Page 19 of A Fake Courtship with the Duke
“Please be sure to remind me when you are taking trips like that,” she said. “I looked rather foolish today when the two of you ran off while we had guests.”
Susan gave her mother a sheepish smile, shooting Richard a look with a sparkle in her eyes.
“I apologise, Mother,” she said. “I will ensure that you are aware from now on.”
The dowager nodded, and they ate their soup in silence. As the second course of the meal was served, however, the duchess spoke again.
“We must never forget the importance of propriety,” she said, sounding as though she was hinting at something. “We have a duty to our peers in the ton to be examples of what upstanding nobility should be.”
Richard nodded, but he wanted to roll his eyes. His mother’s strict sense of propriety had stifled him all his life. But lately, it had been far worse. And he knew that was because she so desperately wanted him to marry.
“Of course, Mother,” Susan said, once more saving her brother. “We will always uphold the highest standards of propriety.”
It was all Richard could do to not choke on his wine as his sister spoke. He heard the irony in his sister’s words, and he knew that she was thinking about that afternoon, as well. He thought again about her proposal to pretend to court Miss Huxley.The highest standards, indeed,he thought, wrestling to hold back his laughter.
The duchess didn’t seem to notice, however. She simply huffed a little, sipping her own wine before turning her gaze back to Richard.
“Richard, dear, you know how vital it is to consider the future of the Calder legacy,” she said. “A lady like Eleanor would be the perfect duchess, don't you think?”
Richard forced himself to keep a straight face, though the notion horrified him. That was the very reason he had even given Susan’s suggestion a second thought. He could never bring himself to marry a woman like Lady Eleanor. And he had no intention of giving his mother the impression that he would even consider it.
“It’s been a long day, Mother,” he said. “We can finish this conversation another time.”
The dowager glowered at her son, clearly displeased. But she said nothing further, and they finished their dinner in peace.
After the strained meal, Richard slipped away unnoticed, heading straight for Thomas's townhouse. Thomas, who had just finished dinner himself, invited him in warmly, guiding him straight to the comforting familiarity of his billiard room. He poured them both a glass of port, fetching them both a cigar. Richard took both from Thomas, giving him a grateful smile.
“You never come here so late unless there is something on your mind,” Thomas said. “Pray, shall you disclose the matter at hand, or must we engage in a game of billiards to extract the information from you?”
Richard chuckled, shaking his head.
“It has been the most eventful day that I believe I have ever experienced,” he said.
Thomas’s eyebrows raised, nearly meeting his hairline.
“This sounds rather interesting,” he said, pausing to sip his drink.
Richard did the same, then he began telling Thomas everything about the day. He started with Susan’s surprise stop at the Huxley townhouse, and he finished by telling him about the encounter with Lady Beatrice. Thomas listened as he always did, his expression changing from shock to amusement to twitching eyebrows as Richard spoke. He looked especially interested when Richard told him of Susan’s proposal. After Richard finished his tale, Thomas paused thoughtfully, sipping his drink.
The two men drank in silence for a moment before Thomas spoke again.
“I must say that your sister’s idea is hardly a terrible one,” he said. “That just might be the thing you need to cease your mother’s endless matchmaking nonsense.”
Richard shot his friend a sharp look, but deep down, he knew the idea wasn’t entirely ludicrous to him. He had, in fact, entertained it many times that day. He supposed it made sense that Thomas might agree with Susan. He had, after all, been the one to suggest that Richard find his own bride.
“Mother would surely object,” Richard said at last, shaking his head. “She is not fond of Miss Huxley at all, especially not after this morning’s paper.”
Thomas shrugged, looking at Richard intently.
“Should you be concerned?” he asked. “She wants you to marry. You would, by all accounts, be preparing to do just that.”
Richard nodded, frowning.
“That’s the other problem,” he said. “Sooner or later, the courtship would have to end. What would people say about that once it did?”
Thomas shrugged again, swirling the port around in his glass.
“I say again, should you be concerned?” he repeated. “The ton members will always find something to gossip about. Besides, once the courtship ended, you might be assured that no one would ever consider marrying you, if any scandal should arise afterward.”
