Page 42 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
She looked very pretty in a sprigged muslin gown and a lilac Spencer.
‘It is, indeed.’ He bowed, and the young woman raised a tentative hand in greeting.
He drew the carriage to a halt and, after a glance at those around her and possibly an admonition to keep their distance, she approached.
She glanced up shyly from beneath her flower-decorated bonnet and dipped a curtsey. ‘Your Grace.’
‘Miss Simon. Good afternoon. Do you know the Countess of Lipsweiger and Upsal?’
‘We have not met,’ Barbara said when the girl just stared at her. ‘It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Simon.’
‘Likewise,’ Miss Simon murmured, looking at the ground.
How awkward. ‘Perhaps I should alight and allow Miss Simon to take my place,’ Barbara said.
Miss Simon cheeks turned scarlet, and she glanced back at her group. ‘Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it.’
One of the young men who was with the group drew closer. ‘I say, sir, that is a bang-up rig.’ His eyes were shining as he inspected the equipage. ‘And those bays are matched to a T.’
The Duke looked bemused. ‘Thank you.’
‘Adam, this is His Grace, Duke of Derbridge, of whom I spoke.’ Miss Simon said.
The young man flushed. ‘Adam Stallton, Your Grace.’ He bowed.
The Duke acknowledged this courtesy with a nod.
‘Please excuse Adam, Your Grace. He is new in town and he is in alt about everything he sees.’
‘Whereas you, Miss Simon, find it all a great bore,’ the Duke said in an amused tone.
‘Naturally,’ Miss Simon said, wide-eyed. ‘One does.’
The Duke’s expression changed to coolness.
Barbara wanted to shake the foolish girl. Couldn’t she see he was teasing and respond in kind? The Duke was going to be bored in her company in less than five minutes if she continued in that manner.
Someone ought to take her in hand and help her see that if she wanted to win the Duke’s affection, she needed to have a little more spirit.
The Duke and Miss Simon gazed at each other as if searching for something to say.
Gah. ‘You chose a pleasant afternoon for a stroll, Miss Simon,’ Barbara said. ‘I think spring is finally upon us.’
‘Yes, I think so,’Miss Simon agreed.
‘And I see you have other members of your family with you.’
‘Yes. My mother and I are staying with my aunt. These are my cousins and their friends. Both my cousins are still in the schoolroom so not yet out, but we thought it was such a fine afternoon we would go for a walk.’
‘How lucky for us that we should meet.’
Again her face turned pink. No doubt she had been sent out to see if the Duke might be driving out at the fashionable hour.
Too bad he had not been alone.
‘If you would like to walk with Miss Simon, Your Grace,’ Adam Stallton said, ‘I would be happy to drive your carriage.’
‘Adam, please,’ Miss Simon said sharply, clearly mortified.
