Chapter 3 #2
A momentary silence passed between them, and Florentia’s mother looked at her and widened her eyes again.
This was an interview, and Florentia needed to bring her very best. Annoying, really, as it became clear almost immediately that the duke wasn’t going to be the one trying to bridge the gap of familiarity.
Various questions rose to mind, small talk, simple observations that Florentia knew would not cause a stir but would at least force some sort of palaver.
But she quelled these questions, deciding in that instant that if the duke was going to be this standoffish then she best cut straight to the point.
No sense wasting any more time than she already had.
“I am curious, however,” Florentia began carefully, taking a sip of tea before putting it back down. “Albina has told me that this is the first time you have courted a lady of the ton. Might I ask why?”
“Florentia!” her mother gasped.
“Do not mind her, Your Grace,” her father hurried with a nervous chuckle. “Florentia tends to speak without thinking. But she means nothing by it.”
“Not at all.” The duke looked at her finally, the smallest of smirks on his lips now, curiosity behind his dark eyes. “And it is a perfectly valid question, the answer to which is nothing scandalous. The simple fact of the matter is that I have not wished to, until now.”
“Ah, waiting for the right moment,” her father said. “It takes a man of resolute character to know when, and there is no reason to rush into these things like a—”
“Why?” Florentia asked before she could help herself.
“Excuse me?”
“Why have you not wished to until now?”
“Florentia...” Her mother growled at her, a look of warning in her eyes.
“Personal reasons,” the duke said with that same curious smirk, now looking right at her. “I do not wish to bore you with the details. Let us just say that it is time that I marry, and as in all things I do, I do not like to drag my feet.”
“Marry?” her mother said excitedly. “Your Grace, is now the right time to say that Florentia too is hoping to wed?” She giggled. “This is a match made in heaven.”
“Now, now, Betsey,” her father chuckled and gave his wife’s leg a squeeze. “Do not scare the man off. Of course marriage is expected, but there is no rush. The fact that he is interested in courting Florentia is more than we could hope for the time being.”
“On the contrary,” the duke continued simply, not at all put out by Florentia’s mother.
“I did not come here to ask permission to court your daughter.” He was still looking right at Florentia, an expression on his face that she could not read.
He was made of stone, it seemed. Dark and brooding and mysterious.
It made her stomach flutter...or was it turning?
“I came here to see if she might be my wife.”
The announcement sent a shock wave across the room.
Florentia’s mother gasped. Her father choked on his tea. Florentia’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. As to the duke? He simply sat and watched the reactions unfold, not at all surprised or concerned for the effect his announcement had on the room.
“Your Grace...” her mother sputtered. She had a grip on Florentia’s knee, squeezing tightly as if to keep her in place. “That is most... truly, we are not... that is a most generous offer.”
“A most generous offer,” her father agreed. “One that we are not worthy of, for truly, Your Grace, we were not expecting such a thing.”
“I do not play games,” the duke continued simply. He tore his eyes from Florentia and was back on her father. “And I do not waste time. I am in need of a wife and my reasons for being here today were to see if your lovely daughter might aspire to take my hand in marriage.”
“Yes!” her mother cried out without pause. Then she cleared her throat and smiled politely. “I mean, yes, that is most—”
“I am sorry,” Florentia spoke up finally, having only just gotten over the shock of it. “Might I say something? Or is my opinion not a concern?”
“Florentia!”
“Please,” the duke said. “I admit, I might have been a tad hasty in announcing my intentions.”
“You were not,” her father hurried. “And we are most grate—”
“Why now?” Florentia spoke over her father. “And why me? Forgive me Mother, Father, for I am grateful. That, I promise. It is just... does this not all seem a little rushed? Might I not have a chance to get to know the man to whom I will be married before agreeing to such a union?”
She could tell immediately that she had said the wrong thing.
Her mother glared daggers at her. Her father groaned and rubbed his eyes.
As for the duke? He seemed curious about her, that same smirk from earlier on his lips and in his eyes.
It had her stomach fluttering, for although she found all of this insane, there was no denying how handsome he was. And a duke to boot.
Not that she cared for such things. Again, there was but one thing that Florentia wanted, and she needed answers before she dared to get her hopes up.
“My reasons are nothing sinister, I assure you,” the duke spoke simply. “And my intentions are pure. The fact is...”
He considered for a moment, looking between Florentia and her mother and father.
“At thirty years of age, it has occurred to me that it is time that I wed. I do not wish to waste months searching for a bride, and I do not wish for word to spread throughout England that I am of this mind. I dread the headache this will cause, and the hassle. I want a simple, quick marriage, devoid of drama and gossip. I do not think that is unreasonable.”
Had a less romantic proposal ever been uttered in the history of courtship? Somehow, Florentia doubted it.
“Not at all,” her mother said, squeezing Florentia’s leg so tightly now that it hurt.
“Well said,” her father agreed. “We all know the drama that follows courtship, do we not?” He looked warningly at Florentia. “Suffice to say that a quickly organized wedding will be in all of our best interests.”
Florentia spoke up. “But what of—”
“Shall we discuss terms?” her father cut her off. “If we adjourn to my study, Your Grace, we can have this matter sorted before the day’s end.”
“I would like to ask—”
“What a wonderful idea,” her mother stampeded over her. “The sooner the better.”
“If I might just—”
“A small wedding,” her father said, already on his feet. “I get the sense that we are of the same mind, Your Grace?”
“Please,” Florentia attempted, getting flustered. “All I would like to know is—”
“Friends and family only.” Her mother was on her feet also. “Whatever His Grace thinks is best.”
The duke was still sitting. He looked between Florentia’s mother and father; a decision being made behind his dark eyes.
Florentia held her breath, praying that their ridiculousness had scared him off.
So eager were they to see her wed, and to a duke for that matter, that they had made fools of themselves. Surely, the duke could see that?
“I think we can find common ground.” The duke stood up and Florentia’s stomach dropped. “Lord Gillingham, after you?” He indicated to her father to show him the way.
“Right this way!”
Florentia sat there in a state of utter shock.
Frustration, also. Hopelessness, as she knew now there was nothing she could do or say.
The suddenness of this was impossible. And she did not believe for a second that the duke had simply decided one day to get married and then committed to the first woman he met. There was more to this, she knew.
And what was more, still she did not know his feelings concerning starting a family. Although the dispassionate and businesslike way that he spoke of marriage gave her a pretty darn good indication.
Maybe this is a good thing? If he thinks of this marriage as a business, than he will surely see the advantages of producing an heir. That is, after all, the entire point of marriage…
“Miss Parsons...” The duke was standing before her suddenly.
Still sitting down as she was, his sheer size dwarfed her like a mountain leering over a small village.
She looked up to meet him, a lump appearing in her throat because all things considered, he was rather handsome.
“It has been a pleasure...” He reached out a hand for her.
“Oh...yes, I suppose it has.” She had no idea what to say, so she gave him her hand and he kissed the back. Again, once his lips touched her skin, she felt a fire come to life in her chest and her skin flushed bright pink in ways that she had never experienced with Lord Breccan.
“Until we meet again,” he said, releasing her hand, holding her eyes for a moment... another... locking her in so that she forgot to breathe as if he was trapping her... and then he looked away and she gasped.
And so it was that in the space of five minutes, Florentia had gone from aspiring to being courted by the duke to being engaged to him.
She knew nothing of the man. And while she felt deep in the pit of her stomach that she would come to regret this, as she turned and watched him go, she could not help but stare at his broad back and wide shoulders, and wondered secretly if maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.