Page 21 of The Duke Not Taken

“What ball,” Miles scoffed. “By the look of you, I’d believe you’d been living in a cave. But I know Becket Hawke, and I know that everyone within a twenty-five-mile radius and beyond has been informed of the ball for the comely, rich Weslorian princess who is in need of a husband.

That must have been the last invitation Joshua had received from Iddesleigh. The one he’d tossed aside, unopened.

“When is it?”

“Next week.”

Joshua signaled his dogs. They trotted ahead of him and Miles as they began to make their way to the house. “You’re a guest of Iddesleigh?” Joshua asked.

Miles laughed. “God, no. I am a guest of Marley.”

Joshua felt a slight swell of panic. “Miles...we are not equipped for guests.”

“The hell you aren’t. You have a massive house with sixteen guest rooms if there is one. You have at least a few staff, and I know that Butler can round up more if necessary. Just because you’re living in misery doesn’t mean the rest of the world must live that way. Besides, you’re going with me.”

Joshua snorted. “I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I’m in no mood for frivolity and princesses and whatever else.”

“What else is society. People other than princesses. Old friends, new friends. Gaming. Wine and cakes. And you may begin to remove the shackles of your hermit life with a picnic this very afternoon. There’s just enough time to see you bathed and properly turned out for it. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is enough time to see that beard groomed and trimmed. But the rest of you, at least.”

Joshua glared at him. “Have you lost your mind? I haven’t been to a bloody picnic since I was a lad.”

Miles laughed. “Neither have I, but I’m not opposed. The weather is fine. The company may be finer. I have it on good authority that Lord Wexham will be in attendance today.”

Joshua’s heart bumped into his ribs at the mention of that name.Sarah.Lady Wexham now. The woman he’d been desperately in love with before he’d married Diana. The woman who had refused him because of his poor reputation and lack of a title. The woman who had broken his heart, which had plagued him right into a marriage with Diana.

And then, in a stroke of fate, he’d become a duke. Sarah and her parents wouldn’t think twice about his reputation now.

“Why is Wexham here? Is life not grand enough in Dorset?”

“Oh, I suppose it is. But his younger brother needs a wife with a sizable fortune and a princess bride would solve his problems.”

Joshua shook his head. “I don’t want to go. I’ve no desire to see grown men fawn over a woman in pursuit of her fortune.”

“Then don’t look. I’ve already told your valet that you’re going and to prepare a bath. I tell you, I saw a bit of a spark in Mr. Martin’s rheumy eye.”

“Miles—”

“Joshua, my old friend.” Miles stopped walking. He slung his arm around Joshua’s shoulders and smashed him into his side, locking him there. “It’s been two years since you lost Diana and the baby. You’re young yet, but you won’t always be. You can’t mourn the rest of your life.”

That’s what Miles didn’t understand. Joshua wasn’t mourning—he was punishing himself. But he knew Miles well enough to know he would not accept no for an answer. “You may drag me along to your foolishness, but I will not be good company, and for that, you’ll be sorry.”

Miles dropped his arm from Joshua as they reached the terrace. “You were never particularly good company, so I’m fully prepared.”

Bloody hell.“You may think you have won the day, sir, but I never replied to the invitation to the bloody ball.”

Miles laughed. “Then it’s a good thing I did it for you.”

CHAPTER NINE

FINALLY.AFTERMOREthan a fortnight of biding her time, of receiving only doddering neighbors, of writing letters to an amusing old crone, of walking miles and miles all through the countryside,finally,something interesting was to happen.

A picnic wasn’t exactly what Amelia had hoped for, but it was a start. She would have liked something a bit grander—an assembly, asoirée musicale.Not a picnic.

At least there would be younger people and a few gentlemen, Lila had promised. Amelia missed having scores of gentlemen around her. That was the best part of being a princess—she was never at a loss for male attention.

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