Page 47 of A Fake Courtship with the Duke
As soon as Thomas spoke the words, it all made sense. Of course, Sebastian would have been spying on her. He was constantly trying to make trouble, especially for Miss Huxley. And the malice with which the gentleman had stared at them each time he saw them together spoke of a deep desire to stir problems within the ton for them. Richard gritted his teeth to suppress a low growl. Why couldn’t the ton just keep to their own business? Why did they need to dictate and know all about the business of people who weren’t doing any harm to anyone?
“What will you do?” Thomas asked, concern in his eyes. “More specifically, what can I do to help you?”
Richard shrugged. He knew he had to tread carefully; he couldn't let the situation get any more out of control than it already had. He wasn’t even sure it was possible to reclaim a hold on things now. But he couldn’t afford any rash words or actions. And he didn’t think that denying the claims wouldimprove the situation. In fact, it might make them appear as if they were guilty of something far worse than fooling ton members. If they didn’t already, that was.
As Thomas and he continued to talk, he saw his mother advancing towards them, and the snarl on her face left no question as to what she was thinking. Anticipating a confrontation and unwilling to subject Miss Huxley to such scrutiny, on top of what was already happening, Richard pivoted and began weaving through the crowd, determined to avoid his mother, at least until they were in a less public setting. Truthfully, he didn’t think he could face his mother without snapping at her in front of everyone. That would only make matters worse. But right then, he couldn’t bring himself to care.
The vibrant sounds of Vauxhall grew faint as he pushed through the people who were now all staring at him. His only concern right then was finding Miss Huxley. However it had happened, he had made up his mind that he would stand with her against the ramifications of the collapse of their ruse. The lantern lights cast flickering shadows on the ground in the shape of the clusters of people who were glaring at him with judgmental eyes, but he ignored them all. All that mattered was Miss Huxley. And when he saw her, his heart sank. She was surrounded by Sebastian, Lady Beatrice and her sneering friends and her own parents, who were scowling at her with the meanest look Richard had ever seen on any parent’s face.
The surrounding murmurs became a distant drone as he approached her, no longer caring if he ran into people on his way to get to her. He could hear the scolding her parents were giving her, which ceased immediately as he reached her, glaring at them and using his stature to coax them into stepping back. Their expressions morphed from displeasure to astonishment, but they silently complied with his unspoken demand.
Richard didn’t hesitate. He stepped in beside Miss Huxley, a crystal clear display of support and unity with the woman he loved, using his silent, stoic demeanor to offer her a shield against the judgment and whispers of the ton and his presence to give her comfort. She looked so lost and scared, and it broke his heart. He vowed that when that night was over, he would do anything it took to make things up to her. He would do anything to make her his wife. For real this time.
Chapter Twenty-five
All the chatter and tittering laughter fell instantly silent as Richard came to stand beside Anne. She held her breath, her heart pounding fiercely against her ribcage. She quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing with fear and embarrassment. She was sure he was angry with her for letting their secret out to everyone at Vauxhall Gardens that night, and she could hardly blame him. Why had she felt the need to mention it in such a public place, even if she thought Susan and she were alone outside the rotunda?
The silence seemed to stretch on forever, and every single pair of eyes present were fixed solely on the duke and her. Charlotte and Susan were the only ones with sympathetic, concerned expressions on their faces. Everyone else was staring at them with varying degrees of contempt, disbelief, disgust and smugness. Anne thought she might swoon. Part of her hoped she did so that she could escape the silent accusations and judgments of ton members.
Just as she thought she would, indeed, succumb to the discomfort of the situation, Richard reached out and took her hand. She looked up at him timidly to find him smiling at her in a way he never had before. He was not only not angry, but there was more affection in his eyes than in both Charlotte’s and Susan’s combined. Her heart skipped as she looked into his eyes, waiting for him to speak.
At last, he took a deep breath, his gaze warm and unwavering as his lips parted.
“Anne, there are some things I must tell you,” he said. He was addressing her directly, but Anne got the distinct feeling that he intended to have his words heard by all. And he had usedher given name in front of a large portion of the ton. What was he planning to say?
“Your Grace, I…” Anne began, intending to apologize to him for the mess she created. But the duke put a gentle finger to her lips, making her heart thump again inside her chest and the tingle she always felt when they touched flood her body, despite the humiliation of the current situation. He gave her a slow smile and one of his trademark winks as he slowly removed his finger from her mouth.
“I am truly sorry for all this chaos, Anne,” he said. “But here and now, before the heavens and all these fine people, I wish to clarify some things.”
Anne’s mouth fell open in astonishment. Why was he apologizing to her? She had realized he meant for everyone present to hear what he had to say. But surely, he couldn’t think himself responsible for the proclamation of their false relationship. What had gotten into him.
She tried to speak, but she could find no words. She didn’t know what his plan was, and she was afraid of ruining whatever he was trying to do if she continued to speak. So, in the end, she merely nodded, forcing her mouth closed and looking at him with her heartbeat resounding in her ears.
The duke lifted her hand to the level of her bosom, still holding onto it with a gentle grip. But instead of holding it in the prim and proper fashion, he removed first his left glove and then her right one, tucking them into the pocket of his jacket and then lacing his fingers through hers.
“I know there has been a maelstrom of rumours and gossip,” he said, his voice carrying through the utterly silent rotunda. “But regardless of what anyone says or thinks, I genuinely care for you, Anne.” He paused, giving Lord Gray a cold, pointed look as he spoke again. “While our relationship did begin as mere pretence, which was no one’s business but ours,” he pausedagain to turn his gaze back to Anne, his expression instantly transforming into the sweet, affectionate one as before, “I need you to know that the sentiments and the moments we shared have evolved into something profoundly real for me.”
Anne’s mind reeled, whirling into a frenzy of words and emotions that jumbled together, tripping over one another in her brain and heart and rendering her unable to grasp onto any individual one.
“What?” she asked, feeling a twinge of embarrassment at her lack of meaningful response. Yet Richard simply gave her a doting smile, reaching up with his free hand and gently caressing her cheek.
“Everything I say to you right now is how I truly feel,” he said. “I need you to know that, darling.”
Anne’s heart skipped two beats at the pet name he used. She idly found herself wondering if it was possible for a woman’s heart to skip so many times in one evening to send her into a cardiac episode. She blushed, wondering how her thoughts were getting so far away from her. She nodded, silently scolding herself for losing focus.
“I understand, Your Grace,” she said.
He gave her one of his classic smirks, chuckling softly. He searched her eyes, looking deeply into them and drawing her into the deepest connection yet. Suddenly, there were no other thoughts, and nothing else in the world mattered, apart from his words, and the brilliant blue of his eyes, which were now gazing at her with a love so powerful it took her breath away. Hope and vulnerability flooded her, and even though her body was paralyzed, she could feel a smile slowly forming on her face.
“I do hope that I can coax you into calling me Richard,” he said. “Because I have become utterly smitten with you, my dearest Anne.”
Anne’s mouth dropped open once more, but the sharp gasp that echoed throughout the room didn’t come from her lips. It came from those of her mother, whose mouth was agape just like her middle daughter’s. Anne hadn’t thought it possible, but after the sudden gasp, the room fell even more silent, as if even the insects had paused their evening songs to listen. The viscount’s reaction wasn’t as easy to read, though he was watching the conversation take place intently. Charlotte, however, spoke volumes to Anne with her knowing, almost smug smile, and her sparkling eyes.
Everyone else present was also studying the couple. Anne only gave them a brief instant of regard, but she saw that their expressions now ranged from shock and awe to confusion and skepticism. Anne thought a couple of older ladies looked pleasantly surprised with small smiles, but Lord Gray’s expression caught her attention just then.
His eyes flickered between disgust and anger, clearly angry that his plan to permanently humiliate the duke and her – Richard and her – in front of the entire ton had failed in such a drastic way. And Anne remained in her own world of shock. Was the man she loved truly telling her that he loved her, as well, in front of a large portion of high society?
“Anne,” Richard said softly, bringing her attention back to him once more. “I genuinely mean what I say. I do love you, with all my heart. It was completely unexpected, that much is true. But it is a happy surprise, and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. I just hope there’s a chance that you feel the same way about me.”
