Chapter 4 #2
Leaning forward, Hugo took hold of Harriet’s hand and offered an encouraging smile.
“Then, it is fortunate that I am here for as long as I am, for I can tell you everything that you might have missed.” He paused for dramatic effect.
“So, Joan is my dear friend Laurence’s wife; they were married just a few months ago.
Victoria is Joan’s younger sister, and she is firm friends with our dear Octavia.
Your father was invited to the wedding, and I am certain you would have been welcome, but he declined to attend. ”
What did you say that for? Dominic shot his cousin a dark look. The relationship between father and daughter was fragile enough, an amalgamation of slowly healing scars, without Hugo tapping new cracks into it.
“I am certain they would not hesitate to take you under their wing,” Hugo continued with a grin. “I can introduce you when the pigs in your father’s fields begin to fly and he finally takes you to London.”
Rather than grouse or grumble, or flash one of her very best scowls at Dominic, Harriet wriggled with sudden excitement. “Actually, that is why Frances is here.”
“Ah, so we have a name.” Hugo sat back in his chair, staring at Frances with an intensity that made Dominic’s hackles rise.
She is here to work, not to find herself a duke. He held his tongue and focused on his coffee, the taste bitter on his tongue.
“This is my society tutor, Lady Frances Whitlock,” Harriet replied eagerly. “This morning, I am learning how to eat eggs politely, though I maintain that no one will see me eat breakfast until I am already married, and it is too late for judgment.”
Frances covered her mouth as a soft chuckle escaped her throat. “Lady Harriet, it is a lesson in eating politely. It is not about the eggs. At luncheon, however, it will be about soup. A single slurp and you will never be invited to another dinner party again.”
“Lady Frances?” Hugo’s eyebrow rose up. “To whom do you belong?”
Dominic allowed himself a glance at her, curious to see how she would fare against such a question. The woman last night would have had fire in her eyes and a bite in her voice, but this morning’s Frances seemed altogether quieter, more withdrawn. At least since the gentlemen had entered.
“To what fine family, I mean?” Hugo added, as if realizing his question might have been too blunt.
“I would answer,” Frances said calmly, “but I am afraid I do not know you. As we have not been introduced, I should not be speaking to you at all.” She cast a pointed glance at Harriet.
“Another lesson for you. You must not speak to any gentleman without a proper introduction, which should be mediated by your father, your chaperone, or a Master of Ceremonies.”
Putting the edge of his cup to his lips to hide a smirk, Dominic sipped. Hugo was not accustomed to ladies not falling at his feet, instantly charmed, and Dominic was rather pleased to discover that Frances appeared to be immune to the man’s charisma.
Harriet nodded, a serious expression upon her face. “I shall remember that.”
“My apologies,” Hugo interjected, amusement in his eyes. “I am Hugo St. Vincent, the Duke of Ravenvale. Cousin to Dominic here. Sorry, cousin to the Duke of Alderwick and first cousin once removed to Lady Harriet, though she calls me ‘Uncle’.”
With a tilt of her head and a serene sip of her tea, Frances took her time to respond. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Grace.” She paused. “I am Lady Frances Whitlock, eldest daughter to the Earl of Highbridge. However, as I mentioned, I belong to no one.”
Rich laughter spilled from Hugo’s throat. “I did not mean to offend, Lady Frances.” He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “But tell me for I have to know, what is a lady of the ton doing here, playing governess to my cousin’s daughter?”
“That is none of your business, Uncle,” Harriet leaped in defensively. “You should not ask her that.”
Hugo nodded, a sly glint in his eyes. “Ah, so she is running from something? I confess, I have not had an opportunity to read the most recent scandal sheets. Might I find your name there, Lady Frances?”
As he sipped his coffee, Dominic noticed Frances’ hand tighten around her cup, a faint dusting of red coloring her cheeks. A muscle twitched in her jaw, her expression frozen with thinly veiled irritation, to the point where he could almost see her teeth clenching beneath.
He has gone too far… as always.
“Uncle, stop it!” Harriet snapped before Dominic could say a word. “Frances is my guest and my teacher, and she is doing more for me than anyone else has, so you will not make her feel bad!”
“You give away too much, Harriet,” Hugo replied, a pleased grin upon his face.
“I cannot make her feel bad if she has not done something bad. Besides, you can hardly blame me for being curious; I cannot recall the last time there was someone new in this house. What did you do, Lady Frances? A family quarrel? A courtship gone awry? A delicious scandal?”
He rubbed his hands together like some sort of insect, relishing in Frances’ discomfort as if it were entertainment.
All of a sudden, Dominic could not stomach it anymore. “She is here at my request, and that is all you need to know, cousin.” He shot sharply to his feet. “I have no appetite for breakfast, and we are interrupting my daughter’s lesson. We can have a late breakfast after we ride.”
He walked to the door and looked back expectantly. With a groan and a mumbled apology of, “Truly, I meant no offense,” Hugo lurched out of his chair and wandered straight out into the hallway.
Dominic was about to follow without delay, when he caught sight of those summer green eyes staring right at him.
He frowned, puzzled by Frances’ mercurial nature, but he could not ignore the small dip of her head nor the grateful smile upon those raspberry-pink lips: a thank you, for ending her discomfort before the truth could be revealed.
I did not do it for you, he wanted to tell her but, in truth, he did not know why he had. The only thing he could conclude as he turned and left was that he did it to set an example for his daughter, to teach her that even when visitors were unwelcome, they deserved a certain level of respect.
But as he stepped out into the mild morning air, annoyance prickled in his veins, so strong that he nearly marched right back to the breakfast room to adjust his response. Despite everything he had said last night, he had protected her after all.