Page 70 of A Duchess Bound
“Yes,” he said. “That would be kind of you.”
Gerard inclined his head in silent acceptance of Leedway’s gratitude. The men parted ways, and Gerard continued his search for their host. It took some time, but at last, he found the man at the edge of the ballroom, engaging in what seemed to be a cheerful conversation with his wife.
Gerard cleared his throat. “Apologies for my interruption.”
Holloway turned to him, smiling. “No need to apologize, Layton! It is always a pleasure to speak to you.”
“Yes, well. I have simply come to inform you that Leedway is leaving a little earlier. He did not wish to offend with his departure, but one of his sisters was feeling ill.”
“I see,” Holloway said. “There is certainly no offense taken.”
“I am glad.”
“I do hope his sister is not terribly unwell,” Lady Holloway said, her face softening. “It would be especially unfortunate for Lady Bridget to succumb to illness during her first Season and be unable to attend any of the ton’s events.”
“Agreed,” Holloway said.
A small knot of frustration twisted in Gerard’s chest. Lady Holloway’s assessment made sense, but his first thought was that it would be equally unfortunate if Dorothy had taken ill during the Season. She might be a spinster, but he saw how her face brightened when she danced. He saw how important it was for her to watch Lady Bridget and ensure that she was not taken by some man’s rakish wiles.
“If she has fallen ill, I imagine the suitors will be as distraught as she,” Lady Holloway said conspiratorially. “She is one of the most desirable ladies of the Season.”
Holloway chuckled, his green eyes flashing with mirth. “To be young again! Do you remember your first Season, my lady? You were quite exceptional.”
Lady Holloway smiled, a faint dusting of rose spreading over her cheeks. “I do. You were insatiable and tireless in your pursuit of me.”
They looked at one another like two people who were deeply in love—as though they were newlyweds. Holloway and his wife had been married for thirty years, though. Even though there was no impropriety between them, Gerard nonetheless felt asthough he was intruding upon some private moment. He looked away.
Despite himself, he tried to recall if his parents had ever gazed at one another like that, but he found that he could hardly remember his mother at all. She was long lost to the mists of time, just like the young footman who had once indulged him too much.
“What about your own designs for the Season?” Holloway asked. “Are we soon going to learn of a Duchess of Greenway?”
Gerard shook his head. “No, I have other concerns this Season. I am helping Leedway build a seminary for young ladies.”
“I am surprised to learn that,” Holloway said. “I had assumed that you were interested in pursuing Lady Bridget.”
Gerard raised an eyebrow. “Where did you get that notion?”
“Because you have been paying such attention to Lady Dorothy,” Holloway explained. “I assumed that you were hoping to charm the elder sister, so she might be more inclined to speak favorably of you to Lady Bridget.”
“It would be a clever approach,” Lady Holloway added. “Most of the gentlemen are approaching Lady Bridget, but it is obvious to all the ladies that it is Lady Dorothy who is making the decisions about which suitors are acceptable matches.”
“I imagine Leedway is also deferring to her,” Holloway added.
“I am uninterested in Lady Bridget,” Gerard said.
The moment that he had spoken, Gerard wished he had not. Holloway and his wife had provided a perfectly acceptable reason for his lingering near Dorothy, and he had dismissed it without a thought.
Andwhy? He could think of no rational explanation for his behavior, save that he was, perhaps, a little loyal to Dorothy. Lady Bridget’s reputation was important to her, and he had resolved to respect that.
“Why have you been spending so much time with Lady Dorothy, then?” Holloway glanced at his wife with an expression that implied he wished to ask some questions that were inappropriate for a lady’s ears.
“Lady Dorothy is beyond reproach,” Gerard said steadily. “She is a good woman with an admirable strength of will. I enjoy her conversation. That is all.”
Holloway looked unconvinced. Lady Holloway placed her hand on the crook of his arm. “I find it charming that His Grace has found someone with whom he enjoys an intellectual connection.”
Lady Holloway sounded as though she might also be insinuating something untoward. Gerard clenched his jaw and forced a smile. “If you will excuse me.”
He bowed and left their company as quickly as he feasibly could. Something about the encounter had shaken him. It could not be their insinuations. Given his past behavior, those were understandable. Besides, he had been found out before. It was not as if the tonremained ignorant about why he favored ladies’ company so much.
