Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Afine evening,” Hugo declared, with a firm clap to Dominic’s arm. “Truly, one of the most entertaining evenings I have enjoyed in a long while.”
Dominic clapped his cousin’s back in return, the man jolting a half step forward. “I am pleased it was a success for Harriet.”
“You are?” Hugo rubbed his shoulder. “I thought you were averse to all of this society madness? I thought you could not have cared less if she ever entered society, content for her to remain a spinster?”
“Better a spinster than a wife in an unfortunate marriage,” Dominic replied, for his opinion on that had not changed.
If Harriet was to marry one day, he wanted her to marry someone worthy, someone who would take care of her, someone who would cherish her and love her. That was what worried him about her entrance into society, that she might not choose well.
Hugo shrugged. “That is what you are for, to ensure she does not end up in such a situation.” He looked back over his shoulder as if looking for something. “Lady Frances is interesting, is she not?”
“Are you not supposed to be halfway to Bath by now?” Dominic retorted. “You are dallying.”
“I am merely saying… she is a fascinating woman. With a mind like hers, one could host the most talked-about events of the Season; the kind that the ton would give their best jewels to attend,” Hugo said. “It does not hurt that she really is incredibly beautiful.”
Dominic bristled, uncertain of his cousin’s intent. Was Hugo saying this for his own benefit, making a vague declaration of his own interest? Or was it just his usual kind of teasing, trying to get some manner of reaction out of Dominic?
“Propose to her, if you are so enchanted,” Dominic replied, testing the waters. “I am certain her father would be glad of it, if she came here with nothing and returned with a duke for a husband.”
Hugo chuckled. “I was not talking in regard to myself, Cousin.” He nudged Dominic in the ribs.
“I saw you dance. Granted, I cannot remember if I have ever seen you dance, but I know when a couple is lost in a dance and when they are merely plodding through the steps. You and Lady Frances—you were the former, without question.”
“Goodnight, Cousin,” Dominic muttered, giving Hugo a shove toward the porch steps.
“You know I am not wrong,” Hugo tossed back over his shoulder.
“You are,” Dominic replied.
“She must be here for a reason, Cousin!”
“Yes, to teach Harriet!”
There was more Dominic wished to say, but Hugo was already at his horse, and he did not want to shout and have the entire household hear him.
So, he just stood there in the doorway, grumbling under his breath, as he watched Hugo climb into the saddle. A moment later, with a wave from Hugo that gained a scowl in return, Dominic closed the front door and took a deep breath.
This was why he did not host gatherings or guests; it was all too much effort.
With the manor quiet again, all of the guests safely on their way back to Bath, Dominic turned and headed for his study. There was a rather pleasant, mellow brandy waiting for him, and after that dance, he doubted he would sleep without it.
He had barely poured the measure and sat down by the merrily crackling fire when a soft knock came at the study door.
“Who is it?” he asked, a grouchy note in his voice.
Was he to have no peace tonight? Was he not permitted to have a few moments alone with his thoughts, to make head or tail of them?
“It is Frances, Your Grace.” She sounded nervous. “I… just wanted to speak to you about something before I retire.”
He stood sharply, glancing around for somewhere to hide his drink.
What are you doing? It is no offense to have a brandy of an evening.
Taking a moment, for clearly the entire night had addled his mind, he replied, “Come in.”
The door opened and there she was, so beautiful it took his breath away every time.
He schooled his face into indifference and gestured to the chair opposite his desk, as he walked around to the other side.
Not quite the comfort he had intended to enjoy, but he assumed she would not be here for very long.
Unless… He stared at his drink and wondered if he ought to offer her one.
“I will stand,” she said, fidgeting with the seam of her glove. “I will not disturb you for long.”
His offer of a drink remained a thought as he waited for her to continue, his gaze seeking answers from her face before she said anything. She would not look at him. Indeed, she managed to look everywhere but at him, finding a corner of the study that seemed to interest her.
“What troubles you, Frances?” he asked quietly.
She had not seemed to struggle to look at him while they were dancing. She had not struggled to smile or laugh in his company. She had not shied away from him then, but that guard of hers had gone back up.
“Troubled?” She shook her head. “I am not troubled.”
“What is the matter you wish to discuss?” he rephrased, mildly amused by her skittishness.
With her hand to her stomach, inhaling so deeply that her shoulders rose and fell, she managed to meet his gaze for a second before snapping her attention away again. “It is just that… I want you to know that I am…. Well, I am not here under any… um… deceitful ambitions.”
“What do you mean?” he said, his mind flitting back to his conversation with Hugo on the steps.
If she had heard snippets, perhaps she had misunderstood.
Her throat bobbed. “I do not want you to think that I… have any ulterior motive.”
“Is that why you cannot look at me?” He could not help himself. “Do you think I might misunderstand your intentions?”
Her freckles almost disappeared beneath a sudden flood of pink that dappled her face, her chest rising and falling in quick, anxious breaths.
“I should hope you do not,” she blurted out, still unable to meet his eye. “Indeed… I have… I have never thought of you as a prospect. I have never thought of any gentleman as a prospect. But I am… aware of how it may seem.”
He sipped his brandy in quiet contemplation, puzzled by her.
What sort of society lady had never thought of any gentleman as a prospect?
He knew she was twenty-five with two sisters, so had she deliberately chosen spinsterhood?
Was that another reason she had departed London in haste, so she would not have to marry?
“I have not doubted your intentions,” he said at last, “but I am pleased to hear that we are in agreement on this matter. You see, I have no intention of ever marrying again.”
“I was not suggesting… Oh, I am no good at this!” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I came here to reassure you that I am here to tutor, nothing else.”
Dominic rose from his chair. “And what has brought on this desire to confess?”
“Confess? Your Grace, I am not confessing! I have nothing to confess!” she gasped, her eyes wide.
He knew he should not tease, that he should send her on her way to retire for the night, but he could not help it. He was not ready to dismiss her from his sight.
“Why come to my study alone to tell me this?” he said, moving around to the side of the desk.
“I… did not think. I keep forgetting that I ought to be chaperoned.” She grimaced. “I have not truly needed one in so long that… I should not have come. I will leave you be.”
He stepped forward as she turned to go, catching her by the wrist. “No, I should like to hear why you came to me with this. You have not felt any compulsion to clarify your intentions before, so why now?” He held her gently, so she could pull away if she wanted to. “Is it because we danced, Frances?”
“You should not call me that. It is the second time you have done that,” she rasped, though she made no attempt to wrench her hand free. “A duke should know how to… how to address me properly. A duke should remember his manners, always.”
Her words were a twisting knife in his back, though she could not have known that she had plunged the blade in.
A duke should…
A duke must…
A duke never…
A duke will…
A duke always…
Old lessons, deeply ingrained, that had made him the perfect outer shell of a duke, but a terrible man inside. A bombardment since birth of how he should behave, how he should be, how he should appear, how he should do what he was told until he was the one telling others what to do.
His grip tightened on Frances’ wrist, pulling her closer. “If you were so concerned with what is proper and correct, you would not be here.” He gazed into her shining eyes. “So, I shall ask you again, and you shall be honest this time—what troubles you, Frances? Why are you here?”
“I told you,” she whispered back, breathless. “To… reassure you.”
“Because you enjoyed dancing with me?” he asked. “Do you feel as if you should not have done?”
She lowered her gaze, dropping her chin to her chest.
He acted before he could think, his fingertips sliding beneath her chin, gently tilting her head back up. Needing her to look at him.
“I… I…” she murmured, trembling slightly.
He leaned in, and her hands came up to touch his chest, as if to feel his heart beating. In response, his arm slipped loosely around her, his hand pressing lightly against her back. As if he were merely helping her to keep her balance, to ease her shaking.
Yet, it seemed to have the opposite effect, as she trembled even more in that unexpected embrace.
If he dipped his head just a little more, he could kiss her.
If she were to stand up on tiptoe, she could kiss him.
The thought became an electric thing, crackling in the air between them, and though he could not read her mind, he saw her gaze flit to his lips as if she were thinking the same thing.
“I should…” she breathed.
“Yes?”
“I should… go.” The last word emerged as a gasp, her hands lightly pushing him back as she broke free.
Blushing furiously, she dipped into the quickest curtsy, not forgetting her manners, and rushed for the door before Dominic had a second to try and convince her to stay.
As she vanished from sight, it was like a fever breaking, bringing sharp clarity to Dominic’s mind. He had lost control. He had acted like the very kind of gentleman that Frances had run from.
He ran for the open door and halted in the hallway, looking this way and that to see where she had gone. Every instinct urged him to pursue her, to apologize for his behavior, but that would probably alarm her more.
What have you done? He swept a hand through his hair as he heard distant footsteps fading into silence. Dominic, what have you done?