Page 138 of Rakes & Reticules
“I’ll join you,” Samuel volunteered, while Hurlington said, “If no one objects, I shall venture eastward. If my eyes don’t deceive me, I believe I spied Lady Violet headed that way.”
Hazel linked her arm through the Duke of Whistlestop’s winged arm, and once they were out of hearing distance, she commented, “I hadn’t realized Lady Violet was out of mourning.”
“She isn’t, but the woman has never followed social convention.” His Grace scanned the park.
“Are you searching for Lady Helen?”
The duke shook his head. “No. She’s not here.”
“How can you be certain?” Hazel glanced about at the crowded pathways.
“It’s more an inkling rather than a certainty.”
The twinkle in the duke’s eyes had Hazel staring up at the man. Could he sense when Lady Helen was nearby like the way she felt the tug of Samuel walking behind her?
His Grace winked down at her and she had her answer.
“I’m sorry my scheme failed this morning.”
Unwittingly Hazel’s lips curved into a smile. “I’m not certain I’d call it a failure.”
“Is that so?”
“I don’t believe Samuel ever considered me more than a friend until this morn.”
The duke’s relaxed smile turned into a frown. “Well, I know for a fact you are wrong. Thornsbee’s transformation last Season was all your doing.”
It wasn’t she who was mistaken, it was the duke. “I couldn’t possibly take credit for reforming a rake. Samuel…umm…what I meant to say is that it was all of Lord Thornsbee’s own accord.”
“I can’t say if Thornsbee has reformed or not but I can assure you, the man’s deeply in love with you and has been since he rescued you at the Fairmont ball at the beginning of last Season.”
She studied His Grace’s serious features. He wasn’t teasing her. He was being sincere making her feel safe to share, “If that was the case then he wouldn’t have rejected my confession.”
The frown line separating the man’s dark eyebrows deepened. “You really don’t know.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Interesting. And here I thought you and your brother were extremely close. So close in fact that I hadn’t considered the possibility of him keeping it a secret that Thornsbee has been hounding your brother for his permission to marry you for several months now.”
Hazel stumbled.
The Duke of Whistledown helped stabilize her with ease. “Easy.”
“Are you telling me that it is Richard’s blessing that has prevented Sam…I mean Lord Thornsbee from proposing?”
“Yes.” His Grace blinked and his arm tensed. “Lady Helen has arrived.”
She searched the path in front of them, but as far as she could see there was no sight of Lady Helen. Seizing the opportunity to sort through the whirl of emotions and thoughts at discovering Samuel’s love for her and the actions of her overprotective brother, she said, “Allow me to assist you in tracking Lady Helen down. And today I promise, I won’t leave you until we do, even if we have to traverse every path in the park.”
“You are a good friend, Lady Hazel, but it will be faster if I venture on my own.” He stopped to let Richard and Samuel catch up to them.
“Bixley, I shall leave your sister in your care.” The duke turned and gave her a wink before he broke into a light jog in the direction they were headed. The wink that others might consider as flirtatious was actually the vote of confidence Hazel needed to deal with her well-meaning but interfering brother and the man who still set her heart racing by merely being within arm’s length. Shoulders rolled back, she was about to suggest to continuing on when Richard turned to Samuel and said, “I’ll be escorting Hazel home now…alone.”
Never had she openly contradicted her brother’s will in public. Hazel lowered her head and stole a brief look at Samuel who respectfully nodded and retreated without a word. Disappointment weighed her shoulders down.
Richard ushered her to a nearby bench. Glad for the opportunity to be off her feet, Hazel sat and placed her reticule next to her as she adjusted her skirts.
Bent over, Richard rested his elbows on his knees and wove his fingers together. After several long seconds, he glanced over at Hazel and asked, “What did Whistlestop have to say?”
It was obvious her brother was troubled as to what her answer might be.
She could either confront her brother or continue to pretend to not know that it was in fact Richard’s fault that she remained unwed and not married to the man she loved. “Nothing of import. He merely wished to impart his opinions on the gentlemen who called upon me this morn.”
