Chapter Nine
Matthew shouldn’t have come tonight. He had lied to his mother, telling her that he was going to Dove Hall to check on a few things.
She asked if any new women had arrived or if any news was on the horizon regarding locating a new one.
He had told her no, but that he hoped to hear from Larkin soon regarding another.
He then mentioned having other plans, saying he would not be home for dinner.
She had given him a knowing look, aware of the widow he saw in Redgrove. The widow no longer held any appeal.
Because he could not get Lady Verina out of his mind.
He told himself she was all wrong for him.
That she was young and immature. That was a lie, however.
Yes, she was about to be ten and eight soon, but many eligible young ladies on the Marriage Mart were that age or even younger.
And as far as being immature, he did not think someone of that nature could have pulled together the wonderful feast during the days Hugo and his tenants had worked on repairing the roofs of the cottages.
Lady Verina had taken charge with ease, organizing where people and items should go, ever watchful when something need to be changed or done.
From his vantage point, high on a roof, he had been able to witness her efficiency and friendliness.
She did not put on airs. Rather, she was willing to work just as hard as those around her, perhaps even more so.
Matthew could tell she did not feign her interest in the tenants, their wives, and their children.
She had a true sincerity about her. He could not think of any young ladies he had meet within Polite Society who would have done the same.
“Damnation,” he said under his breath as he watched her skirts twirling as she danced with some man who had claimed her for a set.
All right. So she was organized and efficient.
Kind and friendly. Those were certainly qualities he would seek in his future duchess.
Lady Verina also was very pretty. He could tell she was still growing into her looks.
As she matured, she would become downright beautiful—and maintain that beauty for many years to come.
But she seemed to have pushed him aside. He knew, in part, it had been his rakish remark about kissing her which had turned the tide against him. At first, she had been distant and cool to him. Now, however, she seemed to take things in stride, wanting to treat him as a brother.
Brotherly affection was the last thing Matthew wanted from her.
Instead, he truly wanted to kiss her. Hold her.
Get to know more about her. More importantly, for the first time in his life, he wanted to share with her about his clandestine work.
He needed her to know what he did for these women.
Not because he wanted credit for his actions.
Heavens, that was the last thing he desired.
What he wanted to see was how Lady Verina reacted to him doing that kind of work.
Would she approve? Be repelled? Find it altruistic? Interesting?
While Larkin did a good deal of the groundwork in investigating, Matthew did his fair share. He was used to traveling—sometimes with Mama, often without her—and spiriting away a dove from her place of torture. Lady Verina had not hidden her interest in marriage and wanting children.
Would she be able to take to a marriage which was so unconventional?
No, he was putting the cart before the horse.
He had to first get Lady Verina to like him more.
To think of him not as a brother, but as a potential suitor—and husband.
Only then would he share with her a small portion of the work he did.
Work which he could not stop because too many women suffered at the hands of tyrannical husbands.
He might only be able to save a few each year, but that was more than if he sat back and did nothing.
The question was how to change her view regarding him. Matthew believed he had made a good first impression on her, up until his remark about a kiss. He supposed the only way to alter her opinion was to spend time with her and prove he was more than some rakish fellow trying to steal kisses.
The music ended, and he watched as she accompanied her latest partner to the punchbowl. Her face was flushed with the exertion of dancing, and she was more than pretty. In fact, the more he saw her, the more attractive she grew in his eyes.
“Admiring the view?”
Turning, he saw Hugo had come to stand next to him. Matthew shrugged. He was not ready to say something about Lady Verina to his dearest friend.
“She would make for a good duchess,” Hugo said.
“Who?”
His friend snorted. “You do not have to pretend . . . with me, Matthew. You came tonight… to see Verina.”
“What if I did?” he countered, frustrated that he was so easily read.
Hugo studied Verina. “She is like a wild colt. Full of enthusiasm. Hard to restrain. She is young, but she has a good head on her shoulders. She also has a kind heart. Just look how she is already looking after my tenants, and she has only been here three weeks.”
“She is clever. And pretty. I will grant you that.”
“Verina is a young lady of good character. She would never bore you. I have seen your eyes glaze over at a ball, and then you disappear into the card room. Or go home. Yes, she is young, but you could guide her. Teach her how to become a wonderful duchess. Your tenants would adore her, as would your servants.”
“Her family is full of love matches, Hugo. She does not love me. Why, you heard her. She thinks of me as a brother.”
“Does she?” his friend pressed. “I think you need to spend more time in one another’s company.
I am not saying make any kind of commitment now.
Just get to know Verina better while she is at Merrifield.
That would give you a leg up, come the Season.
She will be meeting a large number of eligible bachelors.
Yours would be a friendly face in a sea of strangers. ”
“Very well. Why don’t you come for dinner? Tonight is Saturday. Shall we make it Monday night? You could arrive by teatime. Have dinner. Stay the night if you wish. And leave the following day. That would give me the opportunity to be in her company.”
“I will tell Tia we are engaged for Monday and part of Tuesday,” Hugo said. “It is a good thing because all our neighbors are besieging us with invitations. It seems you are not the only one who wishes to know Verina.”
Matthew glanced about. “I think I will ask Lady Justina to dance.”
He marched off, asking the youngest Fulton to dance a second time. She readily agreed, and they had a marvelous time during their dance. Lady Justina was lively, an eager dance partner.
“Oh, thank you for asking me to dance again, Your Grace. By far, you are my favorite partner of the night.”
“Your joy in dancing is obvious, my lady. The pleasure was all mine.”
She looked at him pensively. “You like Verina, don’t you?”
“Your sister is very nice.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “It is more than that. I know I am biased, but Verina would be a good match for you. She does not fawn over you because you have a grand title.”
“You do not think she is like other women?” he challenged. “I cannot think of a woman of my acquaintance who would not wish to be a duchess.”
“Titles mean nothing to my sister,” Justina insisted. “She also is not one to demand love from her betrothed.”
“She isn’t?” he asked, surprised to hear this.
“Verina has shared with me that she believes marriages can be successful if a husband and wife care for one another. If they are friends. Verina is looking for companionship, as well as a man who will take an active role in raising his children. From what I gather, not many men in the ton see much of their children. My cousins and their husbands are different. Verina wants a gentleman who will be kind to her and put family above all else. Could you do that, Your Grace?”
He did want children desperately. Being an only child, he had longed for siblings.
As an adult, a duke with a vast fortune, he knew he could have as many children as he liked.
He was not one to hand them off to servants and rarely see them.
He wanted to be close to his sons and daughters.
It seemed as if Lady Verina were looking for many of the same things he did.
“I am beginning to think about marriage, Lady Justina. Whether to your sister or another remains to be seen.”
She studied him a moment. “I think you might have a chance with her. You would certainly challenge her.” Then she smiled at him. “Thank you again for the dance, Your Grace.”
Lady Justina left him, not seeking an escort. She was quite the independent creature. Opinionated. Likeable. Outspoken. Pretty. Idly, he wondered if he should wait for her to mature and seek her hand in a few years. But his head told him Lady Verina would be a better match for him.
And Matthew was doing his best not to listen to his heart.
Emotions got people in trouble. Although he would like to make a love match, he already found his emotions hard to deal with at times.
He had seen incredible heartbreak in his work.
His energy was better spent helping women find a new life.
If he could find favor with Lady Verina, he believed she possessed several good qualities which would help make him a better duke, while providing him with the children he yearned for.
It was time for him to take the initiative and see if he could change Lady Verina’s stance toward him.
*
Verina finished her cup of punch and excused herself, needing to find the ladies’ retiring room.
She did so, taking care of her business and even splashing cool water on her face.
Though they were into the first week of November, she had grown overheated with all the dancing. The cool water felt good on her skin.
A servant handed her a cloth, and she dabbed her face dry, ready to enjoy the rest of the evening. The dancing had been spirited tonight, and she had not lacked for partners. Of course, her best one had been the Duke of Reddington. It shouldn’t surprise her that he danced so effortlessly.
As she left the retiring room, she found none other than the duke himself standing nearby, looking as if he waited for her. He smiled as she came toward him.
“There you are, my lady. I was hoping to have a few minutes to speak with you.”
He was certainly handsome. She would give him that.
Verina decided Reddington had simply had a weak moment in mentioning how to win a kiss from her.
That had been his only faux pas around her.
She thought of how he had stood up to Hugo’s bullies and how solicitous he was toward his mother.
He had also helped Hugo in overcoming his stammer.
There was much good in this man, and she should not play games with him.
“What about, Your Grace?”
He hesitated. “I hope you are not one to hold a grudge.”
“No, I am not. Do you believe I hold some resentment toward you?”
Shrugging, he said, “I am not certain. I did say something most inappropriate to you, and I regretted it the minute it left my lips.”
Why did he have to talk about his lips? Her eyes immediately strayed to them. They were firm. Sensual. Her own lips began to itch, wondering what it might be like to share a kiss with him.
“I am sorry I teased you, my lady,” he apologized. “I know you are above reproach and would not go handing out kisses, especially to gentlemen you had just met. I regret my words, and I hope you will forgive me.”
She saw sincerity shining in his eyes. “I believe you are sorry, Your Grace. And there is truly nothing to forgive. Your remark merely caught me offguard. I will be better prepared when the Season arrives. I have very little experience in the company of men, other than my own family. Something tells me you will not be the last to tease me about kissing.”
His mouth grew stubborn. “If a man insults you during the Season, you must tell me of it, my lady. I will see to him.”
“No. You will not,” Verina said firmly. “First, it is not your place to rush about, pretending to be my protector. I will handle any wayward gentlemen. My tongue can be sharp and my morals high. If a man cause me further problems after I have addressed the issue, I will simply tell my brother and the other men in my family. They are a fierce lot, Your Grace, and would broker no nonsense from some rake who behaved untoward to me.”
“I see you have thought this through.”
“As I said, I was unprepared for your flippant remark. I now know you were playfully vexing me. I will be more prepared come the spring.”
He gazed at her admiringly. “I believe you will be, my lady. Good for you.”
Verina grew warm, hearing the praise come from him. From those sensual lips. From this tall, handsome man. She reminded herself not to fall into any kind of trap.
“We should return to the dancing,” she told him.
“I agree. Would you dance with me again, my lady?”
She had already been told by Mama that if a gentleman asked for a second dance in the same evening, he was showing his express interest in you.
This, however, was Norfolk, far from town and the glittering balls of the Season.
What harm could come in dancing again with the most handsome man present tonight?
“I would be happy to engage in another set with you, Your Grace.”