Page 31 of The Duke Meets His Match

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Susan wasn’t sure how long she spent at the fountain after the Duke of Aylesham took his leave of her. She had seated herself on the stone wall again after he’d left and had stared at the bubbling water, sorting through her thoughts and emotions.

The Duke of Aylesham had apologized to her, true, but he was still arrogant. He was used to getting his way. She doubted he would have bothered apologizing at all had he not found himself in this dilemma. But during their conversation this afternoon, he had shown himself to be of honorable character. His reasons for not wishing to marry the princess had demonstrated that. She had believed him.

She ran her fingers through the water aimlessly. She understood some ofwhat happened in government, but she was certainly lacking knowledge when it came to diplomatic relations between countries—especially now, while England was at war. But why didn’t someone simply tell the Prince Regent that marriage between the Duke of Aylesham and the Princess Sophia Augusta was unsuitable and the reason? Susan had never been presented to the Prince Regent, or any of the royals, for that matter, during her come-out, so she wasn’t entirely sure how one went about such things.

The duke had said Susan must trust him in that regard. Maybe there was more to it than he had told her. All she knew was that the duke had been intentenough to avoid that particular union as to throwhername forward to the prince.

It was unbelievable. It was utterly ludicrous, in fact.Why her?That single question plagued her more than anything else. Of all the names he could have said, whyhers?

Lady Walmsley’s personal maid, Tompkins, called her name, interrupting her thoughts. “Miss Jennings! I have been sent to find you. Such excitement!” She was hurrying in Susan’s direction.

Susan had had enough excitement for this afternoon, thank you very much.

“I am to tell you that you must come to the dayroom at once! MadameVeroniqueherselfhas arrived with one of her seamstresses ... and with so many boxes! Foster had to gettwofootmen to bring them all inside. I can scarcely wait to see what is in them. Do hurry, miss!”

Susan sighed. There was nothing for it, then. Madame Veronique awaited her presence. She stood, smoothed her skirt, and followed Tompkins into the house.

“There you are!” Lady Walmsley exclaimed. “But where is Aylesham? Iexpected to be able to at least bid him farewell when he left.”

“Not to worry, Lady Walmsley,” Susan said. “He plans to return tomorrow.”

“Doeshe, now?” Lady Walmsley’s eyes grew large and began to twinkle. “Ilikethe sound of that. Indeed, I do! I hadno ideathat my young guest would beguile none other than the illustrious Duke of Aylesham. And so quickly too!”

“I don’t thinkbeguileis the word I would use,” Susan said. In fact, there had been nothing in the duke’s demeanor to suggest he’d been beguiled at all. He was offering her nothing more than a practical business arrangement, other than the caveat about bearing him an heir.

And that was what troubled her, for despite herself, Susan had begun to find herself increasingly attracted to His Loftiness, and it meant that were she to agree to marry the duke, she must guard her heart at all cost.

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