Page 20 of A Wounded Duke's Passion
Anthony clenched his jaw. “Something vexes you?” he asked at last.
“I am certain that the scene with the Marquess of Thornton has already spread throughout all of London,” Lady Victoria said. “The gossipmongers will be talking about little else for some time.”
“It was not as terrible as you seem to believe,” Anthony said. “The ton may be speaking of it now, but I am sure something equally notable will happen at the next ball. The Marquess of Thornton simply forgot himself for a moment.”
“Poor Bridget,” Lady Rose said, sighing. “I am sure she would have preferred not to be involved in the scene.”
Anthony forced his expression to remain neutral, even as his thoughts careened toward Lady Bridget. The more he thought of her, the more alluring she seemed to become. He thought of his hands sweeping over her and of her breathing quickly and shallowly in the night air. Anthony shivered with delight, thinking of what might have occurred on that balcony if Lady Rose had not interrupted.
“I still think you ought to consider my plan,” Lady Rose said. “It would be good recompense.”
“Recompense?”
“For her two ruined gowns,” Lady Rose replied.
“Two gowns?” Lady Victoria asked.
Lady Rose quickly explained the circumstances of Lady Bridget’s first gown, and Anthony felt a spark of embarrassment at hearing the incident described. It did seem as though poor Lady Bridget’s gowns had met with a streak of misfortune.
“It is apparent that the Marquess of Thornton has shown considerable interest in Bridget’s hand,” Lady Rose said, “so I feel like it would be kind of His Grace to feign as if he is courting my friend. Lord Thornton will be forced to concede if his competition for Bridget’s affections is the Duke of Hamilton.”
“I see,” said Lady Victoria. “Rose, this seems like a rather strange ploy. You are not acting in a Shakespearean comedy.”
“I know,” Rose replied. “But you must also see the benefits of it. Surely, you would have done anything to avoid a distasteful marriage, would you not?”
Lady Victoria took a sip of her tea, and her eyes took on a misty look. “Of course I would have.”
Lady Rose’s cheerful expression wavered for just an instant. She seemed to realized that she had spoken unwisely, for Lady Victoria’s thoughts had doubtlessly turned to her deceased and beloved husband.
“I will consider your plan,” Anthony said quickly. “I make no promises to commit.”
It had occurred to him that there would be a potential advantage to the plan for him, as well as for Lady Bridget. If the ladies of the ton believed he was courting Lady Bridget, that would likely be enough to dissuade them from pursuing him. Anthony did not feel inclined to wed any lady, and although an eventual marriage of convenience might be something to consider, he had enough problems to solve already without thinking about any future brides.
“Fair enough,” Lady Rose said.
“You must also think about Rose,” Lady Victoria said. “She will need to be introduced to gentlemen. This is to be your Season, dear. I do not want all your efforts to be spent helping your friend avoid a marriage.”
“It will not be,” Lady Rose said. “Indeed, I had intended to ask His Grace about an invitation.”
“Oh?” Anthony asked.
Lady Rose nodded. “Lady Emily is hosting an art exhibition tomorrow, and I was hoping you might accompany me.”
Anthony hummed. “I shall have to see if I am otherwise occupied tomorrow. I will look at my engagements and provide you with an answer this evening.”
He made a show of eating his breakfast in earnest, hoping to ward off any other questions. It was just an art exhibition. That was nothing to be upset about. For most men, anyway. The situation was more complicated for Anthony, however. His love of art had died with Anastasia. He could scarcely look at a portrait or sculpture without thinking of her and how her eyes would shine and her face brighten when she spoke of lines, shape, and form.
Anthony knew that Lady Rose required chaperones, though. That was how she would find a suitable match. He silently hoped he did have other engagements the following day, if only so it would be easier for his conscience to refuse his attendance.
***
A few hours later, Anthony had his answer. He grimaced at the papers spread across his desk, as if some previously unplanned obligation might arise and spare him from having toattend the art exhibition. There was a knock at the door to his study.
“Enter!” Anthony called.
James entered, bearing the morning mail. Anthony sighed when he saw how many missives there were. Many of them would be invitations to the Season’s events, and he would be expected to attend for Lady Rose’s sake, if not for his own.
“I do not know how you contain your excitement, Your Grace,” James said dryly.
