Page 29 of A Duchess Bound
They stepped beneath a magnificent archway, draped in purple wisteria, and into gardens so green and lively that it was difficult to believe they were real.
White pavilions had been pitched, the tables beneath them laden with beverages and delicacies. Red and pink roses bloomed from every side, their beauty rivalled only by the elegantly dressed lords and ladies that mingled together. Before she realized it,Dorothy found herself searching for one specific lord. Heat rushed to her face.
She still had three days to consider his offer. Her pride insisted that she refuse, but her body ached with the memory of his touch. But she still did not quite understand his proposed terms.
What did he mean bysubmit? It was obvious that he was suggesting that she give in to her desires, shameful though they were, but she still sensed that he was asking for somethingmore. His Grace wanted some nameless thing of her, and she sensed that whatever it was he desired would come at great cost.
“I shall leave you ladies to it,” Elias said. “It is a beautiful day for a walk in the gardens. If you require any of my opinions, I am at your beck and call.”
“Of course,” Dorothy said.
They parted ways. Elias joined his friends, and Dorothy led Bridget straight to a gathering of unmarried, young misses. Already, Dorothy spied a few gentlemen looking at Bridget.
She knew two of them—Lords Ashmore and Wesbrook. Both were respectable, though Lord Ashmore was set to inherit a considerable fortune. Lord Wesbrook lived comfortably, but he could not boast the same. Dorothy suspected that he desired Bridget more for her dowry than he did for anything else.
Dorothy did not recognize the third man. He was dark-haired and handsome, clearly well-bred, but something about his smile reminded her of His Grace. Dorothy deemed him unsuitable at once. No man who looked likethatwas suitable for her beloved sister.
“It is unfortunate that Cat could not join us,” Bridget said. “We see so little of her now that she is wed.”
“I know,” Dorothy agreed. “But she has promised to come to tea on Sunday. We’ll be able to tell her all about the garden party then.”
Sunday was the day that Dorothy was supposed to give the duke her answer. Her breath shuddered in her chest. A proper lady would not even be contemplating an answer. If she was truly good, she would refuse to even dignify his request with a response.
What did her behavior make her? Was she a ruined woman?
“I can scarcely wait for her ball,” Bridget said, sighing. “I bet that it will be the best of the Season!”
“I have heard that His Grace will spare no expense,” Dorothy said slyly. “It will certainly be a sight to behold!”
“Bridget!” Lady Agatha, a young woman known for being the best singer in the ton, smiled brilliantly. “Dorothy! Join us.We were just discussingNorthanger Abbey. I believe you are familiar with it?”
Bridget’s face brightened. “I am. It is quite an excellent novel, but I did not find it to be superior toSense and Sensibility.”
Dorothy foundNorthanger Abbeyto be the superior work, and she opened her mouth to argue?—
But then she saw him.
The Duke of Greenway stood at the edge of the gardens with a glass of lemonade. Her heart thundered against her ribs, the intensity in his eyes shaking her to the core. Did he stare at any other woman so intently? If so, she had not noticed.
“Shall we promenade?” Lady Amelia, another young lady, asked.
“Certainly,” Bridget agreed.
Dorothy tore her gaze away from His Grace. Instead, she searched the gardens for any especially eligible suitor who might wish to accompany her sister.
She found a few of the names on her list. There was the dashing Lord Arlington, who came from a good family and was set to inherit another title, the Earl of Covington, when his father died. He was a sensitive and handsome man.
Lord Beaumont was also present. Although he was only a baron, he was a man with strong moral fiber and a sterling reputation. Dorothy had never heard anyone say an unkind word about him. And of course, there were Lord Ashmore and Lord Wesbrook, whom she had already seen.
“Perhaps, Lord Arlington and Lord Beaumont would like to join us,” Dorothy said.
There were five ladies, including Dorothy. Asking the two gentlemen to join them would give Bridget the opportunity to meet them and show how beautiful and witty and charming she was without her having to bear the pressure of being theonlylady who was the subject of their attention.
After they ended the walk through the gardens, Dorothy would engineer an encounter with Lord Ashmore and Lord Wesbrook, ensuring that Bridget had greeted more of the respectable men.
“Oh, yes!” Lady Agatha exclaimed. “Let’s ask them.”
Dorothy glanced at the Duke of Greenway and shivered, imagining his lips pressed against her. She might have gone to his townhouse to argue. She might have even felt embarrassed and ashamed after the encounter.
