Page 14 of The Duke of Desire
“He’s an Untouchable—that’s what Lady Dartford, Lady Sutton, and I call them.” She pushed out a beleaguered breath. “They are married to two of them now.”
“Indeed? Did they have nicknames as well?” She held up her finger. “Wait, I remember that Sutton was called the Duke of Deception during the Season. That was you too?”
Ivy dipped her head. “Yes. Dartford was the Duke of Daring.”
“These are spectacular,” Miss Forth-Hodges said, grinning. “Are there any others?”
“Axbridge—he’s the Duke of Danger. Because of the dueling.”
“That makes perfect sense.” Miss Forth-Hodges sent Ivy a wide-eyed glance. “Don’t you think he’s terrifying? Mama mentioned him too, but I think I’d prefer Clare.”
Ivy wasn’t sure she thought of Axbridge as terrifying, but then she tried not to think of most men at all. Which made Clare’s presence in her brain thoroughly vexing.
“Clare is certainly…pleasing to look at,” Miss Forth-Hodges said. “I admit I find him a bit intimidating, but that’s because of his reputation. I should hate to marry a man who carries on as he does.” She darted a look at Ivy and added, “Although, I suppose there’s a bit of excitement too.” She spoke so low that Ivy had to strain to hear her, and she wondered if she’d even meant for Ivy to hear the comment at all.
Excitement.Yes, that was an excellent word to associate with Clare. “Excitement isn’t always a good thing,” she said.
Miss Forth-Hodges turned her head as her eyebrows shot up. “Really? I’d rather have that in a marriage than boredom.”
“You’d rather have a husband who conducts liaisons with all and sundry?”
“Of course not. I only meant that it would be better to have anexcitinghusband—you know ”—she shot Ivy a meaningful look —“than not.”
She was, Ivy thought, referring to Clare’s sexual prowess. And with that, Ivy was keen to change the subject. Thankfully, Townsend wasn’t too far in front of them. As they’d been talking, they’d either walked faster or Townsend had progressed more slowly.
Ivy seized her chance to avoid further discussion. “Miss Forth-Hodges, I’d be happy to move ahead if you’d like to walk with Lord Townsend.”
“Oh, you would?” Her eyes lit up, and her mouth curved into a smile. “Thank you. And please call me Emmaline.”
“Then you must call me Ivy.” She gave her a little wave before quickening her pace and marching past Townsend, who all but stopped to wait for Emmaline.
Ivy stole a look back as they fell into step together, their heads bent in conversation. She felt a surprising pang of envy. It must be nice to look forward to spending time with someone and know that they felt the same.
Determined to walk such nonsense out of her head, Ivy sped up and, before she realized it, was abreast of Clare. The conversation she’d just neatly exited returned to her brain.
He glanced over at her. “Good afternoon, Miss Breckenridge.”
“Good afternoon, Your Grace.”
She wanted to thank him for the note, but she didn’t want anyone to hear her doing so. Miss Kirkland was nearby, as was a young man whose name Ivy couldn’t recall.
“Are you enjoying the walk?” he asked.
“Very much, thank you. And you?”
He looked over at her, but it wasn’t the same as their other interactions where she’d felt as if he were trying to see into her soul. “Quite refreshing. I do enjoy activity.”
She was a bit surprised to find they could have a normal conversation without flirtation or innuendo. “Will you be participating in the shuttlecock tournament?”
“I think so, yes. Though I haven’t played in years.”
A particularly stiff breeze tried to sweep Ivy’s bonnet from her head. She tightened the ribbons beneath her chin. “It’s too bad there isn’t a women’s tournament.”
“That’s a capital idea. Would you play?”
“I’d like to, but I’m not sure I would be allowed.”
“Of course you would. I’d insist upon it.”
