Page 13 of The Undesirable Duke
“I wish to unmask him,” Samuel said, smiling politely at passersby.
“And then what?” Lord Perkins inquired.
“Then my reputation can be restored. I do not appreciate the scowls and stares I am receiving, although the mamas’ reactions do amuse me.”
“And it will ensure that you can secure a match without being rejected,” Lord Perkins uttered, but there was a questioning tone in his voice.
Samuel’s brow furrowed, and he was silent for a moment.
“That is not why I came to London. Finding a wife is not a priority to me, at least not now.”
“If you wish, I could introduce you to a few of my wife’s friends.”
Samuel scoffed.
“You will do no such thing.”
Lord Perkins chuckled.
“Or perhaps I should wait for your reputation to be restored.”
“Perhaps that is a wise choice.”
Samuel’s jaw tightened, as his mind became cloudy with thoughts. He had not considered finding a wife or entertained the idea of marrying. Although, it would not be as lonely at his estate in Cornwall if he were to take a wife. The longer the rumors were being spread by thetonand taken as the truth, the smaller the chances of him finding a young woman whose mama would allow her daughter to marry him.
He was not even certain what type of young lady he would be interested in.
“It is not something I have thought of, Perkins,” Samuel uttered as he stared at the path in front of him. “I am aware that I am six-and-twenty, but surely that does not mean that I must marry as soon as possible.”
“With all due respect, Your Grace, it is not as though you are being pressured to marry by your parents. You are a man who is allowed to decide your own fate.”
“Indeed. I recall my mother telling me that I could search as hard as I wished for the right person, but I would not find her. Fate will bring her to me, and she will fall in my lap when the time is right.”
“I do hope she did not mean that in a literal sense.”
Samuel and Lord Perkins chuckled at his comment and Samuel cleared his throat.
“Until that happens, I will focus my attention on finding the gabster who insists on ruining my reputation.”
“You are a resourceful man, after all. It will be easy for you.”
“Thank you, my friend.”
The two men found their way to Mayfair’s busiest street, filled with young women and their mothers, young couples who lovingly batted their lashes at each other, and carriages that awaited their passengers returning from the tearooms, the modistes, and the bakery. Footmen loaded trunks of new gowns onto the carriages, and maids followed young ladies as they made their way about.
The street was lively, but attention shifted towards Samuel as he and Lord Perkins crossed the street. People stepped back, as though he carried a disease which they were afraid he would pass on to them. Luckily, Samuel was not affected by that and politely nodded at them. He and Lord Perkins came to a stop on the side of the street, and he turned to his friend.
“Since you are in Town, how are you spending Christmas? You are welcome to join Catherine and I but, be warned, her mother does tend to be a trifle disguised during this festive time of the year.”
“As entertaining as that sounds, Perkins, I must decline. Lord Timothy invited me to spend Christmas with his family,” Samuel explained with a cringing expression.
“And Lady Welsford agreed to this?”
Lord Perkins was obviously surprised at the news.
Samuel shrugged and shifted his weight from side to side.
“He assured me that there would not be any issues. He would simply explain that the tales of my antics were not true.”
