Chapter 5 #2
“The Dowager Duchess is my mother. Did you not think she would put me through the same lessons she is now insisting you endure?”
“I thought you would have been excused from learning the dances.” Isabelle wished she had been granted such a reprieve.
She kept her gaze at the corner of the duke’s mouth, not wanting to look him in the eyes. If she did and found him staring back at her, she was certain her heart would leap from her chest.
“I am a duke. According to my mother it is my duty and my birthright to dance with every eligible young woman at a ball. And if I am to do so, I must be more skilled at dancing than the rest of the men in attendance.”
“And you did not think to tell me that before you made the wager?” Isabelle asked, her tone sharp as he spun her once more before dipping her low.
Her heart hammered like a herd of runaway horses and she prayed that he was unable to feel the sweat that beaded on her palms. Making a fool of herself in front of the duke had been embarrassing enough for one day.
Isabelle’s gaze connected with his as he pulled her slowly back to him. The duke’s eyes flickered to her mouth for a moment before the book slipped from his head and tumbled to the ground.
Though she reached for the book, he was the first to get there. “Miss Alden, your dancing might be horrid, but you do look radiant in the light shining upon you right now.”
As he stood, she took the book from him and shook her head. “Flattery will not make me forget that you are a cheat, Your Grace.”
He laughed, sending her stomach into a flurry of flutters. “If that is true, then I shall have to find another way to win your forgiveness. Although, flattery has worked before.”
“On women who fall for that sort of thing, perhaps.”
“Cornflower blue is beautiful on you, but it does not match the color of your eyes.” He stepped closer to her, his finger skimming beneath the sleeve of her dress. “However, it does bring out the golden tones in your skin.”
“Perhaps you should paint a portrait if you like to study my dress so closely.”
“Make me another wager. If you win, I shall.”
“And how would I know that you would not take advantage of my ignorance regarding your life.”
“You wouldn’t.” She placed the book back on the shelf on the other side of the room. “I should think that a gentleman would tell a lady if he was to take advantage of her during a wager. Even if he does consider her to be an angry old goose.”
His laughter filled the room. “I shall never hear the end of the goose, will I?”
“Perhaps not. Now, please allow us to endure this afternoon’s promenade so that I may return to the pond with the other geese.”
Heaven help the man who decides to make Miss Alden his wife.
Matchmaking would be a disaster of epic proportions, yet it was infinitely more entertaining than he had suspected it would be. Watching Miss Alden tolerate Lord Townshend was ample amusement for the afternoon, especially after besting her at their wager.
Edith slipped her hand into the crook of Felix’s arm. “The two make quite a handsome pair, do you think?”
Felix eyed Lord Townshend as he offered his arm to Miss Alden. “He is a good enough man in his own office and those in Parliament favor him, but I have spent little time in his company otherwise.”
“You are not the one who must marry him.” Edith kept her head high as they followed a few steps behind Lord Townshend and Miss Alden. “If she is satisfied with him and does not cause problems, it will be a far better match than I hoped to secure for her.”
“And still we cannot be sure if it is the right match. “
Edith sighed. “I know. She possesses a bright personality and though it vexes me at times, I would hate to see her with a man who would wish to dull the light that shines from her.”
Felix tilted his head to listen as Lord Townshend gave another cold grunt.
However, Miss Alden was not one to be deterred. Felix saw the stubborn set of her jaw and knew that she was determined to win over the young lord.
“It is a beautiful day, my Lord,” Miss Alden said, her voice bright and cheerful. “You have offices close by, do you not? Ones that overlook the lake I have heard?”
“I do.” Lord Townshend cleared his throat and looked away from her at one of the passing women.
“I think I should very much like to see them, if we have the time to permit a small adventure beyond the park.”
Felix had half a mind to tear Miss Alden away from the lord and allow her to spend the rest of the day in the library as she had preferred.
Edith pressed her lips together. “I do not believe Lord Townshend is the man Miss Alden should marry. I have never seen a suitor show such little interest in a woman he was taking on a promenade.”
Lord Townshend looked down at her. “My office handles matters outside of your understanding.”
Felix glowered at the man’s back as Edith stiffened beside him. She hurried to get closer, her skirts swishing and her expression murderous.
While his mother was always the picture of propriety, there was a protective streak in her that was as fierce as an angry bear. Miss Alden was her charge, and Felix knew that his mother would allow no one to show her disrespect.
Miss Alden stood taller. “I would think that if you were to explain it, I would have very little problem understanding.”
“I should think that you would be more satisfied to be at home with the children when we are married. I do not want a wife who inserts herself into my business.” Lord Townshend didn’t look down at her once as he spoke.
“You would think that, would you not?” Miss Alden said. Her tone was as sweet as honey, though the look she gave him was anything but.
He nodded. “We shall be married within a fortnight. I will procure a special license. There will be no need for you to travel to London as there is far too much excitement there for a lady.”
“Windham, you must stop this at once,” Edith pleaded. “This is the worst man I have ever had the displeasure of listening to! We are not more than a half-day’s ride from London at most and he speaks to her as if she is nothing but a piece of furniture.”
“Miss Alden is more than capable of putting the lord in his place,” Felix said through gritted teeth.
He would enjoy the dressing down Miss Alden gave the lord when she grew tired of tolerating him.
However, that moment was yet to arrive. It seemed as if Miss Alden was determined to uphold her end of the wager, even to her own detriment.
Edith gripped Felix’s arm tighter. “If you do not stop this at once, she will be avoidant of all Englishmen, and you will never be able to find her a husband. Think of what the other members of the ton will say. They will judge you for allowing her to fall into his clutches.”
“Mother, she is a capable young woman, and she will be the first to tell Lord Townshend that he is overstepping.”
Despite his words Felix was still annoyed with the young lord. At first he had thought that his cold and standoffish nature would allow Miss Alden to live as she pleased if they were wed, but now the opposite was becoming quite evident.
Lord Townshend seemed to have a plethora of thoughts about their future and not once had Miss Alden agreed to them.
Felix turned to his mother, prepared to debate the merits of allowing Miss Alden to handle the situation on her own in comparison to how she would react if he stepped in.
Though he knew it was his duty, he was hoping for a public dressing down for the lord. It would be quite a spectacle.
But it would ruin the imp’s chances at a good match on the marriage market.
Felix removed his arm from Edith’s grip. “I will handle this matter, Mother.”
“Unhand me you wench!” a man shouted, his voice booming through the park.
Please let it not be Miss Alden of whom he is speaking.