Page 30 of The Duke Meets His Match

“Lead the way,” George replied.

She nodded curtly and strode down a corridor that led south from the main entrance, and George followed. No mincing steps for Miss Jennings, not at all.George could almost find her behavior humorous if there weren’t so much atstake.

He matched her stride easily and opened the door for her when they reached the dayroom and then again when they arrived at the french doors. She stepped out onto the small terrace beyond and then stopped. George closed the french doors and moved to stand beside her.

“I understand you don’t wish to give me an answer this afternoon, MissJennings,” George said. “I have experienced much the same shock this afternoonas you yourself have. Unfortunately, there is little time. The Prince Regent’sintended bride for me, Princess Sophia Augusta of Schönberg-Nusse, and herparents will be arriving in London within a fortnight, expecting to immediately become betrothed to me, with the marriage to follow shortly thereafter. They have already been informed that I am the designated groom.” He gestured toward the terrace steps to the garden beyond. “May we?”

She nodded.

They descended the steps together, and George clasped his hands behind his back. Lady Walmsley’s garden was a modest one, and other than a plot for an herb garden that appeared to be situated in the sunniest spot of ground, it was laid out in an informal manner. There was a row of yews that marked the back of Lady Walmsley’s small property; to the left, near the wall that bordered the property on that side, was a wisteria and bench George had observed when peering through the window of Lady Walmsley’s parlor. The garden appeared arranged in such a way as to create spots of color and interest. A stone pathway led to the wisteria.

Strolling toward it was the logical choice, then; they went in that direction.

“Miss Jennings,” George said at last. “Perhaps you have had a moment now to think upon my offer and have specific questions I can answer for you.”

Miss Jennings remained silent; George took that as a good sign since she had not been shy about sharing her opinions before now.

“I will take your words into consideration,” Miss Jennings said at last.

“That is all I ask,” George said.

They had reached the wisteria, but George was not inclined to sit at present, nor did it appear that Miss Jennings was either, so they continued down the path, which he discovered took them to the corner of the property, where there was a small, two-tiered fountain. In the late afternoon, as it was right now, it was shaded by the yew trees but would be a delightful, secluded spot earlier in the day.

They stopped and stood next to it, and George allowed the sound of the splashing water to surround him. The late afternoon sun occasionally peeked through the branches of the yews and bounced off the water, creating rainbows of color. He needed this moment, he realized. He felt as though he was taking his first breath since leaving Prinny.

Miss Jennings seated herself on the low stone wall that surrounded thefountain and then leaned over and ran her fingers through the rippling water. She looked thoughtful.

“As you can see, Miss Jennings, we are already more amiable with eachother than we were but an hour ago,” George said, sitting next to her atop the wall.

“Mm,” she replied.

He watched her fingers trail through the water. She had elegant hands.

“What gives you the most pause in accepting my proposal? What more do you wish to know that will satisfy your immediate concerns?”

“There ismuchI wish to know,” Miss Jennings answered, her gaze intent on the water and the ripples her fingers made. “Living arrangements and domestic expectations and dowries and personal philosophies regarding life and family and God, to name just a few. I am not a young miss who will merely bend to your every whim—”

“I have discerned that about you already,” he said.

She turned and glared at him for a moment before relaxing into an apologetic smile. “I suppose you have.”

“I recognize that there are many conversations that need to occur and that we must get to know each other further. In the meantime, I believe your brother James will vouch for my character,” George said. “As Duke of Aylesham, I haveendeavored to act honorably at all times, as did my granduncle before me. Irecognize that my offer of marriage is unexpected. I cannot explain why it was your name that escaped my lips—”

She looked up at him, her eyes bright as quicksilver, searching his face for he knew not what, and he briefly lost his train of thought before collecting himself. “Nonetheless, it was your name I spoke. And so I ask you, what more do you need from me that will help you decide?”

Her eyes fairly blazed with something George could not define. “Bymerelyasking that question, you have given me all I need to know,” she repliedenigmatically. “Now I simply need time to consider.” She stood and turned as though to continue down the path, away from the fountain.

George laid his hand on her arm to stop her from leaving. “My words have disappointed you somehow,” he said, letting his hand slip away from her arm when she stopped suddenly and looked at it. “I’m sorry for that. I can tell you wish me to leave now. But if I may, I shall call on you tomorrow afternoon to receive you answer. Will that be acceptable?”

She turned, and George could see that she was fighting to hide some terrible emotion. Her gray eyes were no longer bright but had gone dark as a cloudy sky. “I will give you an answer tomorrow when you call,” she said.

“Thank you.” He bowed formally to her and left her standing by the fountain, wondering what he could have said or done more and what had affected her so deeply at the end. Their conversation in the garden, which he thought had begun somewhat favorably, had ended poorly, and he didn’t know why.

He’d apologized for his behavior in the past, he’d laid out as many of the particulars as he could in the time at hand, and he’d behaved with the upmost decorum around her. He’d treated her as a duchess should be treated.

There was nothing he could do now except wait.

That wasn’t entirely true. There were other things demanding his attention, and Prinny’s little scheme had taken too much time away from those things. Hemust address them as soon as he returned home, all the while contemplatingwhat counterarguments he might need with Miss Jennings tomorrow, shouldshe refuse him.

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