Chapter 5
The sun was high in the sky and warmed Francesca’s skin.
She held her parasol over her head to block the light from blinding her and overheating her already strained body.
She had somehow managed to hide her sickness and crawl out of bed that morning.
For some reason her child had decided to take pity on her, at least for one day.
She hadn’t lost the contents of her stomach, but nausea still filled her.
Francesca had skipped breakfast and went to the library to read.
Her ball was later that night, and she should be resting.
Instead, she was walking in Hyde Park with Violet and Iris.
She could not take the chance anyone in her family my overhear what they discussed.
“What did the roguish duke have to say for himself?” Violet asked.
If only she’d know his moniker before she’d fallen into his arms… Francesca sighed. She wouldn’t have realized it that night regardless. He hadn’t told her his full name. She should have insisted, but she’d been too taken with him. “He denies responsibility.”
“Of course, he did,” Iris replied, disgust evident in her tone.
“He isn’t the type that would. Without telling her why I wanted to know anything about him I asked Lady Calliope Andrews.
I acted as if I might be interested in him myself.
” She shuddered a little. “Her brother is one of the duke’s closest friends. She has socialized with him often.”
“What did she have to say?” Francesca couldn’t help her curiosity.
“Not much that we do not already know.” Iris frowned. “She believes he had his heart broken once and it has soured him ever since.”
“Did he?” She nibbled on her bottom lip.
It might explain why he acted the way he did.
Still, she couldn’t let him treat her as if she were nothing.
He had no respect for her or her predicament.
She carried his child and he had been far too blasé about the situation.
Somehow, he had refrained from physically hitting him; however, she did believe she dealt a much harder blow when she dropped her family name.
“Do you know who he supposedly loved?” It did hurt a little to believe he might have had feelings for someone else.
The same sort she still had for him and he’d done his best to crush out of existence.
Iris shook her head. “No,” she said. “All she could say was she overheard a conversation between her brother, the Earl of Hampstead, and the duke. Lord Hampstead had been berating him about his broken heart, and how he let it rule his decisions.”
“How long ago was this?” Violet asked. “I have difficulty believing he has carried these feelings for years. He’s been a rogue for quite a while now. Mama keeps telling me to steer clear of him while she still carries avarice in her eyes about the very idea of having a duchess for a daughter.”
“On one hand she doesn’t want a scandal,” Iris began. “And the other is wondering if one of us could turn his gaze long enough to lure him down the aisle.” She chuckled lightly. “That’s what most of the marriage minded mama’s have on their agenda. Ours is no different.”
“Except Fran’s mother.” Violet frowned. “She never pressures you, and she might be the one to have a duchess for a daughter.”
“Mother doesn’t care for society rules.” Francesca blew out a breath. “And one day she’ll be a duchess herself. Why should she bother with pushing me toward a specific title? She would rather I found love than a title he can hold over the heads of the matriarchs.”
“That is one of the reasons I adore your mother,” Iris said.
“She has a reasonable outlook on life. I do wish our mother could follow her lead.” She nibbled on her bottom lip.
“This will be our second season, and if we don’t make a match she’ll despair.
Two unmarried daughters apparently are the cause for tremendous anxiety… at least for our mother.”
“I’d gladly give you my current dilemma in exchange. Either the duke will have to agree to marry me or I’m going to have to find a different suitor, and fast. I’m going to be ruined if I don’t find a husband.”
“Speaking of the devil…” Violet gestured toward a pair of horses that entered the promenade. One was the duke, and darn it, he looked so handsome it nearly took Francesca’s breath away.
“The gentleman with him looks familiar.” Francesca said absentmindedly. She didn’t care who the other man was because all she really saw was Matthew.
“That is the Marquess of Merrifield,” Iris told her. “He’s the one Violet has her cap set for, but he never notices her.”
“I do not,” Violet protested. Francesca glanced in her direction. Was Iris correct? Did Vi have feelings for the marquess. “He probably looks familiar because he was at the Christmas house party too. All the scandalous gentlemen were.”
“Scandalous gentlemen?” Francesca lifted a brow. “There were five, but one fell in love at the house party. He married your cousin, Adeline.”
“The Earl of Winchester?” Francesca asked. “Who are the others besides the marquess?”
“Your duke is one.” Iris grinned. “They are the unattainable gentleman. Every lady hopes to win their heart, but they have other plans, and none of them include marriage. Instead, they leave scandals in their wake.”
“Hence the nickname,” Violet said. “The other two are Viscount Goodland and Earl Hampstead. We mentioned him earlier.”
“Well, they certainly look good on their mounts,” Francesca said as she stared in their direction. “It’s a pity they’re morally corrupt.”
Matthew turned in her direction and then glanced at her.
The moment he realized she was there she should have turned and gone in the opposite direction.
She didn’t though. Francesca didn’t want to need him; however, she also realized a woman in her position couldn’t have the luxury of ignoring him.
He motioned for his horse to walk toward her, and his friend followed.
Francesca smiled. If her friend did have feelings for the marquess she hoped Violet would forgive her.
She was about to flirt outrageously with him in an attempt to make Matthew jealous.
Matthew couldn’t believe his luck. He had a marriage license secured, and now his bride-to-be was in the park.
He still had to learn some more about her, but he could visit a little with her.
It would help him to make a decision. He hadn’t yet told Merrifield he planned to marry her or that he had a special license.
He was about to tell him about his impending fatherhood, or the possibility of it when he caught sight of her.
He could tell Merrifield everything later.
“Where are we going?” Merrifield asked, surprised at their detour.
“I see a lady I must speak with,” Matthew said.
“It shouldn’t take long.” Cesca didn’t appear too pleased to see him, but he could change her mind.
Their conversation last night hadn’t ended on a pleasant note, but he’d had time to consider everything.
Matthew couldn’t let her go, and she’d know that soon enough.
He stopped when he reached Francesca and the other two ladies by her side. Matthew dismounted, the bowed. “Lady Francesca,” he greeted. “How fortuitous to find you here.”
“Is it?” she lifted a brow mocking him. “Somehow I do not find it so.”
Merrifield, who had dismounted when Matthew did, chuckled. “I do believe I like you.” He bowed. “I’m Lord Merrifield. Who might you be?”
Cesca turned toward him and tilted her lips upward into a sensuous smile that Matthew wished she had bestowed on him.
Why was she looking at Merrifield that way?
If she didn’t stop soon, he’d have to murder his friend.
“I am Lady Francesca Kendall.” She gestured toward the other two women with her.
“This is Lady Violet Keene, and her sister Lady Iris Keene. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Lord Merrifield. ”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Merrifield said in a husky tone. Matthew recognized the shift in his voice. He found Cesca attractive, and at the first opportunity he would discover why that was a bad idea. “Are you enjoying your walk in the park?”
“I am,” Cesca said, focusing all her attention on Merrifield. “Would you care to walk with me?”
The hell? “He wouldn’t,” Matthew said through gritted teeth.
He handed the reins to his horse to Merrifield and then turned back to her.
“However, I would.” He looped her arm with his and forced her to walk with him.
He left her companions and Merrifield alone.
When they were some distance away, he turned his attention to her. “What games are you trying to play?”
“I’m not the one playing,” she said. “Your friend seems nice enough and more worthy of my attention.”
Cesca was still angry with him. He would have to soothe her ruffled feathers. He’d been with plenty of angry women. She was no different. “Merrifield is a rake, and you would do well to steer clear of him.” He hadn’t meant to say that. Bloody hell. What was wrong with him?
She burst into laughter. “And how is that different than you?”
“Matty?” A female said in a throaty purr. “Is that you?”
Matthew stilled. There was only one woman that had ever called him that, and he had hoped to never see her again. Slowly he turned his gaze to meet hers. “Countess Briarton,” he said in a cool tone.
“How lovely to see you.” She turned her attention to Francesca. “And who is this? A sweetheart? I thought you no longer believed in love.” Edith Whitcomb…now the dowager countess of Briarton was as beautiful, and as poisonous as Matthew remembered.
“You do not know me and never did.” He hated her and probably always would.
He wanted to tell her that despite what she might believe he did not live his life to spite her; however, he couldn’t.
She had ruined his life and made it impossible for him to believe in love, or that a woman might be telling the truth.
It was because of her he’d been so horrid to Cesca.
He owned his actions, but he couldn’t help wondering who he’d be if not for Edith.
He didn’t introduce them. He didn’t want Edith’s poison to touch Cesca or their child.
“Now if you’ll excuse us, we were enjoying our walk. ”
“Who is she?” Cesca asked quietly.
“No one of importance,” he said quickly. “She is nothing.”
“Now who’s lying?” She shook her head. The disgust in her tone was unmistakable. “You like to claim it is me, but we both know the truth. Is she right? Are you incapable of love?”
“That is not what she said.” That evil woman was already ruining his life again. “She said she thought I no longer believed in love.”
“I see,” she said quietly. “Because you used to love her and no longer do? Or is it because she still holds a piece of your heart and you hate her for it?”
“I do not love that woman.” His tone was a bit harsh, but his feelings toward Edith were not congenial. He didn’t want Cesca to think he cared one bit for Edith. “She’s not to be trusted.”
“Like all women?” She lifted a brow. “I understand.”
Matthew didn’t think she did. She was staring at him with pity in her eyes, and he did not like it.
This walk was not supposed to go like this.
She was supposed to fall into his arms, and he could tell her they’d marry soon.
Instead, she’d paid more attention to Merrifield than him, and then Edith had to walk back into his life at the most inopportune time.
“What exactly do you think you understand?”
“She broke your heart, and you decided that you never wanted to feel that pain again.” She sounded intensely sad as she spoke.
“It led you to believe breaking mine didn’t mean anything.
She ruined a part of you, and I cannot allow you to do the same to me.
” She shook her head. “And that’s why it’s best we part now.
We will only make each other miserable, and I refuse to become bitter like you. ”
She broke free and walked back to her friends. Matthew let her because she had stunned him with her observation. Was she right? Had he broken her heart the way Edith had his? If so, how could he ever make it right with her?