Chapter Three
There were two other young ladies, sisters, and two other gentlemen who were introduced.
One was an earl, and one untitled. The sisters were both ladies, and yet the one who had caught his eye was Miss Trowbridge.
Not because he was thinking of marriage, by any means.
But it was rather enjoyable to have made her blush so thoroughly from a simple smile.
It made him wonder what he could do with the touch of a gloved hand, or a kiss to bare skin, or…
Well, that wasn’t really an appropriate thought for such company.
“We’ll have a ball on the final night. I’ve invited some local people too, so it will be a larger event.
And between now and then we have plenty planned to entertain you.
Picnics, hunting, painting for the ladies.
An evening of music, some excellent dinners, if I do say so myself.
I have brought my whole staff with me, so you can rest assured that the food will be up to standard. ”
Freddie wondered if the house was normally occupied, and whether there were staff who usually worked there but who had been sent away.
“I should like to see the beach, if there’s time,” Freddie said when the duchess paused for breath. He did not tell her that he rather wished to swim in the sea, for he did not quite think she would find it a suitable activity.
She smiled and fluttered her fan before her face.
“Of course, Duke. It is only a short walk down the cliff path, although I must admit the steps are a little steep for me now. But there is a beautiful cove, and the hill above it provides wonderful vistas for painting, ladies, if you are so inclined.”
“Excellent,” Freddie said. “I think I will venture down there tomorrow then.”
“Of course. As long as you are back for dinner,” the duchess said with a glint in her eye. “My daughter and her husband, Lord Bradford, are coming—and she would certainly be disappointed not to meet you, I’m sure.”
It was no secret that the duchess had hoped for her daughter to marry a duke, but she had instead run off with Lord Bradford, a far more minor member of the nobility, with whom she had apparently fallen in love.
There were rumors that the reason the Duchess of Tewkesbury enjoyed matchmaking so much was because she had not managed to produce a son to inherit the dukedom, and so instead focused on ensuring that others did not end up unwed, and risk the same fate for their title.
Freddie was only thirty. Of course, he would marry and hopefully produce sons in the future. But he did not see that there was any rush. Besides, he had a perfectly fine younger brother who could take on the title if the need arose.
The Duke of Tewkesbury, unfortunately, did not. He was rather reclusive compared to his socialite wife, and Freddie had only met him once or twice.
“Of course, I would never be rude enough to miss dinner. You have afforded us such a beautiful location, Duchess. I cannot resist walking on the sands, seeing the ocean.”
“Of course, of course. And if anyone else wishes to walk down, then please feel free. Matthews can point you in the right direction. Just be careful—I’ve heard that when the weather changes, the waves can get rather vicious. I wouldn’t want anyone coming to any harm.”
“Do you like the seaside, Miss Trowbridge?” Freddie asked the young lady to his left, who was drinking her tea very intently, as though it required much focus.
Her eyes widened, as though she was shocked to be spoken to, and then she nodded.
“My daughter has not had much occasion to visit the seaside, unfortunately. When in the country, my husband’s home is one of the furthest points from the sea.
Although, seeing how beautiful it is now, I regret not journeying this far south before.
” Mrs. Trowbridge spoke eloquently, and it was not that her words were uninteresting—it was just that he had been more interested to speak with Miss Trowbridge than with her mother.
“I haven’t been to this part of the country in years,” he said with a laugh. “Not since I was a boy. It is beautiful.”
“How clever of you to choose it for a house party, Your Grace,” one of the sisters said.
He could not remember which was Lady Alice and which was Lady Phoebe, but both seemed equally keen to ingratiate themselves with the duchess.
Perhaps they thought she would find them a husband.
She had certainly done so before—although he rather thought it had been in situations where the young lady had not sought out such help, rather than with a willing participant.
*
“The duke seems nice,” Mama said as they prepared for dinner in Elizabeth’s bedchamber, her mother having joined her so that they could share the maid they had brought and discuss the party.
“Does he?” Elizabeth said with a squeak, not wanting to admit that she had certainly noticed how handsome he was.
“You should practice speaking to him. He seems chatty, and kind. And you’ll be seeing a lot of him this week—so you’ll hopefully build up enough confidence not to be so silent in his presence.”
Elizabeth exhaled sharply. “I am not sure there is any point in me practicing conversation with the duke, Mama. Papa may have been the second son of a viscount, but I’m certainly not going to end up as a duchess.”
Mama sighed. “I wasn’t suggesting you marry him, dear. Although he certainly is handsome,” she said with a giggle. “But he is the most conversational man here. So if you are going to build up your confidence, he seems like the right choice.”