Chapter Two
“It’s a week in a house by the sea, Freddie,” Lord Dartington said, as they played a low-stakes game of poker.
“Why on earth would you say no? We can ride, hunt, swim even. This infernal heat has gone on too long. Imagine dipping in the ocean…” Lord Dartington, or Darty as he was known to his friends, closed his eyes and smiled to himself.
Clearly he had no qualms about accepting the Duchess of Tewkesbury’s invitation to her house party.
“But you know what the duchess is like,” Freddie, the Duke of Redfield, said with a sigh. “She’s such a meddling busybody. You know she’s the reason Walsham had to wed, and Kent too. She likes to matchmake, and seek out half-scandals that she can turn into marriages.”
“I hear Walsham is very happy,” Darty said as he collected his winnings. “Although I hadn’t heard about Kent. I know, she can be a little meddling. But that doesn’t need to involve you. Just don’t get into any situations that could be misconstrued, and there’ll be no issue.”
“I don’t think the fellow involved thought there was an issue then either—and yet still they ended up married, against their will.”
That is how they came to arrive at the home of the Duchess of Tewkesbury a week later.
“I’m so glad you came,” the duchess said as she greeted them in the entrance hall of the grand mansion, with impressive views over the ocean. “We’re going to have so much fun this week.”
“Thank you for inviting us,” Freddie said, hoping that her idea of fun would not go against his.
“We have lots planned to make the most of our time here together, but first, Matthews will show you to your rooms. We’ll have tea in the parlor at three, if that suits?”
“Perfectly, thank you, Your Grace,” Darty said with a nod of his head. They both followed the elderly butler up the stairs, where the gallery could take them either left or right.
“The gentlemen are down here, my lord, Your Grace,” Matthews said, stretching his arm leftward. “And the ladies on the right. The duchess has chosen each of your rooms personally, and she hopes you will be pleased with them.”
When he entered the bedchamber assigned to him, he had to admit that she had done a fine job, both in selecting the house and in assigning the bedrooms. There was a large bay window, and out of it he could very clearly see the ocean, the summer sun sparkling upon it, the waves gently cresting on the shore.
He had bathed in the sea as a lad, but it had been many, many years since he had been so close to the ocean.
And when Darty had suggested they could swim, he had thought it sounded like a pleasant idea.
Now, though, he rather craved it. He glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece; there wasn’t time this afternoon, before they had tea.
And the duchess undoubtedly had all manner of events planned for every minute of the day.
But he vowed to find a break in the program of events to escape down to the water, and to feel the cool, salty ocean upon his skin.
*
“Mrs. Trowbridge, and Miss Trowbridge. What a delight to have you join us.”
“You are very kind, Your Grace,” Mrs. Trowbridge said with a brief curtsy. “And what a beautiful house! Spectacular views.”
“Indeed. I couldn’t resist it when I saw it. It just seemed the perfect location for a summer house party. We have lots planned this week, but for now, please allow Matthews to show you to your rooms so you can freshen up before we take tea in the parlor at three.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Elizabeth said softly, with a shy smile.
Although the Trowbridges were untitled, her father was the second son of a viscount, and so they had often mixed among the titled gentry, and addressing a duchess was not a wholly new experience for her.
Still, she was always shy, especially when outside of her usual social circle.
She knew it was rather an honor to have been invited to this house party, and was trying to feel excited about it.
She had no idea who else was coming, and although there had been carriages outside in the yard when they had arrived, there had been no sign of their occupants.
In fact, they didn’t meet any of the other guests until it was time for tea in the parlor.
Elizabeth thought her bedchamber was perhaps the most beautiful room she had ever seen, decorated in a deep shade of blue, with views out over the ocean.
Her mother was in a similarly pretty room next door, but Elizabeth secretly thought hers was more special.
It was a wrench to leave it when they had to descend for tea—because although the rest of the house was equally attractive, with views from almost all the rooms of the sea, it would mean interacting with people, especially men.
And so she was sure that she would end up falling silent and embarrassing herself.
They were the second group to arrive downstairs. The duchess was already there, holding court, as were two gentlemen, who turned and bowed when they entered the room.
“Allow me to present Miss Trowbridge and Mrs. Trowbridge, her mother. Ladies, this is Lord Dartington, and the Duke of Redfield.”
They both bobbed curtsies, and then Elizabeth felt her mind go blank.
“Tea?” Matthews asked, and thankfully she was able to just nod at that.
The butler directed the footman, who poured the tea and brought both ladies each a delicate china cup.
Elizabeth glanced shyly at the two men. The taller one—she thought he was the duke—flashed her a smile, and she felt her pulse skitter, blood rushing to her cheeks.
He gave a half laugh, and then turned to his companion and said something she could not hear.
Probably commenting on how ridiculous a reaction it was to blush so furiously at a smile.
But she couldn’t tear her eyes away from him.
He was beautiful, in the way a statue of a Greek god might be.
He had dark hair that curled a little at the nape of his neck, and a broad frame, with strong, powerful-looking hands, which rather dwarfed the tiny china teacup.
And his smile…it was so bright, it felt like she was standing beneath a chandelier, with a thousand candles flickering at once.
It made one feel… it made one feel things she didn’t know a smile was capable of.