Chapter 23 #2
“Because Fenleigh puts on a great show to make people think that he is above such tasks. His facade has been that of someone who doesn’t care a whit about what is happening in the world or in his house, but as to the latter, his steward had only praise to sing of his name.
Apparently, even when he was in his cups, he was still very intent on knowing the workings of his holdings. ”
“Mrs. Howard, the housekeeper, was of the same mind,” Lavender ventured. “That is good news, is it not?”
The duke eyed Lavender as if he saw more than what sat before him. “That depends entirely on which side of the case you stand.” He raised his eyebrows at her.
“Me?” Lavender put a hand to her chest. “Does it matter?”
Miriam smiled gently at Lavender. “Your opinion on the matter has more weight than you might realize. If you choose to accept Lord Chilcott’s advances, you align yourself with his ideas. At least that is what the public will presume.”
“Oh, bother.” That wouldn’t do at all. “To be honest, I think Lord Chilcott is chasing a ghost of his own, somehow. I just don’t understand it.”
“A ghost?” Miriam asked.
“Not in a literal sense, no. But he and Fenleigh are cousins, and Lord Chilcott is next in line to inherit. I can only believe that something in their history has made him bitter and vengeful.” Lavender shook her head. “I certainly do not share Lord Chilcott’s passion for the project.”
“I find that interesting,” Miriam said. “Why not align yourself with Lord Chilcott? It would increase your chances of him proposing marriage. That is your goal, right?”
Lavender hesitated. “No. Yes. No.” She threw her hands up.
“That is two different questions. I know that I need to marry soon, and that he is my most likely option. My mother’s letters are beginning to get desperate.
” It had crossed Lavender’s mind that a quick marriage would bring her mother far more peace than her dying father.
“But that could just be her way of moving me along. And if I did marry Lord Chilcott, my parents would be happy. It’s only that . . . I won’t.”
Samuel’s shoulders sagged with obvious relief. “Then let’s be done with the man. I find him to be a pain in my side on his best days.”
Miriam stood and flung her arms out wide.
“I told you your marriage needed to be based on love. This changes everything.” Miriam narrowed her eyes.
“Why did you not tell me earlier? Now my matchmaking heart can find you someone worthy of loving you.” She settled back into her seat with an exaggerated sigh.
Lavender shrugged, used to the duchess’s theatrics by now.
“I said nothing about love. It isn’t like I have any other prospects.
Besides, I think that the only way to discover the truth about these rumors is to discover what Lord Chilcott intends to do about them.
I feel certain he is behind the entire scheme. ”
“Of course he is,” the duke agreed. “That won’t shock anyone. But he is behind more than just that. He has staked his claim upon your attention. That is the precise reason you do not have any other suitors.”
Lavender nodded, recalling the moment in the park when he’d claimed their courtship. “But why has he chosen to show his attentions to me? I knew nothing of him before coming to town.”
Samuel tapped his knuckles on his desk. “It is something we must discover. And quickly if we can help it.”
Miriam put a hand atop her husband's mindless knocking.
“He is a man that people do not like to cross. Chilcott has a way with words that draws in a following. The Duke of Fenleigh is one of the only people I know who has never tried to avoid confrontation with him. In fact, he rather sought after it.”
“Forgive me, am I to understand that you believe Lord Chilcott to be manipulating me?” Lavender asked.
She really ought to have seen it coming.
She’d seen manipulation, lived in it her entire life.
She didn’t believe that her mother would have labeled her words as manipulation, but that didn’t take the truth of the matter from the equation.
Lavender had always been given a purpose: to bring peace, to help others, to stay out of the way, to hide her injuries.
She had fought tooth and nail to take on the personality her mother wanted, despite it not being in her nature.
She was too outspoken, too forward thinking for her mother.
But heaven knew she tried her best to keep the peace.
And when she couldn’t curb her tongue, she’d turned to the library.
Perhaps that was why Lord Chilcott’s manipulations hadn’t felt as concerning as they truly were: they were an extension of what Lavender grew up with. And if that was the case, she had some experience dealing with it. “I think I might be able to allow that to work to my advantage.”
The duke and duchess exchanged confused looks. “What on earth do you mean?” Miriam asked.
“If he believes me to be manipulated, it is more likely he will let down his guard. How could we convince him to host us for dinner in his home sometime?”
“That would be nothing,” the duke smiled. “I know how to get Chilcott to dance to my music. All it takes is a well-placed backhanded compliment.”
Lavender looked at him with satisfaction. She had no doubts he could accomplish the feat. “Would you word your request to include your mother in the party?”
“She won’t be much help. She is hard of hearing.”
Lavender raised her brow. “I’m counting on Lord Chilcott believing that, though I myself am not fooled.”
“Wait,” Miriam said with a hand in the air. “You both know I am a proponent of true love, but why are you so anxious to prove Lord Chilcott wrong? What is the Duke of Fenleigh to you, Lavender?”
Lavender lifted her chin. “I want the Duke of Fenleigh to come back to London. A friend of mine believes we would make a good match.”
The duke started to laugh, but he tried to cover it up with a cough. “Whoever your friend is, I like them already.”
So do I. Lavender felt a sting in her heart. If only he wasn’t utterly out of reach.