Chapter 9
Nine
“My darlings, gather round!” the Dowager Duchess silenced the frenzied whispers around her. The Daily Scribe was out, and everyone read the scandalous gossip piece, but the Hunt took first place.
“Today we play a game that’s one of my own inventions called The Greystone Gallop!”
Laughter and curious murmurs rose from the assembled two dozen eligible ladies and gentlemen who were all arranged in a loose semicircle on the grass.
The dowager rang her bell for silence again.
“The rules are simple. Each lady will sit at one of these charming little tables.” She gestured to a row of wrought-iron tables draped in white linen, each set with two chairs and a small hourglass.
“A gentleman will join her. You have three minutes, exactly three, to converse. When the bell rings, the gentlemen move to the next table. However!” She paused dramatically, eyes twinkling with excitement.
“If both parties agree, the hourglass may be flipped again, extending your time as long as mutual interest persists. No pressure, of course!”
Lady Amelia clasped her hands. “Oh, what fun!”
“But three minutes is hardly enough, Mama!” Lady Ann whined to her mother who nodded vigorously.
“We must secure extensions, my dear.”
“Yes, Mama. You have to help me.”
Deena rolled her eyes.
“I intend to flip that glass with whoever amuses me most.” The Countess of Harrow butted in confidently. Her nose was in the air as the two younger women glared at her.
Deena stood apart from the little war that unfolded before her. Her arms were loosely crossed over her chest as she watched the preparations with detached amusement until Lady Amelia’s voice rose again.
“We cannot possibly begin without the Duke of Windemere,” she declared, fluttering her fan. “It would be unfair to the rest of us.”
Several other ladies murmured in agreement, causing the men to shift nervously around them. Even the quietest ladies nodded vigorously.
“Don’t you agree, Lady Deena?” Lady Ann suddenly turned towards her, her voice dripping with false sweetness.
“I agree that everyone should have a chance to participate,” Deena answered carefully.
Lady Ann and her mama eyed her suspiciously.
“Yes, yes, we’ve heard all your pretty protests,” the Dowager Duchess announced, her booming voice cutting through the chorus of feminine complaints.
She planted her cane with a decisive thump and surveyed the pouting ladies.
“We shall delay the Gallop until His Grace deigns to join us. In the meantime, gentlemen.”
She swept her fan in a grand arc towards the waiting suitors. “I suggest you rummage through your wits for something clever to say. It appears the Duke of Windemere is presently charming the ladies at this Hunt despite his latest scandal.”
A ripple of laughter and mock groans followed. Lady Amelia fluttered her lashes in exaggerated despair, while Lady Ann’s mother whispered urgently to her to stay away from such men. But Lady Ann pouted in protest.
Deena felt a sharp, unexpected pang of jealousy in her chest. Her hand rose unconsciously to her lips, fingertips brushing the spot where, last night in the meadow, Austin’s mouth had claimed hers with devastating thoroughness.
She could still feel the warmth, the pressure, the way he’d angled her head to deepen the kiss until her knees weakened.
She dropped her hand quickly, shocked at herself.
Jealous? Over Austin? He is London’s most notorious rake!
And the man she was meant to help marry, which did not seem doable thus far.
Deena was grateful when she spotted Selina suddenly appearing from the crowd with Mary, sleeping peacefully and balanced on her nurserymaid’s hip, and Percy wide awake and grinning at his governess’s side.
“Aunt Dee!” Percy ran and flung all his little weight into Deena’s waiting, open arms.
“My handsome nephew, how I missed you so dearly!”
Percy giggled. “But I saw you yesterday, Aunt Dee. How could you miss me already?”
“I miss you the second you and your sister leave!” She smothered him in kisses as he squealed in delight.
“You look flushed, Deena. Is everything all right?” Selina looked at her, concern etched in her brow.
Deena forced a smile as she picked up her nephew with a loud huff. “Everything is perfectly fine. It must be the sun… I haven’t spent much time outdoors in Paris.”
Selina nodded and placed her free hand gently on Deena’s shoulder. “I couldn’t help but notice that the Duke of Windemere has been around you a lot.”
“He has?” Deena struggled to listen to Selina as Percy wriggled in her arms.
“Yes. I just wanted to make sure that he’s treating you well?”
Her cheeks warmed further, both from her sister-in-law’s concern and the fact that it was noticeable that Austin had been with her too often.
“Oh, there’s nothing to worry about. I have known Austin from an early age, as you probably know. He won’t hurt me, and he’s been… helpful.”
“No one can hurt Aunt Dee! I will fight them with my sword and horse!” Percy declared.
“My knight in shiny armor.” She laughed and rubbed her nose against his, causing him to giggle again.
“Yes, well, he seems like he’s being very helpful,” Selina repeated, amused.
Deena glanced sharply at her sister-in-law. “Why do I hear a hint of sarcasm in your tone?”
“It’s just that…”
“Go on?”
“His presence is chasing away all your potential suitors, and have you seen The Daily Scribe today?” Selina hissed under breath.
“I’m aware of that,” Deena said, perhaps too quickly.
Selina studied her. “Deena, if you truly have no intention of marrying, then what are you doing at Grandmother’s matchmaking extravaganza?”
Deena opened her mouth and closed it.
“Aunt Dee is getting married?” Percy yelled, causing a few heads to turn.
“Hush, Percy!” Selina scolded him softly.
“Aunt Dee, don’t get married and leave us.” Percy looked up at her with the cutest pout and softest eyes.
Oh, to be loved by a child.
“Don’t worry, Percy.” She turned to Selina. “I came for Grandmother, Dominic, you, Mary, and Percy.” She held her nephew tightly. It was getting easier for her to lie to her loved ones, and she hated it. “My little troublemaker.”
He placed his tiny head on her shoulder, content with her answer.
Selina sighed, finally resigning to the topic and said, “If you say so, Deena. But there are quite a few eligible bachelors attending this year’s Hunt. The Duke of Windemere, being one of them.” She winked, and Deena felt that dreadful blush creep up on her again.
“Aunt Dee! Will you play the game with me?” Percy interrupted them again.
“It’s for grown-ups, scamp.” She kissed his forehead, grateful for the distraction from his mother’s scrutiny. “But I’ll race you to the stables later.”
“You promise?” he asked sadly.
“I promise with all my heart.”
Selina watched them fondly. “You’re wonderful with him.”
“He’s easy to love.”
Mary awoke from her slumber and reached for her mother’s hair. “Pwetty curls!”
Selina laughed, letting the toddler tangle her fingers. “Well, good morning to you and thank you, sweetheart.”
“Here comes, Grandmother,” Deena warned Selina as the dowager sashayed to them.
“My darling family, I adore you all, truly. But Selina, my love, your nurserymaid and governess must take my beautiful great-grandchildren and go elsewhere. This lawn is for singles seeking the same joy you and Dominic have found, and children are a great distraction to my ladies. Off with you!”
Selina sighed dramatically. “Banished by their own great-grandmother.”
“I banish them with love, dear.” The Dowager placed dramatic kisses on their cheeks as she walked away with purpose.
Selina and Deena said their goodbyes reluctantly to the children. As the nurserymaid took them away, Dominic appeared at Selina’s side, his broad grin lit up as he kissed his wife on her forehead. Deena looked away, unknowingly searching the crowd.
“Is everything all right, Dee?” She turned back to find him looking at her concernedly.
Deena smiled weakly at him; she was afraid that he would notice that something was wrong. “You and your wife have to cease worrying over me.”
“We can’t help ourselves; we care about you.” Selina smiled kindly at her.
“What have you been up to during the Hunt?”
Deena knew that her brother was curious about her presence there and hopeful that she would find a husband.
“I have just been observing Grandmother’s latest chaos.” She motioned to the crowd.
He chuckled, glancing towards the circle of fluttering ladies. “The Gallop? Poor souls. They’ll be exhausted by luncheon.”
Deena couldn’t help it; her gaze drifted past Dominic’s shoulder, scanning the lawn for a tall, dark-haired figure in a perfectly tailored coat. But Austin was nowhere in sight.
Selina noticed, of course. Her brow arched, amusement flickering. “Looking for someone in particular?”
Deena blushed. “No. Just… taking in the scenery.”
“Mm.” Her tone was knowing, but mercifully, she let it drop.
“We best be off. Come find us later, Dee. I heard whispers that there would be strawberry tarts.” Deena smiled when she realized that the cook was making her and Dominic’s favorite dessert.
“We will be lucky to get a crumb after the Gallop,” she said wryly.
Dominic laughed. “You forget that I am not partaking.” He and Selina began to walk away from her, and she instantly felt a sense of dread settle around her.
She did not want to be alone, but she would never tell them that.
“Don’t worry, Deena. I will make sure to save you some!” Selina called out and waved at her.
Deena waved back, chest aching with affection. The crowd swallowed them up, leaving Deena with the lingering echo of Dominic’s questions.
As she stood alone, a stir ran through the ladies.
“He’s here!” Lady Amelia whispered loudly.
Deena looked around and found Austin striding in leisurely across the lawn, coat unbuttoned, cravat slightly loosened, looking unfairly handsome in the morning light. His gaze swept the group and landed on Deena. She held his gaze and tried not to swoon like the other young ladies.
Lady Amelia fluttered forward, blocking Deena’s view of him. “We’ve been waiting for you, Your Grace.”
Austin’s mouth curved in that devastating half-smile, but his eyes stayed on Deena a fraction longer than necessary. All around him, the whispers began, but he seemed unfazed by it, and she envied his confidence.
The dowager rang her bell triumphantly. “Excellent! Everyone is here.” She glared at Austin, who, in return, smiled dashingly. Her Grandmother sighed before her announcement.
“Let the Greystone Gallop commence!”
Austin grinned as a handful of ladies followed him; his gaze flickered towards Deena momentarily. The crowd parted them, but with just a look, she felt the phantom warmth of his kiss flaring anew. Whatever game they were playing now, she feared she was already losing.