The Duke of Wimberley was still seething when he entered Daventon House. Gareth was alone in his study. If he was surprised at seeing Wimberley again, he didn’t show it.
“Come on in! I decided to attend to my correspondence. Rather, Lady Maria decided for me. She told me to make myself scarce as she has a busy morning.”
Anthony raised a quizzical brow. “That doesn't sound like Lady Maria. She is known for her sweet demeanor. Being engaged to you must have brought about the change.”
Lord Gareth smiled and shrugged. “What ails you?” he asked, noting the frown and the angry light in Anthony’s eyes.
“What is Lady Laura’s portion? Have you made it known?”
“What?”
“Someone asked me.”
“What did you say?” Gareth asked.
“I said it was modest.”
“I suppose someone unsuitable wanted to know.”
“You suppose correctly.”
Gareth gripped Anthony’s hand. “You are a good friend. Laura is also fond of you. She looks upon you as another brother.”
“This is Lady Laura’s first Season. She has no experience of the rotten sods who put on a charming front. You must caution her. There are rogues aplenty who will stoop to despicable levels to trap a beautiful and rich young woman.”
Gareth tensed. “Who asked you about Laura?”
“Maxwell and his friends. Rotters, all of them!”
“I’ll warn Laura. She has already made up her mind that she wants to be free to enjoy the Season. My mother and aunt agree. So do I. She deserves to have a good time. I’ve turned down three offers.”
“Anyone I know?” Anthony asked, surprised Gareth hadn’t told him.
“Two were ineligible. I have no qualms about refusing them. The third offer came from the Earl of Ranbaxy. He wanted permission to court Laura.”
“The Earl of Ranbaxy, huh? He’s a decent chap and has a fine estate but he’s a dull dog. Won’t do for Lady Laura. Beneath her quiet ways, she’s a sprite. She isn’t like the other debutantes. She’s real and alive, and free from artifice.”
“She can be quite determined. She came to me this morning, requesting permission to visit some Home for Unfortunate Children. Did she tell you she teaches our tenants’ children? Most of them aren’t keen on learning. Laura makes them attend by doling out sugar candy.”
“Where’s she now?”
“She’s receiving morning callers with my mother and my aunt.”
***
Laura made a demure picture with her hands loosely clasped in her lap and a soft look in her eyes. Her yellow muslin gown had tiny tucks in the bodice, with a broad white sash that showed off her trim figure.
Lord Newington sat to her left. Mr. Bennett sat a little away and glared at his supposed rival. They had taken to calling every morning. Unlike other callers who took leave after ten minutes or so, the two tried to outstay each other. Lord Hennicker was another regular visitor.
Lord Newington and Mr. Bennett were engaged in trying to show the other in a poor light. Lord Hennicker was, as usual, listening to his own voice.
For once, Laura was not conjugating French verbs. Freed of the necessity to attend, her thoughts were far away. She was seeing a glittering ballroom, and a most handsome man leading her to the dance floor. It was a waltz. Her first waltz. She was so lost in imagination, she didn’t notice the door open and her brother come in along with the Duke of Wimberley.
Laura blinked back to reality. She heard Lord Newington say, “Lady Laura, I came with the express purpose of inviting you to ride with me this afternoon.”
“Lady Laura, I was here first. You must ride with me!” Mr. Bennett said, sounding petulant.
“I've been asking you every day!” whined Lord Newington.
Anthony was immediately annoyed. The lackwits were embarrassing Laura. Another debutante might have enjoyed the attention, even played one gentleman against the other. But Laura was looking trapped. She didn't know how to turn them down without giving offense. And if she accepted, her afternoon would be ruined.
“Lady Laura has promised to ride with me,” he announced.
Lord Hennicker placed a hand on his heart. “I am crushed! I anticipated an afternoon with the Lovely Laura. I shall spend it in composing a poem in her honor!”
Lord Newington and Mr. Bennett looked relieved. Perhaps they only wished to be one up on the other. They left, promising to come on the morrow.
Gareth was at the other end of the room, talking to his mother and aunt. Anthony sat down beside Laura. He smiled at her stricken face. “Lady Laura, would you rather have gone with them? Have I bungled into thinking you were in need of a rescue?”
Laura’s heart was beating like a rabbit’s and her face felt like a furnace. Anthony was taking her riding! And when he suggested she needn’t come, she wanted to cry out that of course she did. It was what she dreamed about. Somehow she managed not to disgrace herself and her governess.
“It will be a pleasure, your Grace. It is an uncommonly pleasant day. A ride in Hyde Park will be just the thing, especially as I have a new bonnet that is most cunningly trimmed,” she said, inclining her head to just the right angle so as not to appear eager.
Anthony laughed, feeling light-hearted. Lady Laura was adorable, especially when she was trying so hard to act grown up.
***
Bessie held up a walking dress in pink jonquil.
“Won't it make me look very young?” Laura asked.
“You are young, my lady. What’s wrong with that?”
“I'll wear the green dimity gown with the high collar. The new bonnet matches it. I want you to do my hair again.”
For once, Bessie found Laura difficult to please. Her mistress either found a style too young or unbecoming. When Bessie pointed out that his Grace would be arriving within the hour, she told Bessie to hurry up and pin her hair the way she usually did.
The Duke of Wimberley was waiting in the drawing room. “Shall we leave?” he asked, offering his arm.
Laura accepted. Outside, she faltered at the sight of the fashionable phaeton. It looked impossibly high. “Do you find anything amiss?” Lord Wimberley asked.
Unwilling to confess she had only traveled in carriages and barouches, she smiled brightly and stepped forward. “You will need assistance, Lady Laura!” his Grace said, hurrying to help her up.
Color staining her cheeks, Laura sat up straight and folded her gloved hands primly in her lap. She could have been in a drawing room. When the phaeton started, she lurched forward but managed not to lose her seat or to grip the side.
“The horses seem rather restive,” she said.
“That's because they were made to wait. You have nothing to fear. I can manage them.”
Laura swept a look at his hands holding the reins. They looked relaxed and yet the horses were now galloping. “I'm not frightened.”
“That's what you said when you climbed the peach tree and didn't know how to come down. If my memory isn't failing me, you had the same look on your face.”
Laura gave him an arch look. “Your Grace, I regret to be the one to tell you that your memory is indeed failing. I have no recollection of the incident.”
Anthony smiled and gave his attention to the horses. They were near Hyde Park, and the number of vehicles necessitated some expert manoevring.
It was the hour when Hyde Park was the place to be in if one wanted to be seen. Their leisurely ride was punctuated with people calling out greetings.
Laura was enjoying herself until a carriage pulled alongside theirs. Lady Selena and Lady Goodall were in it. Lady Goodall instructed her coachman to stop. Laura knew good manners dictated that Anthony stop but she wished he would raise a hand in salute and drive on.
After greeting Anthony effusively, Lady Goodall engaged Laura in a bewildering discussion about petunias. Lady Selena got down and walked to the other side, to engage Anthony in conversation. Laura couldn't tell what it was except that Lady Selena laughed a lot and called Anthony a 'naughty man.'
Lady Goodall appeared smug. “Lord Wimberley looks smitten. Lady Selena will be a good choice, she knows how to discipline children.”
A few more titters later, Lady Selena went back to her carriage. After they drove on, Laura noticed that while Anthony was polite and answered her questions, he seemed to have distanced himself. It was as if he couldn't remove himself from her presence quickly enough.
She realized the blunder she had made. He had meant to rescue her from Lord Newington and she had stuck to him like a limpet. Her spirits plummeted. When she saw Anthony looking at her, she fixed a bright smile on her face and started chattering about inane things. Anthony raised an eyebrow as if trying to fathom what had come over her.
But when he brought her back, she couldn't curb her runaway tongue. “I must say you have shown exemplary fortitude, your Grace.”
“What?”
“Thank you for your time, your Grace. I’m sensible to the sacrifice you have made,” she said and turned away before he could see her tears.
Laura rushed up the steps and past the footman at the door. Fortunately, by the time Bessie came in, she was able to regain her composure.
“You look pale, dear,” her mother said, coming in some time later.
“I do feel rather tired.”
“It has been a full week. It will make a nice change to stay at home this evening. Why don't you call it an early night? If you don't feel like dressing for dinner, you can have a tray in your room. If Helena agrees, I'll do the same. We can all do with some rest. None of us is accustomed to so much gaiety.”
Laura changed into a comfortable round gown. Determined not to think about the disastrous ride in the park, she started reading a novel. It didn’t hold her interest. She knew she was being irrational. Anthony had been a gentleman. He had done nothing to offend her. The hour spent in his company was so much more pleasant than being with any other gentleman of her acquaintance.
Laura was nothing but honest. She knew her disquiet was because she was attracted to Anthony. Three times during the drive she had realized she was staring at him. What had come over her? Why was she so aware of everything about his Grace? His hands, his profile, his thick lashes, the golden tints in his thick curly hair.
It wasn't as if she hadn't seen anyone driving a pair of spirited horses. Her brother did. She almost made a fool of herself when he was handing her down. Instead of watching her step, she was gazing into his eyes. Had he not steadied her, she would have tumbled into the mud.
She resolved she would keep away from Anthony. Even if she changed her mind about not becoming attached during the Season, the Duke of Wimberley wasn’t for her. To him, she was still a child. He remembered that she hadn’t been able to get off the peach tree, and the time when she had tumbled off the swing. He thought her a child in need of rescuing. His offer of a ride in the park had been only that.
There was one more reason. A far more important reason why she would avoid him. The Duke of Wimberley still mourned his wife. Lady Maria had told her it had been a love match. Love was a treacherous plant, most difficult to uproot. A person could pine for a lost love for years. Her father had done that. So had her mother.
Whatever feelings she had for Anthony, she would nip them in the bud. That was the sensible thing to do. Difficult, but sensible.