Chapter 3
Chapter Three
It was hard to pinpoint the exact moment that the Duke realized that he did, in fact, know who the young woman in front of him was.
As if his was a face that she would ever be able to forget.
The years might have physically changed them both, but in his eyes, there was still the same boy that she had grown up with. Though, it was a pity that the years seemed to have smothered that youthful side of him so deeply under the arrogance that came with the title of duke.
Disappointing and typical.
Though, seeing him now and how the years had improved his handsome qualities, she supposed that she could somewhat understand why he was able to establish himself so widely even though he had spent so much time abroad.
For her godmother’s sake, Lavinia hid her smirk behind her teacup as she took her next sip.
“I am very pleased that the pair of you were able to get reacquainted with one another. It saves me the trouble of having to do it all myself,” Godmother continued.
“David, I have invited my goddaughter, Lavinia, here in order to help get her ready for the upcoming season where I am going to be her sponsor.”
“Ah, I see. Very good,” the Duke answered.
Lavinia chose not to comment on the fact that he could not have seemed less interested if he had tried.
“I am determined to make her into the Diamond of the Season,” Godmother said confidently, as if she had not just told them the most shocking news.
Lavina’s head whipped around, her tea nearly sloshing out of her hand as she tried to fathom what it was that she had just heard. “The… Diamond, Godmother?”
Surely not. She was reluctant about this whole entire thing in the first place. She certainly did not wish to have the pressure of having to become the Diamond as well!
Never mind the fact that she had seen the Diamonds of years past, and she was nothing like them. She did not even want to be married in the first place, let alone have to endure all of this!
“Oh, fret not. I have absolute faith in you. You shall be the Diamond with my coaching; do not even worry about the details. By the time that I am finished with you, you shall be the perfect example of a consummate lady,” Godmother mused as she calmly sipped at her tea.
Worry did not even begin to cover what she truly felt about all of this.
Nervous was an understatement. She felt as if her godmother had perhaps tricked her a little bit.
How could she confront her with company here either?
Had she waited to tell her about this until they had an audience for this exact reason?
“In fact, David, it is truly fortunate that you have come to visit me just now. Fortuitous even, given that I was looking for a dance partner for my goddaughter. Now that you have arrived, my problem has been solved!”
Lavinia set her teacup down a little too roughly as she stared at her godmother.
“I do not need a dance partner, Godmother; I can manage just fine on my own.” She spoke too quickly and knew that she likely came off as rambling and nervous, but she just could not help herself.
“I certainly do not need help from… His Grace.”
She chanced a glance over in his direction, unsurprised that he looked just as surprised as she did over this whole thing.
“Then the matter is settled then, hm? It is obvious that Miss Gillies does not want help,” the Duke answered with evident relief, nodding once and then helping himself to a biscuit. Though, he seemed to only want to push it around on his plate rather than actually have any interest in eating it.
“That is absolutely correct. Godmother, while I thank you for all that you have done for me, I do not think that I need help in preparing for the season. Least of all from a man with such a… reputation.”
Lavinia could only control her face so much. Less so when she needed to also be sure to keep her voice measured and even. While her words were an insult, she knew, they were not much of one, she figured. So long as her face was kept in control.
Though, for the first time since he had sat down with them, the Duke looked at her, almost asking her to explain what she meant from the look that he was giving her.
“Splendid, because I have no desire to help someone who does not wish to be helped,” the Duke retorted. “That is the worst of all fruitless endeavors and despite what you, Miss Gillies, think, a man of my reputation has no time for such frivolous tasks.”
“You of all people should know about fruitless endeavors, Your Grace,” she replied although she knew that she was playing a dangerous game. It was one thing to poke the bear, but it was a whole different matter to enter his cave and attack him with a fiery stick, hoping to leave unscathed.
Still, she could not resist. He was just like the other men. Perhaps worse.
“I suppose it is not so much a reluctance as it is a certain doubt in your capabilities, Your Grace,” Lavinia said a touch too sweetly.
“My capabilities?” He frowned. “I assure you, I am perfectly capable of doing something as silly as dancing.”
Lavinia gestured toward the Duke with one hand as if to say see? “Why should I need to spend my time with a man who regards the necessary things as silly?”
“When one’s partner does not seem to take even her manners seriously, why should I presume that she takes anything else seriously either?” the Duke retorted.
Lavinia scoffed, leaning back in her chair and crossing her ankles over one another at the same time as she crossed her arms, as if she was openly mocking him with her dismissive attitude.
“It is not the season that I am unable to take seriously, Your Grace. It is you.” She leaned forward to address her godmother directly.
“I understand that you are concerned about my reputation, but I do not see how you can possibly think that associating myself with a known rake is going to do anything but harm my already… less than positive reputation.”
“Well, that settles it!” the Duke clapped his hands just once, signaling that he was on the verge of ending this conversation, and Lavinia was more than happy to oblige, but her godmother would not have it.
“That is enough! From both of you!” Lady Verimore interjected. The tone of her voice and the look on her face left absolutely no room for argument. “Stop thinking about whatever petty squabble this is. Neither one of you has any claim to a spotless reputation, and I want you both to remember that.”
She had a point, but Lavinia was not going to be the one to agree with her.
“Lavinia, be reasonable. I taught you better than to sit here and pretend that you do not know that being associated with one of the most eligible dukes in all of London would not do wonders for your status,” Godmother said with reproach.
Lavinia got the very distinct impression that she was being spoken to the same way that her godmother would speak to a petulant child. As much as she hated to admit that her godmother was right, she knew that she was.
If, that is, she had any interest in finding a husband.
This whole thing was just a waste of everybody’s time. But that had not gone over very well the last time that she had tried to explain it. Her godmother was not the sort of woman that took no for an answer very easily.
“So, then… are you going to sit there and tell me that you will refuse the dance partner that I have found for you?” Lady Verimore started.
“Well, actually, I—”
“You would truly have my husband be forced to act in the Duke’s stead? His poor, aging hips… why, he is sixty, you know?” Godmother continued, knowing exactly which card to play.
Lavinia bit down on her bottom lip. There was absolutely nothing that she could say to that.
She certainly would never put her godfather into a position like that.
The last thing that she wanted was to appear ungrateful or to put him into a position where he might slip or be injured in some other way.
“Now, the only response that I am really looking for here is that you are both willing to start playing nice so that we can accomplish this goal together.” Godmother lifted a single brow, glaring at the both of them over the brim of her half full teacup.
It seemed that they were both going to have to do exactly that… at least, for the time being.