Page 25 of The Duke of Seduction
Chapter 5
Descend you angels! Bring your light.
Give silence, meaning, patience, sight.
Grant leave for her splendor and grace,
Souls charmed by the song of her face.
-FromFurther Thoughts on Miss Rose Stewart
by The Duke of Seduction
After being forcedto stay home the evening after her “fainting” incident at the park, Lavinia was eager to visit Sarah. Both she and Fanny had sent short notes to Lavinia that morning asking what had happened. They’d sounded quite concerned. She’d sent notes back asking Fanny to join them at Sarah’s house that afternoon.
The Coltons’ butler showed Lavinia to the sitting room where she and Sarah always met. Sarah jumped up from the settee and rushed to greet her as the butler departed. “I’m so glad you’re all right. I was so concerned after what happened in the park yesterday.”
Lavinia took a chair angled near the settee and pulled her bonnet off. “I told you I was fine.”
“Yes, but when you didn’t come to the ball, and neither did your mother, Fanny and I were worried that you weren’t. Fine, that is.”
“It was all an act.” Lavinia tugged her gloves from her hands and set them on the arm of the chair. “Lord Northam was saving me from yet another promenade with a boring suitor.”
Fanny arrived and joined them, removing her gloves. “I’m so pleased to see you’re all right, Lavinia.” A pin fell from her coppery hair as she took her bonnet from her head. “Bother,” she muttered, bending to pick up the pin. A curl slipped free and fell against her cheek. She tucked it behind her ear with a soft grunt.
Things like this happened to Fanny with regularity—earrings fell out of her ears, stitching came loose on her gown, ratafia dribbled onto her lap. She’d said she was clumsy, but it wasn’t always something she did. Rather, clumsy things just seemed to happen in her orbit.
“Is Northam a suitor, then?” Fanny asked.
“Goodness, no. Northam is a rake,” Lavinia said.
“Rakes can be suitors, I think.” Fanny looked at Sarah. “Can’t they?”
“I suppose, though it’s not typical. My mother says they have to settle down sooner or later.”
Lavinia nodded. “My mother says the same thing. She has it in her mind that Northam is a suitor—he and Devaney did almost come to blows over who would promenade with me next.”
Both Fanny and Sarah gasped. “Did that really happen?” Fanny asked. “That was the rumor at the ball last night, but we weren’t sure if it was true.” She exchanged a look with Sarah.
“It’s true,” Lavinia said darkly. “My lowest moment to date. And I’m so sorry you didn’t hear it from me first. I was rather upset when Mother insisted I stay home and rest. I suppose I should be pleased she cared enough to make me do that instead of taking advantage of the extra notoriety and parading me around the ball.”
Sarah’s brow furrowed. “Let me see if I understand. Northam was trying to rescue you from the other gentleman?”
“From Lord Devaney, yes. But Devaney wasn’t having any of it. He insisted he should get to walk with me first because he was there first. Northam argued that we’d prearranged to walk at the Fortescues’ the night before.”
As predicted, Lavinia’s mother had queried her about that. Lavinia had managed to successfully convince her that she’d forgotten—she’d blamed the inundation of male interest and her inability to keep them all straight. The irony was that it wasn’t entirely untrue. Except that Lavinia would never confuse Northam with anyone else. He was a singular male, likely because of the way they’d met. Her neck tingled, as it always did when she thought of that night.
“What a debacle,” Sarah said, shaking her head.
Lavinia nodded. “Though it could have been far worse.”
“It sounds like Lord Northam has become your champion,” Fanny said with a small smile. “I know I don’t have your experience with such matters, but it seems his suit can’t be far off—rake or not.”
Lavinia couldn’t imagine such a thing. They’d become friendly, but there’d been no indication of attraction—the fleeting shivers along her neck notwithstanding. Those didn’t mean she wanted his attention in that way. Still, she couldn’t deny he’d become quite helpful. Which reminded her of the man who was the opposite.
Lavinia straightened and pinned both of her friends with a direct stare. “I need to put an end to this nonsense with the Duke of Seduction. I’m going to write a letter to him and send it to theMorning Chronicle.”
Fanny, her gaze eager, leaned forward. “What will you say?”
