Page 23 of A Duke But No Gentleman
Imogene winced.It had been too much to hope that her mother had been too distracted to notice.“It was a benign request and I did not wish to offend Lord Norgrave.Lady Charlotte accompanied me and she spoke highly of the gentlemen,” she added to her weak defense.
“Lady Charlotte is blind when it comes to the marquess.The young lady is smitten, and if her father had any sense, he would discourage the friendship.”
She had not noticed that Lady Charlotte had a deep affection for Lord Norgrave.How had she missed this?Perhaps because the marquess had offered his arm to Imogene instead of her companion.She mentally cringed at her thoughtlessness.“I have to disagree, Mama.Lady Charlotte appeared to possess a general fondness for both gentlemen.”Recognizing that particular look on her mother’s face, she hastily added, “It was a pleasant exchange and His Grace and Lord Norgrave were respectful.You have nothing to worry about.”
“What’s this?”her father said, entering the music room.“Good evening, my girls.”He walked to his duchess and kissed her lightly on the cheek.“Are you quarreling?”
“No,” Imogene said swiftly.
The duchess gave her daughter an indecipherable look.“Not yet,” was her mother’s reply.
“I was introduced to His Grace, the Duke of Blackbern, and Lord Norgrave this afternoon,” she explained, assuming she might as well be honest with her father.She valued his opinion.“Mama has told me to avoid these gentlemen at all costs.”
Her mother frowned.“Those were not my precise words.”
“The gentlemen are friends with Lady Charlotte and Lady Yaxley’s welcomed guests.I saw no harm in accepting an invitation to explore the countess’s gardens.”
“Nor I.”Her father walked to her and stopped to kiss her on top of the head.
“Husband,” her mother said sharply.
“Wife, I agree, Blackbern and Norgrave are not the best suitors for our girl.”He glanced down at his daughter.“They have run wild for years and some of the gossip is not fit for a lady’s ears.”
“Some?”her mother muttered.
“No worse than I was at that age,” her father countered.“They are a bit too seasoned and jaded for someone your age.Have they expressed an interest in courting you?”
She felt the weight of her mother’s and father’s stares as they awaited her response.“I believe so, Papa.What should I do?”
“Husband, you are not possibly considering allowing her to—” her mother said, rising with her embroidery clutched in her hands.
“Imogene could do worse than catch the eye of a duke and marquess,” he said, speaking over her protest.“News of their interest will spread and encourage other gentlemen to seek introductions.I am well pleased with your efforts, daughter.”
“Thank you, Papa,” she said, not quite certain what she had done to deserve their attention.
Her mother was far from satisfied with the duke’s decision.“You are willing to overlook the gossip about Blackbern and Norgrave?”
“I refuse to condemn a gentleman over gossip,” was her father’s dismissive reply.“Besides, a courtship is not the same as a betrothal.”
The duchess stuffed her embroidery in her sewing basket.She glowered at them.“Exactly.It is something you should consider while you dangle our daughter in front of those rakes like a tempting sweet morsel!”
Her mother marched out of the music room.
“Mama is upset,” Imogene said, biting her lower lip.“Perhaps I should keep my distance from the duke and his friend.”
The duke touched her on the shoulder.“Rubbish.If you favor these gentlemen, you may encourage their courtship.However, I feel obliged to warn you that Blackbern and Norgrave have gained notoriety, and that is what troubles your mother.You are a beautiful young lady, but do not pin your dreams on such gentlemen.They are fickle with their affections, and content to remain bachelors.Enjoy their flattery, but look beyond them to the gentlemen who follow.One of them will step forward and become your future husband.”
Chapter Seven
For all of her father’s assurances, neither Lord Norgrave nor the Duke of Blackbern had left his calling card with their butler that week.As Imogene had sifted through the pile of cards with their butler, Sandwick, she had to admit her father had been correct that the gentlemen’s interest would encourage other suitors.Much to her sister’s amusement, she had too many of them—so many she could barely recall most of their names.
Her mother had declared the attention her elder daughter was garnering as encouraging.
Faint praise indeed from a lady who, in her time, had captured the Duke of Trevett’s eye and eventually won his heart.
To celebrate Imogene’s rise within thebeau monde, more dresses, bonnets, fans, shoes, and stockings were ordered.A dancing master was employed to refine her dance steps and arms so she moved as if she was one of the nine muses: Terpsichore, the goddess of dance who had stepped down from Mount Olympus with a laurel crown adorning her head and a lyre cradled in her arms.
This evening’s amusements would begin at the King’s Theater.Imogene and her mother were sharing the theater box with her friend Cassia and her mother, Lady Golding.They were attending the first performance of the operaDido, Queen of Carthage.The music had been composed by a Mr.Storace and the lead character would be played by Madame Mara.Even if not a single gentleman visited their private box, Imogene was too excited to let it ruin her evening.
