark red walking from the other direction, arm-in-arm with a tall, ash-blond gentleman looking at her with a smile that suggested he was more than a little smitten with her as she said something to him.
She was taller than the last time David had seen her, so it took a moment for him to recognise her. He stopped and stared.
“Eleanor?”
Eleanor Archer looked around and stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening. Then she beamed and left her companion to approach David.
“Oh, my goodness! David!” She stopped suddenly, as if remembering her manners, and dropped a quick curtsy. “I mean, good evening, Your Grace.”
David laughed and took her hand, giving her fingers a quick kiss.
“David is fine as long as we’re not in mixed company. Some things are not easy to break when it’s a habit.”