Page 9 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
The sound of footsteps caught her attention and she saw a girl who could have been no more than nineteen slinking into the shadows.
“Curious.” Andrea muttered, following her as her own curiosity got the better of her..
The girl had the distinct look of a hunter pursuing their prey. The hair on the back of Andrea’s neck stood on end as they moved further into the gardens. The music and laughter of the ballroom was replaced by the sound of footsteps and the rustle of leaves in the wind.
Just when Andrea thought she should turn back, she hear the sound of a man’s exasperated sigh. “So that is who she is after.”
The Duke of Caverton was leaning against a nearby tree, his eyes closed and a slight frown on his face. The moonlight on his features and the absence of his usual easy smile made him look like a work of art.
Her moment of distraction almost made her lose sight of the girl. Casting about, she saw a flash of yellow that was the debutante’s dress. She was hiding in a bush, a little way away from the Duke, so intent on her target that she seemed oblivious to everything else. He would have to pass the bush to get back to the ball, and Andrea had a sneaking suspicion that he would not be allowed to do so.
“And just what do you think you are doing?” Andrea tapped the young girl on her shoulder.
The girl gave a startled yelp, her eyes going wide as she whirled to face Andrea. “Oh… Um… I was just… I needed some fresh air.”
“And that meant you had to hide in a bush?” Andrea arched an eyebrow.
“I… What business is it of yours?” The girl’s lip trembled.
Andrea shrugged. “It is none. But I do not like schemes, and you have the look of someone scheming.”
“I am doing nothing of the sort.” The girl shook her head.
“Really? Because it looks to me like you were setting an ambush, hoping to stumble into a certain duke and force him into marrying you.” Andrea’s jerked her head towards the Duke and fixed the girl with a hard stare.
Her voice came out sharper than she had expected, and the girl’s eyes filled with tears. “I… I did not want to. My mother… She… Well, she said that I had to. That this would be the best way to get a good husband. She wanted me to be the diamond of the season but that has gone to Lady Geraldine.”
“The diamond may be the most sought-after gem, but that does not mean the others are any less beautiful.” Andrea’s face softened and she held out a hand to the girl, pulling her to her feet. “What is your name?”
“Penelope Cartwright. Miss Penelope Cartwright.” Penelope answered, dusting off her dress.
Andrea nodded. The girl’s mother was the ton’s biggest gossip and one of the most power-hungry women she had ever met. “I am Lady Andrea Cowper.”
“You are the one who- nevermind.” The girl’s cheeks flushed with colour, and Andrea suspected she had been about to repeat a particularly salacious rumour. “Mother will be furious with me.”
“I am sure it will pass.” Andrea gave Penelope’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “You have plenty of time to find a husband. Do not let anyone push you into a match you do not deserve.”
“But he is a duke, surely there can be no better match?” Penelope frowned.
“He may be a duke, but you do not know the first thing about him. A title tells you nothing of a man’s character. For all you know, he could be the most monstrous villain.” Andrea’s father’s face appeared in her mind.
Penelope tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, chewing on her bottom lip. “But he seems so nice.”
“Seeming is not the same as being. You should get back to the ball. There are plenty of young men who I am sure would be most worthy of your affections.” She gestured back towards the ballroom. “Do not let yourself be forced into a life time of unhappiness.”
For a moment, Andrea was worried that the girl would insist on remaining, after all, she knew only too well the hold a parent could have on their child. Thankfully, Penelope nodded and gave Andrea’s hand one last squeeze.
“You are much nicer than I thought. Thank you.” She smiled and disappeared back into the ballroom.
Andrea watched her go, her head canted towards the young girl. She felt like she had expended the very last of her energy and the thought of trying to find a man, talk to him and convince him to be her husband was enough to make her cry.
She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Nicer than she thought? What on Earth do people think of me?”
“I could tell you, for a price.” A man’s voice said from behind her.
She jumped and whirled around to see Duke Caverton surveying her with an amused smile on his face. “Do you truly think I am such a monster, or were you exaggerating so that you might steal me for yourself?”
Irritation flared to life in her chest. “Neither. I simply did not want to see a girl throw her life away on someone else’s wishes.”
