Page 25 of The Duke Meets His Match

Foster cleared his throat, interrupting Lady Walmsley. “The caller isnotMr. Jennings.”

Susan wrinkled her brow. “Who—?”

“The Duke of Aylesham is in the front parlor,” Foster said.

Lady Walmsley gasped.

Susan shook her head in disbelief and denial. “There must be a mistake, Foster. The Duke of Aylesham would not be inclined to call upon me. If it truly is he, then it is Lady Walmsley who—”

Foster handed her the calling card. It was of the highest quality, she couldn’thelp but immediately notice, and it read:George Kendall, Duke of Aylesham.

She shook her head again.

“The duke specifically asked foryou, Miss Jennings,” Foster said.

“How exciting!” Lady Walmsley exclaimed, her fatigue a thing of the past once again. “Aylesham! Here to call uponyou, Susan!”

“Lady Walmsley, you can dispel whatever romantic ideas you have. I can assureyou the Duke of Aylesham would never,evercall upon me with such an intent.”

“But you danced—”

“Out of an obligation he felt, owing to the circumstances—and not an entiredance, at that.” Susan would not mention that she and the duke also had history—brief though it was—and that the history hadn’t been friendly in the least.

“Oh dear,” Lady Walmsley said. “Lady Bledsoe had such high hopes when the two of you arrived bearing cups of punch for us at the ball two nights ago. ‘Finally,’ Judith said to me after you two walked away, ‘I had nearly given up on the boy—’”

Foster cleared his throat again.

“I know, I know, Foster. Here I am rambling, and now is not the time for it. We mustn’t keep the Duke of Aylesham waiting,” Lady Walmsley said. “Come, Susan. We shall greet the duke together, and then I shall hide myself away. You are of an age where you don’t require a chaperone, after all.”

“I can assure you there would be no need for a chaperone, regardless of my age,” Susan replied. Why the duke had chosen to call upon herdidpique her curiosity but not so much that she relished the idea of facing him on her own, however. “I am glad that you wish to be with me when greeting the duke.”

The duke. His Loftiness. His High and Mightiness.

Susan allowed Lady Walmsley to take the lead as they made their way to the front parlor. Foster, ever the faithful butler, was in place to open the door when they arrived.

“Aylesham!” Lady Walmsley exclaimed as she entered the parlor, her arms outstretched in greeting. “What an unexpected pleasure!”

The duke, whom Susan could see had been seated by the fireplace, arose and came forward to greet Lady Walmsley. He nodded politely and took both of her hands in his for a brief moment. “Lady Walmsley, it is indeed a pleasure,” he said.

He said the wordpleasure, but there was something about his countenance that told Susan it was anythingbutpleasure that had brought him here today.

His Loftiness then turned toward her and bowed formally. “Miss Jennings.”

“Your Grace,” she said with a curtsy.

“Please have a seat; make yourself at home,” Lady Walmsley said, gesturing to the seating area of the room. “I know you are here to call upon my dear new friend, Miss Jennings, Aylesham, so I shan’t dawdle. You are a busy man. I shall take myself off and leave you two alone to converse.” She gave Susan a knowing look and then trotted off, with Foster shutting the door behind her.

Leaving Susan and His Loftiness alone.

The duke hadn’t taken up Lady Walmsley’s offer to sit. He walked to the fireplace and then simply stood there, looking at her grimly—and it belatedlydawned on Susan that she was, once again, appearing less than her best. Arelaxing afternoon without callers had not required she dress in one of her better gowns. And there was also the cap, which she’d not worn in any of their other encounters.

She lifted her chin in defiance. She would not allow His Loftiness’s reactionto her appearance affect her. But it irked her to no end to have him at anadvantage over her in that regard, for he was currently dressed to the nines. He couldn’t look more immaculately put together if he had been intending to call upon the Prince Regent.

He was undoubtedly waiting for Susan to sit before doing so himself, so she walked over and sat.

Then waited.

He continued to remain standing by the fireplace. “Thank you for agreeing to see me,” he said at last.

Susan gave him a nod of acknowledgment. She wanted to hear what he had to say first before venturing any words of her own.

“You are no doubt wondering what my purpose is in being here,” the duke said. “And so, I will be brief: I am here to ask you to be my wife.”

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