Page 42 of His Arranged Duchess
Before Frances could answer, Katherine hastily introduced her father. Lucien knew the man by name, if nothing else. He was Lord Edmund Luton, Earl of Tockton. He seemed to be a genial, portly sort of man who looked upon the world with unending optimism, and on his spinster daughter with a sort of tired, resigned love.
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Grace,” Lord Tockton said, withdrawing a handkerchief and mopping his brow. “My daughter and I travel a great deal, and it’s quite a relief to return to England at last. I hope we’ll stay home longer this time.”
Glancing over at Katherine, Lucien saw that the corners of her mouth turned down a little at this. She bent her head, fussing with Henry the gecko.
Perhaps she is not as keen for English society as her father,he thought, but was careful not to let any of it show on his face.
“Well, you must come and visit me at home, Katherine,” Frances said firmly. “I’ve missed you a great deal, and now I have a home of my own, I canproperlyreceive you. You can bring Henry, too, if you like.”
Katherine brightened. “Can I also bring Margaret?”
Frances bit her lip. “I suppose there is no chance that Margaret is in fact a lady’s maid?”
“A tarantula.”
“Perhaps you might leave Margaret at home.”
Katherine sighed. “Well, I suppose so. I should love to call on you properly, of course. We have so much to catch up on. Oh, you must tell me, are you still writing?”
Lucien’s ears pricked up at this. “Oh? Writing?”
Frances flushed. “Nothing, nothing. It was a childish hobby, nothing more.”
Katherine, who seemed incapable of understanding hints, sniffed.
“I should say not. Your Grace, she was anexcellentwriter. She wrote a few short stories when we were at school together, and they werethrilling. I was on the edge of my seat whenever shetold one of her stories. She wrote a good deal of romantic stories, too, but the teacher said that proper ladies shouldn’t think much about that. When she caught you writing that other story—the one you wouldn’t let me read—she flew into a rage and wouldn’t let Frances go outside for three days. Do you remember? I certainly do. She told you that you were never to write anything like that again. I’m not sure if you listened, though. In fact, I’d wager that you didn’t, ha-ha. Youarestill writing, aren’t you, Frances?”
Glancing down at his wife, Lucien was a little shocked to see that she was bright red, her eyes wide and warning Katherine tobe quiet, for heaven’s sake.
Lord Tockton, who appeared to be better at taking hints than his daughter, laid a careful hand on Katherine’s arm.
“It’s likely to rain soon, my dear,” he murmured. “We should get going. Good day to you both.”
Taking Katherine’s arm, Lord Tockton gently manoeuvred her away. Katherine twisted around to say goodbye, and Lucien caught a glimpse of Henry the gecko peering up over her shoulder, staring at them out of his intent, yellow eyes.
“Well,” Lucien said, when they were out of earshot. “What fascinating friends you have, Frances.”
Frances’s cheeks burned. “Please don’t make fun of me.”
She turned on her heel and began to hurry back the way she had come.
“I am not making fun of you,” Lucien responded, catching up to her easily. He grabbed her hand, drawing her arm through his. “Try and look as though we’re in love, my dear. People are watching.”
“I don’t care,” she responded shortly.
He chuckled. “What a fiery duchess you are. Why did you not tell me about your writing before?”
She bit her lip. “As I said. It’s a silly habit, and I wish you’d think no more of it.”
“A silly habit? Writing is a most noble habit. Unless, of course, you were writing aboutunseemlythings,” Lucien added, nudging her and grinning. “I’ve noticed that young ladies do that. The extreme repression they endure does not in the least restrain their…appetites, shall we say. Instead, it only forces them to hide it. They seek out certain types of art—paintings, sculptures, and, of course, books. I wonder where your interests lie?”
Frances cleared her throat, lifting her head. She kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, her chin jutting out. Lucien couldn’t help but feel a pang of admiration.
Quite a duchess, indeed.
“None of your concern,” she responded tautly.
He laughed aloud at that. “Come now, you told me you wanted me to ask you more questions, didn’t you? You wanted me to show interest in your hobbies.”
