2. Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Norfolk, England - September 1813
“A nd who are you staring at?” Lily asked, tugging Rosina’s attention away from the man who had entered the salon. She and her friend were guests at a country house party hosted by Lord and Lady Ockham. Ry had been friends with Lord Ockham and a few of the other gentlemen in attendance when they were at Eton, and he had visited her after Ry’s passing to pay his respects.
The party had around thirty guests, all members of the ton. Their hosts went all out since they missed the events of the London season because of the birth of their first child. House parties proved to create many opportunities to indulge in carnal pursuits if one navigated them properly, and finding a gentleman to bring to her bed was an option she would consider as part of the activities for the fortnight they were in attendance.
“That is the Duke of St. Albans,” Rosina replied. The man was devastatingly handsome with his dark, almost black hair and broad-shouldered, taut form.
“You seem taken with him,” Lily said, giving her a knowing look.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. At least not for anything beyond how he might perform in the bedchamber. It had been almost three years since Ry had passed, and she still didn’t believe she could ever allow herself to care for another man in the way she had for her husband. After two years had passed, she’d desired the physical aspects of being with a man, and she’d felt so guilty that she locked herself in her chamber for two weeks.
After replaying some of her last conversations with Ry, she convinced herself she could do so and keep feelings out of it. Men did so all the time, so surely she could as well. The first time had been awkward, and she went home and cried herself to sleep. But she had also felt something again, something besides grief, even if only for a little while, and decided she would entertain the gentleman again.
The man decided he wanted to marry her after they had several trysts, and when she refused him, he spread it around that she was an easy mark for the men of the ton. It damaged her reputation in some circles, but she still had her close friends, and after a break from the company of gentlemen while the gossip ran its course, she pursued another partner.
In reality, she had only had a few partners, regardless of what some sets in society believed. She never intended to marry again, so if the reputation kept marriage-minded men away, she would be all the better for it.
“This is his first event in society,” Rosina said, “other than casual appearances, where his attendance was required. He would make an intriguing friend.”
“Intriguing, indeed.”
Rosina jerked her head towards her friend, planning to say something smart, but their hostess approached.
“Are you both having a good time so far? Dinner should be announced soon,” Lady Ockham said.
“We are, my lady,” Rosina said. “Lily and I hoped you might introduce us to Lord Knox. We aren’t certain who he is.”
Their hostess nodded in understanding. “I believe I heard something about him courting Lady Lily,” she said, giving Lily a kind smile.
“At least that is what my father’s intentions are,” Lily replied, the irritation evident in her tone. Rosina’s friend had been considered a wallflower when she made her come out earlier in the season, and her father had taken matters into his own hands in his mission to see her wed to a titled peer.
“Well, come with me,” Lady Ockham said. “I think I see him among some of the other guests. You probably couldn’t see him from here.”
The ladies followed their hostess, moving through a group of guests until they reached a gentleman standing near the sideboard.
“Lord Knox,” their hostess started, “Please allow me to introduce Lady Lily and Lady Preston.”
“My ladies,” he said, bowing to them. “Pleased to meet you both.”
The man took Lily’s hand in his. “I hope you might allow me to spend some time in your presence over the next fortnight.”
“We shall let you two get acquainted,” Lady Ockham said, looping her arm in Rosina’s. “Perhaps we will see a betrothal by the end of the house party,” she continued, leaning close so only Rosina could hear her. “It’s the hope of any hostess and just might make up for missing the season.”
“I hope you get your wish,” Rosina said, becoming more aware that they were approaching the same group as the Duke of St. Albans.
“Your Grace, my lords,” Lady Ockham started, “have you all met Lady Preston?”
She was already acquainted with Lord Onslow and Lord Camden, so they just gave her a quick bow.
“I don’t believe we have been introduced, my lady,” the duke said. His voice did things to her. It was deeper than she had expected, especially given that he was around her age.
“Lady Preston, meet His Grace, the Duke of St. Alban’s,” Lady Ockham said.
He took her hand in his, and he stirred something in her insides. She brushed off the reaction as purely physical as it would appear by the look of him that he would indeed suit her tastes. His tall, taut form was enough to make any woman swoon, aside from her. She would never swoon. “Pleased to meet you, my lady.”
She didn’t have a doubt in her mind he was likely the one she would select to enjoy the fortnight with, if he were amenable, and as long as he didn’t do something idiotic like tell her he was looking for his perfect duchess or some other nonsense.
“You as well, Your Grace. It is good to have you join us.”
She glanced to each side and noticed that the rest of the group had left them alone, moving on to other conversations.
“I only hope my manners are passable, given that I have spent little time out in society.”
She grinned at him. “Well, even if they aren’t, no one shall correct you. Given that you are a duke.”
He shrugged, with every bit of the haughty air that one would expect from a duke. “Then can I count on you to tell me so?”
She gave him an overdramatic fake curtsy. “If that is what my duke commands.”
He stiffened his shoulders and took an even stuffier stance than before. “It is.” Then he flashed her a wide grin.
The man was too handsome for his own good. Up close, she could tell his dark hair was certain to be silky to the touch. He caught her gaze, and his piercing light blue eyes were even more intense set against his dark, chiseled features. He was all hard lines, and the shadows from the candlelit room made him appear almost dangerous, even though she already knew better from their brief banter.
His finely tailored evening kit left little to the imagination regarding how rippled his muscles might be beneath his clothing. He wasn’t one of the gentlemen who had to add padding to his garments to fill out his breeches and coats.
The Duke of St. Albans was everything she wanted in a short-term bed partner, as long as he wasn’t in attendance to take a bride. Hopefully, since he was a tad on the young side to consider marriage, luck would be on her side.
“What made you decide to join us for the coming fortnight, Your Grace? It hasn’t gone unnoticed that you haven’t attended many society events and have never attended a season.”
He raised his chin, and the intensity of his gaze caused heat to pool between her thighs. He was going to drive her to distraction, to be certain.
“I came here to meet you, my lady.”
She choked on nothing but air. Once she recovered, she replied, “Excuse me. What did you just say?”
He took a step closer so there was only a matter of inches between their bodies. “I believe our interests may align if what I have heard about you is true.”
It occurred to her that she should be offended, but from the way he looked at her, she couldn’t help but be more than a bit intrigued. “And what interests might those be?”
“The pleasurable kind,” he said, lowering his voice and clasping his hands behind his back.
Her thighs were damp, and she could already imagine what he would look like naked in her bed. “I guess we shall see if you meet my requirements.”
“And what are those?”
Dinner was announced, and she shifted her attention to the rest of the room. She was almost certain that if anyone noticed her talking to the duke, that they would assume they would be friendly while at the house party. She laughed to herself because they may very well be correct in their assumption.
“My lady?” He extended his arm to her to escort her to dinner.
She clasped it and the feel of his bicep confirmed her assumptions about what he might look like without all the layers of clothing that separated her from her prize.
“Are you going to answer my question?” he asked, leaning towards her, his hot breath warming the top of her ear.
“In due time, Your Grace.” She glanced up at him and smirked. She may want to explore such an arrangement with him, but she couldn’t make it easy for the man. Even a duke must work for things now and then.