Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Clara gazed at the clock and listened to each second ticking away. He would arrive soon enough, and then she would learn the details of the arrangement to which she had reluctantly agreed.
“His Grace, the Duke of Clemont,” a servant announced. Clara rose and offered a small curtsey, which was so shallow and swift it might as well have been an insult. The duke entered, looking tall and regal.
“Miss Sterling, it is a pleasure to see you again,” he said, clutching the lapel of his jacket with his right hand.
“I have arranged for some refreshments to be sent to the library. I thought it best if we have somewhere quiet and private.”
“That would be wonderful. After you,” he said, inviting Clara to led the way.
She walked in front of him and made a point to turn her head, showing him her cheek and then her back.
She clasped her hands in front of her stomach and strode quickly through the house, wanting to make sure he realized that he wasn’t going to make any concessions for him.
They entered the library, a small room where the walls were packed with books.
In the middle of the room stood a round table with ornate legs sweeping beneath it.
Plush, cushioned chairs were positioned around the table.
In the table were drawers holding packs of cards and cribbage boards.
One near Gerald was ajar, and he peered inside.
“We could have a game, if you like. If I win, you could help the children’s home without asking this of me,” Clara said, confident of her chances. She had been taught all manner of games since she was young, from draughts to some of the less reputable gentlemen’s gambling games.
She hoped he might wish to prove his superiority.
Clara had shamed men before who did not believe she posed any challenge, leaving them red-faced and embarrassed.
While she knew that Gerald did not have any cause to accept her challenge given that he had what he wanted, she thought she ought to try.
Edmund had always taught her to take a chance; after all, there was never any knowing what might happen.
However, Gerald shut the drawer firmly.
“I am not a gambling man,” he said.
The maid, who had been standing beside the door, poured the tea and then stepped back, disappearing into the scenery.
“You told me you do not like lying, and yet you would have us pretend some sort of affection?” Clara asked.
“There are degrees, and sometimes lying is required, depending on what promises are made. This is not a malicious lie.”
“Then why lie at all?”
“I have my reasons, and they shall remain nameless. You have what you wanted, my full support for St. Margaret’s. In turn, I require your help and discretion. If that is too high a price to pay, then-”
“Then you would walk away, yes. Leaving those poor children to fend for themselves. I hope you will not be offended if I am candid with you, but I find this behavior most dishonorable and, frankly, rude.”
“And you are within your rights to do so, but I see it as an opportunity, Miss Sterling. I know you do not believe me, but I am not wholly concerned with myself.”
Clara rolled her eyes and snapped a biscuit in two, putting half in her mouth. The ginger taste didn’t do anything to soothe her ire.
“We must have clear rules if we are to mislead the ton without creating any misunderstandings. I do not wish to encroach upon your virtue; I want to make that clear.”
“Certainly not!” Clara said, almost dropping the other half of her biscuit.
“Perhaps I have made a mistaken assumption. Are you currently being courted?”
Clara paused, her brow tightening. “No,” she said coldly.
“Then there should be no obstacle.”
“None other than decorum, but I suppose that shall have to go out the window for the moment.”
He pressed his lips together. “This will be a smoother process without your constant jibes. I understand that you may think this deplorable of me, but it only needs to last a short time. A small sacrifice on your part to ensure the longevity of St. Margaret’s.
I do not think it is too high a price to pay. ”
Clara folded her arms across her chest and regarded him coolly.
“I’m not sure you have thought this through at all, but I suppose you are right. St. Margaret’s is what’s important here, so I shall not make this process too difficult.”
“Good, because the ton will hardly be convinced if we are bickering all the time”
“Thankfully I have picked up some stratagems from my aunt, Juliet, although I’m sure I shall have to outdo any of her performances,” Clara said, unable to resist another jibe.
He looked unsatisfied by this and arched an eyebrow.
Clara raised her hands and took a heavy breath.
This was going to be more difficult than she thought.
“Since this is your idea, perhaps you should begin,” Clara said. The duke sipped his tea patiently, the set of his features suggesting mild pleasure that she was being more reasonable.
“We must arrive at and leave public events together. At balls, we must dance the first dance, as though there is nothing that can stop us from expressing our happiness. I will send you flowers every Monday, and we must never contradict each other in public.” His eyebrows quirked wryly.
“I’m sure this last part will be the most difficult for you, but I want to give people the impression that we are besotted with each other. ”
“Why? Why go to these lengths?”
“As I mentioned to your grandmother, London can be tiring.”
Clara shook her head. It seemed like such lengths to go to just to escape a bit of attention. She wondered if she detected a hint of evasiveness in his attitude, but at that moment she didn’t think she would be able to discern any of his thoughts.
“Although it shall be difficult, it shall not be impossible. I can adhere to all of those rules.”
“Wonderful.”
“Although I do have one of my own.”
“Oh?” Gerald asked, arching an eyebrow. Clara clasped her hands together and spoke clearly. She wanted no misunderstanding about this particular rule.
“There shall be no kissing. I understand you want to convince everyone that the illusion is real, but there are limits to the lengths I will go to for trickery.”
Clara was utterly in earnest, but Gerald seemed to find it amusing. His voice rolled on laughter as he replied.
“You do not need to worry, Miss Sterling. I have no intention of kissing you.”
Clara’s brows drew together. Was she so very unkissable?
“I am not thinking merely of today, but the days that will come the longer we pretend. It is insurance against anything unexpected that may happen in the weeks to come, Your Grace,” Clara said, managing to maintain her composure.
The duke drummed his fingers across the table and had a thoughtful look on his face.
“I believe it would be prudent for you to call me Gerald,” he said. He held out his hand, beckoning her to his side.
They began practicing how to enter a ballroom together, since he wanted to give the impression that they had been courting for a while. They stood side by side, and she stared at him as he held out his arm practically straight, his hand stretched, wide palm exposed.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Waiting to escort you,” he replied.
“You look as though you are greeting a business associate. We are not going to shake hands, Gerald,” she said.
His name slipped out without her realizing it, and she almost swallowed it back, but it was too late.
He didn’t seem to mind. He might not have even noticed.
“You are far too rigid,” she said briskly, hoping to cover up her error.
“you must relax. If you are attending a ball with me, you are supposed to be happy. Look, you must position your arm like this.”
Clara took his arm and pulled his elbow back, forming an angle.
As she placed her hands against his arm, she felt the taut muscles beneath his clothes, as well as the shape of his bicep.
Her heart fluttered, a most unwelcome sensation, and she attempted to ignore it.
She then placed her hand closer to his body and slipped her arm around his.
Her hand came to rest on his forearm. She became aware of the warmth that emanated from his body and made the air sizzle.
“Well, since we are offering critiques, you must look at me with a little more affection,” he said, angling his head to gaze at her.
Clara turned to meet his gaze and was captivated by his eyes again.
His features were perfectly symmetrical, his eyebrows thick and dark, but not unruly.
His nostrils were flared, and his lips had a shape to them that was not smug or scowling, but wry.
“We should practice walking,” Clara mumbled, forcing herself to turn away. At first they walked at different paces, with Clara’s competitive nature wanting to outpace him. He had to shorten his strides a little, while she had to be more patient and allow him to lead.
“I suppose this isn’t too complicated,” he said. “Have you done this before?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Really? I should have thought you had made your debut in the ton by now, especially given your heritage. Would you not consider yourself to be a diamond in waiting?”
“I would not, and it seems to me you think too much. There has simply been too much to do. St. Margaret’s needs me more than the ton does,” Clara said, and wasn’t inclined to share any more information with him than that.
Love was indeed something she used to crave, but that had changed over the years as she realized people valued her for the practical way she managed things.
The precocious girl had grown into a responsible young woman.
Her family was quick to boast of how much responsibility she could handle, and love faded in the shadow of all her duties..
“My, you two seem to be learning quickly, although if you want a tip then, Clara, lean into him a little more. It won’t be long before people believe you’re really in love.
” Agatha bustled in, took one look at the two of them, and she laughed and rubbed her hands together.
Clara winced in embarrassment at the interruption.
Agatha settled at the table and pulled out some cards. Despite her failing memory, she could still shuffle deftly, and her love of cards had never wavered. She began to play solitaire, and Clara took this as a sign that the first lesson had come to an end.
Clara withdrew from the Duke, slipping her arm away. Without her meaning to, her fingers lingered on his arm, feeling the shape of it. She turned and drew her hand back to her body, feeling as though it betrayed her.
They walked to the door.
“I’m glad we have arranged the terms. Now, all that needs to be done is to convince people. I know you think this is low of me, but I am grateful to you.”
“Indeed, I do think it’s low, and I do not like the fact that I will have to lie to my parents. Please remember that I am doing this for the children and nothing else. If at any point you renege on the agreement, I shall expose this lie.”
“I am a man of my word, Clara,” he said. When he used her name it fizzed through her heart like a cannonball, and she wasn’t sure how he managed to cause this effect.
“Until next time, Your Grace,” she forced herself to say, for it felt as though there was a stone lodged in her chest.
“Until next time, Miss Sterling,” Gerald replied, inclining his head before he left. Clara closed the door and took a deep breath. This was even more trouble than she expected.