Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Lilli stood at the entrance to the drawing room and stared at the strong back of the gentleman sitting across from her grandmother.
He seemed sturdy enough. Tall with pleasantly dark hair that held a light wave that ended in curls over his cravat, giving him character.
He sat straight and rather relaxed. She wished she could examine his face before actually meeting him, but it wasn’t to be.
Lady St. Matthews extended her hand to Lilli. “Lilliana. Come and meet the new Duke of Weston.”
When the subject of her introduction stood and turned in Lilli’s direction, she stared at his handsomely striking face, unable to look away.
He had a no-nonsense demeanor as he returned her stare.
His expression, though a little way off, lost its sternness and seemed to soften.
His eyes twinkled. Lilli wanted to curl up in his lap and snuggle in close, leaving all of her burden of responsibilities at his feet.
The moment she acknowledged that thinking, she shut down that traitorous thought and stiffened her back.
Walking forward, she dropped her gaze that had been locked on his and tried hard to seem as though he had not affected her.
He was the only man who had called to that secret part of her that longed for someone to strip her of duties except to him, for a short time.
No man had seemed strong enough or capable enough to handle that particular aspect of her, so Lilli had assumed that she was an anomaly.
She shoved that part of her back while her inner self was pleading to be let loose with this man. No, she would not make herself vulnerable. He was the man she was hoping to avoid. She walked around the sofa and sat next to her grandmother presenting him with her most prickly nod.
“Your Grace,” she said.
Her voice sounded stilted and hard as stone.
It hurt even her own ears, but he didn’t seem to notice.
Of course he didn’t, because he was likely a pompous arse himself but when she glanced up again, she caught that same twinkle in his eye.
Was he laughing at her? Did he see through her pretense?
She didn’t want to react to him, but she had the almost uncontrollable urge to laugh at the foolishness of the whole ordeal.
“Gran, have you rung for tea?”
“Of course, my dear. His Grace came to offer his assistance if I meet my demise before you are of age. He is taking over his father’s obligation and I think that is noble of him. Do you not think it a kindness, my dear?”
“I’m sure the duke has more in life to contend with than keeping me on his plate of obligations.” Lilli turned to His Grace and said, “It is indeed a kindness that you would consider taking over your father’s agreement, but I assure you, it is not necessary.”
“Not necessary, Lady Griffin?”
“No. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself and my estate without having you underfoot. I absolve you of your burden of possible guardianship.”
This time he did smile and his eyes laughed. “My dear Lady Griffin, I promise you that my father instructed me specifically, personally and in his will to maintain the guardianship and to agree to make myself available should the time come. You would not ask me to shirk my duties.”
“But I can manage things myself.”
“Be that as it may, I am under obligation and find I am in agreement with my father’s assessment.
Unless your father, if he is still alive, decides you do not need a guardian, then only he can rescind the agreement.
No one else.” The duke’s voice brooked no argument, and it sent deliciously unfamiliar tendrils of excitement through her center.
“I shall send my father word and tell him I do not need a guardian if great-gran is… well, should she be unable to stay with me until I reach twenty-five. Which is less than four years.”
“Yes, Lady St. Matthews has said that is so. Do you know where your father is?”
“I’m sure I can find him.”
“Lilliana, you have no clue as to that man’s whereabouts.” Gran was no help.
“I know where his family hails from.”
Lady St. Matthews patted Lilli’s hand. “Yes, that is true, but he has never answered any of the letters sent his way these past eight years.” Her grandmother looked at the duke.
“Thank you for agreeing to continue the arrangement. Lilliana is quite independent and very capable in most areas. She is protective of her freedoms and I am sure there is some concern that she will be limited, should I pass early.”
“If that should happen, milady, I will of course have some restrictions to keep her safe but nothing that would stop her from continuing on as she is, provided she maintains proper behavior.” He ended his assurance by turning to gaze steadily in Lilli’s eyes.
“Unfortunately, I can’t be sure unless we are put in that position, which I am quite positive we will not be. You seem of excellent health, my lady.”
“I am still in the room, Your Grace. It is rude to speak about a person without engaging them in the conversation.”
“Lilliana! I do not know what has gotten into you. You have been brought up better than this.”
Lilli knew she had and was not a rude person typically, but her feelings of attraction were not subsiding, and she was feeling churlish.
How could her inner self be so drawn to him?
He could be difficult if he were to become her guardian.
She had to resist the feelings of comfort from him.
Her desire to allow her vulnerable self out could very well sabotage her ability to control her life as she saw fit.
“I would like to get to know you a little more, Lady Lilliana.”
“Well, I’m not sure I wish it but already, my choices are being run roughshod over.”
“Lilliana! That was rude and you will apologize.”
The door opened. “Yes, I apolo—Oh, look. Our tea has arrived,” said Lilli.
She made a fuss over the tea and refreshments, serving each person and then sitting back down to enjoy her tea. “How far do you live from Heatherfield, Your Grace?”
Oliver gave her a distinct brow lift. Lilli squirmed and looked down to busy herself with smoothing out her skirt. She was tingly in unmentionable places and felt like a naughty child. He had caught her out.
“I am the estate south of yours.”
“Are you?”
“I am and so if I must take up the duties we have discussed, it will be quite easy to do.”
“Yes. Convenient.”
Lady St. Matthews took up the conversation from there and soon His Grace took his leave.
“Let me go and summon your carriage,” said Gran.
“Gran, I can ring—”
“No, I need to walk a bit.”
“It had been a pleasure, Lady Lilliana.”
“It has not but at least you have been a gentleman. I do not need you should Gran… well… you know. I simply will carry on as I am now.”
“Yes, but the law doesn’t see it that way and I believe you are a bit of a spark.
Put you near dry brush or brash merchants, you will not last long.
I can keep those pathways open for you. Men respect men.
Regardless of the rationality of that sentiment, it is a true one.
I only wish to help you, my dear. There is no ill intent.
I am quite wealthy, and I can assure you that the profits of your property will be yours alone. ”
“I never thought you would take from us, Your Grace.”
“Oliver, and I am glad of that. But you will need me, and I will do what is right.” He leaned down to speak close to her ear.
“And, my little one, I assure you, if you ever speak to me in the manner that you have just done in front of your grandmother or any other person, I will take you over my knee and give you the sound thrashing you are so desperate for.”
“That was uncall—”
“The truth. I saw your Little darling playing hide and seek with me, and I assure you I am adept in handling her and you.”
Lilli’s eyes opened wide, and her mouth tried to respond but she could not. She unsuccessfully fought a strong shiver that raced through her body and ignited those tingles all over. Especially in her lower regions. How did he know? He couldn’t know. He was bluffing. But what if he wasn’t?
“You’re bluffing and that is unkind, sir.”
He remained close to her. “Do it again and see if I am. I am willing to be as benevolent as you allow me to be. Test me again, and you will find a different response.” He took her hand and kissed it as though they were amiable sliding his free hand along her cheek with a warm smile.
“Goodbye for now, Lilliana.”
Lilli’s thoughts were in confusion. She met this young duke as her grandmother insisted, and he was not to her liking…
much. How could she betray herself by having agreeable thoughts about him?
He was proposing to take over her life, or rather, be her guardian, which amounted to the same thing, if grandmother left this earth before Lilli’s twenty-fifth birthday. What would that look like?
Even though it was the year eighteen twenty-five, things had not progressed much past her mother’s and grandmother’s day in some areas, like the supremacy of a man.
If she had Oliver the Duke of Weston as her guardian, even though she was now twenty-one, she could imagine how things would turn out.
And yet, he held a quality she could not identify but her inner self gravitated to it.
Finding a husband would better suit her.
If she waited until he was her guardian, if it came to that, then he would have the choice of her life mate.
If she found her own spouse, she could choose an amiable gentleman that would meet her needs quite nicely.
One who would allow her free rein of the manor, and he could go about his life on the estate without any bother from her.