Page 41 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
She looked up and saw a man moving towards her with short dark hair, and pale green eyes. From the clothes he wore, it was clear he was no servant. His hat was one of the most extravagant things she had seen in a long while, with several peacock feathers sticking out of the brim.
Something in the way he moved reminded her of Frederick. Where Frederick moved with an almost boyish enthusiasm and cheeky confidence, this man was more languid. Frederick moved with an easy grace and warmth, this man seemed more firm.Why am I thinking about Frederick?
“No, thank you.” Andrea called to him, waving him away from her. “It was just a moment of distraction on my part, I suspect there will be no lasting damage.”
“Good, I imagine my cousin would be most displeased if harm came to his wife and I allowed it.” The man smiled at her.
Andrea frowned at him, trying to recall his face without thinking of the similarities to Frederick.Stop thinking about him; why am I such a goose-brained fool around him?“Cousin?”
“Oh, right!” The man slapped a hand to his forehead. “I forgot we did not have the chance to meet at Grandmother’s games. I had no wish to let her play the matchmaker when I am quite content to remain a bachelor eternally.”
“There were rather a lot of single people at the games.” Andrea nodded, wondering if the Dowager Duchess had had Andrea slated for a match with anyone else.
Did she only invite me in the hope I would win the heart of one of her grandsons? Or a grand nephew?She tried to think of the conversations she had had with Lady Agatha, but could never recall the woman trying to steer her towards a man during the games.I barely saw Frederick, and the games were at his estate.
She glanced up to find the young man looking at her curiously and she realised she had been silent rather longer than was usual. She cursed at her distraction. “I beg your pardon, but I do not think I recall your name.”
The man bowed low. “I am Thomas Heathcliff, Marquess of Elington.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Lord Elington.” She dropped into a curtsey.
“And you, Duchess Caverton.” He grinned at her.
With a start, she realised what she had said, her eyes widening as she hastened to add. “You must think I am terribly rude to have forgotten you already. After all, you were doubtless at the wedding so we must have already met. I would beg your forgiveness, there were rather a lot of people to try and remember, but I will do better in future.”
“You have no need to apologise, Duchess, I was not at the wedding. I was tied up in Scotland and could not get back in time.” He waved down her apology and glanced around them. “That is why I am here. I wanted to spend some time with Felty and his new wife.”
“I see.” Her shoulders relaxed and she let out a breath she had not realised she was holding.
Thankfully, Lord Elington appeared not to have noticed the tension she had felt as she was looking around the garden, his top hat in his hand.
“I do not suppose you know where my cousin is? We were supposed to meet in town but I got an earlier train and I loathe waiting any more than is strictly necessary.” He shuddered.
“Soyouwere the business that called him into town.” Andrea nodded to herself, trying to remember if Frederick had mentioned that his cousin was visiting them.Not that I gave him the chance to.
She shifted as she remembered Lucy teasing her about avoiding her husband. If she had not been so busy keeping herself busy, then she would have been prepared for this.
Though, I do not seem to be doing too bad a job of talking to him.The realisation sent a wave of pride through her and she straightened slightly. She was not fumbling her words or thoughts. Her heart was perfectly content to move at its usual pace.
“I assume so. My apologies for stealing him from your side.” He looked around and then swept into a low bow. “I must beg your forgiveness.”
“Do all your family treat life as a joke?” Andrea asked, though she could not keep the amusement from her voice.
“Not all of us, no. There are plenty who are so serious, just the mention of their names would bore you to tears.” He shuddered again and twirled his hat on the fingers of his left hand, before flipping it onto his head. “But amongst us cousins, Felty, Dorson and I have always been a troublesome trio.”
“Then I should count myself lucky that I only have to deal with two of the trio.” Andrea looked around as they began to walk towards the house. “Or in this case, only one of the trio.”
“For now.” He laughed and she joined in.
Why does my mind seem to work now, yet when I see Frederick my legs turn to jelly and any semblance of thought vanishes?There was a kind of camaraderie she felt with the Marquess, a friendship that made her think of Charlotte and the few people she had found to talk to in the ton.
“I am sure we could convince Dorson to join us if you feel you are missing out.” The Marquess chuckled.
“If you think you can pry him from Charlotte’s side when she has just had their baby, then you are sorely mistaken sir. I do not think I have ever seen someone so devoted to another person.” Her chest twisted as she thought of her God son.I should really visit them.
Yet what if Charlotte asked her to hold him again? How furious would her friend be if she dropped him? What happened if you dropped a baby? They seemed so terribly small and fragile.I wish I could ask someone about this.
But that was the kind of thing you talked to a mother about – or at least, that was what Andrea assumed.How different would it be if she had lived?She swallowed around a lump in her throat.
