Page 3 of Romancing Daphne

“He spoke of his sister-in-law, the quiet one whose name no one can ever recall.”

James certainly couldn’t put a name to the young lady. Try as he might, he couldn’t even picture her.

“She possesses a dowry of £20,000 and is connected to the best families in the land,” Father said.

“How very fortunate for her.” James could think of nothing else to say. Why in heaven’s name was Father discussing the social cache of a lady so wholly unconnected with them?

“His Grace suggested you might show the girl a bit of attention.”

An odd request, to be sure. “I don’t understand.”

“You seldom do,” Father drawled. “The chit has made her bows and will be launched into Society shortly. Unlike the older sister,thissister has raised no anticipation nor eagerness. By all accounts, she is rather plain and ill at ease in the company of others. Her connections will prevent complete failure, but her shortcomings will certainly make marrying the girl off more difficult for His Grace than he would prefer. He is looking to ease her intoher debut by asking you to call on her, court her.”

“He wants me tocourther?” Surely the duke had meant no such thing.

Eagerness entered Father’s eyes. He had no doubt already begun calculating the good this would do for the standing of the Tilburn family. His heirwould be seen going about with the Duke of Kielder. Father would likelyfind a way to be included himself. Even the tiny climbing boys working forchimney sweeps throughout London couldn’t boast the upward aspirations of the Earl ofTechney.

James couldn’t like the idea of this nameless, faceless young lady being a means to Father’s social ends any more than he liked the unfeeling way Father and the duke had apparently spoken of her. But how to wiggle out of it when he knew climbing the ladder of Society was so important to Father?

“You said this was a suggestion, not an edict?”

“His Grace does not make ‘suggestions.’” Father’s pointed look onlyconfirmed what James had heard about the Dangerous Duke.“He wishes you to be part of her entry into this Season, and you will. Kielder”—Father assumed a great deal addressing the duke so informally. James doubted His Grace had given him leave to do so—“is likely growing quite determinedto prevent disaster. His invitation has given you a rare opportunity, has giventhis familyan opportunity, and you will take advantage of it.”

No. He shook his head at the absurdity of it. Father must have misunderstood.“The duke certainly might wish to guarantee she has dance partners at the next ball or that someone will drop into their box at the theater, but why would he risk even the appearance of a suitor who would inevitably not come up to scratch?”

Father leaned his elbows on the desk.“I do not believe hewouldrisk that. If you are cognizant of the opportunity he has laid before you and mean to earnestly pursue the girl, His Grace, I am certain, expects youto ‘come up to scratch.’ However, if you do not intend to accept theentirety of his offer and mean only to ease her way in Society a little withyour friendship and attentions, he will require you to be very circumspectand not raise any expectations.”

“That is a fine line to walk.” Too fine to suit him.

Father nodded firmly.“But walk it you will. This family has hovered long enough in the shadow of obscurity. The duke and I have served in Parliament together his entire adult life. We have both come to Town every Season. Yet hehas never once done anything more than vaguely acknowledge my existence.”

James and His Grace had spoken on several occasions regarding matters of government and international upheaval. Their political leanings weresimilar, if not truly identical. He wouldn’t call them friends by any stretchof the imagination, but neither were they complete strangers. If Father hadfailed to make any kind of impression on the duke, that was not James’s fault.

“It is unfortunate your ambitions have not proven fruitful, Father. I am further sorry the girl is beginning her debut under such a cloud of low expectations, but I do not wish to take up the task laid out for me. That isa role far too fraught with pitfalls for my taste.” James rose to his feet.

Father remained calm, collected.“Kielder is expecting you to make anappearance at tea tomorrow during Her Grace’s first at-home of the Season.”

“You shall simply have to inform His Grace that you were presumptive in your assurances.” James offered a dip of his head before moving toward the door.

“You would truly turn your back on this opportunity?” Father’s shock could scarcely have been more apparent in his tone.“Why on earth would you do such a harebrained thing?”

James kept his place a few paces from the doorway but turned to face hissire.“You are asking me to lie. That is something I refuse to do, even for you.”

“I asked nothing of the sort.”

“You did, in fact.” The precise word may not have been spoken, but alie it would be.“You’ve asked me to call on this young lady, whom I’ve never met and can’t even picture in my mind, and pretend she has captured myattention. Every moment I spent with her would be based on an untruth.”

Father released a short, annoyed sigh.“Well, certainly, if you showed upon her doorstep professing an undying love for her, that she was the answerto all your most earnest prayers.” Father rose as he spoke and crossed nearly to where James stood.“I am not asking you to do that. Call on her, Tilburn. Make her acquaintance. Treat her to a ride in the park, or tip your hat to herif you see her out shopping or taking ices. These are not lies; these are social niceties.”

While Father had a point, the undertaking still felt less than honest.“Those are niceties I would never have presumed to undertake nor so much as think of.” How could he articulate his discomfort when he himself couldn’t quite put his finger on it?“We are not connected to that family. They are astonishingly above our touch.”

“And yet the duke has seen fit to close that gap. He has gone so far as to open the door for you to not merely join his circle but, should you seize his invitation, join his family.”

He leaned against the wall near the door, Father standing but a few feet from him.“I cannot like this.”

“I am not insisting you marry Kielder’s sister-in-law; he isn’t trulyinsisting upon it either. He has created the possibility. Even the very smallestfulfillment of his request would be little more than being a friend to someone who is sorely in need of one. That is a fine thing to do, is it not?”

It was an unusually thoughtful sentiment from Father, who generally overlooked those he felt deserved to be neglected.

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