A Duke's Garden of Love: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 14

  “Yes, well, maybe I can even dance with Miss Fleet whilst you dance with Miss Grimes. That would be a good distraction,” he said, as if it did not terrify him to think of dancing with her every bit as much as it excited him.

  He wanted to be brave. He wanted to be the sort of man who could easily go out and be among others. But in all this time that he had struggled to do so, Albion still had not learned the best way to manage his nerves.

  He truly was eager to see how this was going to go. But he was glad that he was not going to be alone. He only hoped that while Theodore enjoyed his evening, he would not forget to check on Albion.

  He checked his cravat once more, ensuring that it was positioned properly. At last, he thought he looked the part of a gentleman, but not one who was so much higher in society than those among whom he would be that evening.

  Finally, they were ready. As Theodore led Albion to the door, he took a deep breath.

  He was ready. He had to be. This was going to be a night to remember and he wanted to keep that memory close. The last thing he wanted was to lose an opportunity to enjoy himself and to impress the woman who had his heart.

  “What do I call myself?” he asked as they climbed into the coach.

  “What do you mean?” Theodore asked.

  “I do not wish for anyone to know that I am a duke. What should I call myself?” he asked again.

  “You may simply introduce yourself as Mr. Brightling. There are not enough there who will connect you with your title. They do not all know the names of English nobility. So if you say that you are Mr. Brightling, no one will assume that you are the Duke of Somerfield,” Theodore said, reassuring him.

  “Excellent. Very well. But I will need you to ensure that Miss Fleet and Miss Grimes are made aware. Your cousin is always so polite in her greetings and I do not wish for her to call me by any sort of title,” he said.

  “Are you certain? No one will mind if you go as yourself,” Theodore said.

  Albion thought about it for a moment. But there would be no one else of nobility in attendance. No, it was far better that he pretend not to be. He wanted to blend in with the others. This was the best way to do that.

  “Thank you, but I prefer this idea. I am more than happy to be Mr. Brightling,” he said.

  “Very well, then. Mr. Brightling you shall be. And Mr. Brightling,” Theodore said, “I believe is going to have a very wonderful evening.”

  Chapter 19

  The previous dance had been awful, but Rosamund was eager to try another. She did not know whether or not Mr. Filbert would be in attendance, but she hoped to avoid him as much as possible if he was. The last thing she wanted was to be overcome and distracted by his presence, so she hoped that she would be able to focus on enjoying herself and dancing with others.

  She would have Juliet at her side to ensure that she was not alone. Not only that, but Theo was coming. Certainly, Theodore would make sure that she was looked after. If her father was not going to hold Mr. Filbert to account, Theodore would.

  She was looking forward to enjoying the season, rather than simply trying to survive it. It appeared as though she was going to have an opportunity to dance with quite a number of men. They were far more in attendance this time than there had been the previous time.

  As she was looking around the room, Juliet came up to her.

  “What do you think? This is just a little bit nicer than the last one,” Juliet said.

  “Yes, I agree. Although I did prefer the refreshments at the previous one. There were those delightful little cakes like one might have at a wedding,” she said, remembering the fruitcakes soaked in brandy and cut into small pieces for everyone to eat as they wished.

  Rosamund and Juliet wandered through the throngs of people and stood near the dance floor so they might observe those who were already enjoying themselves.

  “Do you think she had that bow especially made?” Juliet whispered with a laugh, observing an oversized, outlandish bow in one woman’s hair.

  “I certainly hope not. That would mean she paid extra for it and no one should ever have to pay for anything so hideous,” Rosamund replied, feeling very naughty for having mocked another person. She very rarely engaged in gossip like this, but there was something about the air of the dance that just lent itself to mockery.

  “Oh, I can see from your face that you are disappointed in yourself,” Juliet said.

  “You can tell? Oh, and I thought I was justifying it to myself so well. Anyway, yes, I would rather not make sport of others like that,” Rosamund said.

  “You are no fun at all,” Juliet complained in jest.

  It was delightful, having this time with her friend to be girlish. So often, they were trying to be mature and attempting to display their dedication to matrimony and propriety. But what she really wanted was to enjoy herself.

  She did not yet see Mr. Filbert and that relieved her. At least she was not going to be swept up by his arrogance. She would not have to experience his behavior so early in the evening.

  “I have not seen your intended,” Juliet said, as if reading her thoughts.

  “Nor have I. I was only just thinking how fortunate I am for that. But I have also not seen my cousin, which saddens me on your behalf. Let us hope that he arrives quickly. I should like for you to dance with him as soon as you are able so that you have the rest of the evening to then reflect upon the dance,” Rosamund said.

  “I am sure that he shall be here soon enough,” Juliet said.

  “Yes, he shall. And I am glad that you are being so patient. I know that it is difficult to hold yourself together when there is someone you want so dearly to be around,” she said, feeling they weight of such a burden on her own shoulders as well. At least Juliet had an interest in a man who could actually attend a dance like this one.

  “Oh, come and see this!” Juliet said, whisking her away.

  They wandered the hall, leaving the ballroom and investigating other rooms as well. But, at last, they returned to the main hall where the dances were held and waited to see who might be the loveliest dancer of them all.

  She and Juliet were truly having a marvellous time. And just in the middle of it, she saw Theodore entering the room. To her other shock and amazement, he was accompanied by none other than the Duke of Somerfield, Lord Brightling.

  She was shocked and grabbed Juliet by the arm.

  “J-Juliet. Tell me that my eyes are not seeing what I believe they are seeing,” she said.

  Juliet turned and gasped.

  “My goodness. Is that…?” she asked.

  “Yes, it is. It is the Duke of Somerfield. He is here. In this very room. Why is he here?” she asked, her voice trilling into a high pitch.

  “Be calm. Everything is going to be fine. I am certain that he wants to enjoy the dance this evening, perhaps even that he wishes to dance with you. There is nothing about which you must be concerned,” Juliet said.

  “But he is here. Why would he come to a dance like this? He does not go out in public. At all,” Rosamund insisted.

  “Yes, well, it would appear that he has changed his mind,” Juliet said.

  In a panic, Rosamund wanted to rush from the room. She could not explain why, but for some reason seeing him there only made her feel as though she needed to hide.

  Perhaps it was because she was so desperate for him to dance with her. Maybe the fact that she had feelings for him was only causing her shame.

  But Rosamund did not have time to run away. She did not have a chance to escape.

  Theodore quickly came over to her, rushing as if he had something very important to say.

  “Good evening, Rosie, Miss Grimes,” he said, barely making eye contact with Juliet because he was clearly so nervous.

  “Theodore, what are you doing? What is he doing? Why would you bring a duke to an event such as this?” Rosamund asked him, anxiously.

  “I have come to tell you that I brought my dear friend, Mr. Brightling. No on
e else. No other name. He goes only by Mr. Brightling. That is what he is called,” Theodore said.

  Rosamund paused.

  “What are you speaking about?” she asked.

  “I am telling you that my friend wished to come to the dance this evening,” Theodore said, his eye conveying that they had best play along with his story. “And I told Mr. Brightling, my friend, that he was welcome to attend if he so wished.”

  Mr. Brightling. So she had to pretend that he was not a duke? She had to pretend that this was someone else entirely?

  It was strange, somewhat funny. But she admired the ways in which he tried to be normal. To Rosamund, it appeared that he was simply desperate to be among regular society. Rather than the heights of his own station, he wanted to be with theirs.

  “I cannot believe he would come like this, that he would want to be here. Theodore, has he gone mad? Or does he really think he can be happy dancing among the likes of us?” Rosamund asked.

  “He wanted to come and he wishes to dance with you at some point in the evening, I believe,” Theodore said.

  “With me?” she asked, her voice squeaking.

  “You shall just have to wait and see if he asks you. Honestly, I cannot see why he would not. Regardless, you are going to have to spend some time with him this evening,” Theodore said.

  “And why is that?” she asked.

  “Because I do have a couple of other things which I must do and he will be very anxious if he is left all on his own as he is now,” Theodore said, gesturing for him to join them.

  “No, what are you doing? Do not have him come over here. Now,” she said.

  But the duke was quickly coming over to be with them anyway, having seen that Theodore had already given them the warning.

  And as he drew near, Theodore turned to Juliet.

  “Very well. Now that our friends are here, ready to keep one another company, I had wondered if you might be willing to join me for a dance?” Theodore said to her.

  “Me?” Juliet asked, although there was clearly no one else Theodore was asking.

  “Yes, indeed. I should like very much to dance with you,” he said.

  “Oh, I would be delighted,” she replied.

  “Excellent. Thank you. I do hope that you do not mind my skills. I am far from excellent, but I do believe that I am adequate,” Theodore said.

  “Oh, I have no doubt that you are going to put me to shame. I am far from skilled,” Juliet said, even though Rosamund knew her to be an excellent dancer.

  Rosamund was happy for them, and delighted that they were going to have a dance together. They had both wanted it and she was glad that it was going to be fulfilled.

  Theodore led Juliet to the dance floor. As he did so, it left Rosamund behind with the duke.

  “I have a very wonderful and strong feeling that the two of them are going to enjoy their evening together,” the duke said with a laugh.

  “Oh, yes. Absolutely,” she replied. “I know that they have each been hoping for this and, one by one, they have come to me asking about the other. I wish that they would simply get engaged already.”

  The duke laughed. He, too, clearly thought it would be a good idea.

  “Do you think they will begin an official courtship within these coming weeks?” the duke asked.

  “I am not certain, but I hope so. I know that Juliet is more than ready and her mother and father will likely approve of just about any man who has a decent position,” she said.

  “Is that so?” the duke asked.

  “Yes, it is. But she is not the sort to choose a man based on his wages. She likes Theo for his heart. And I believe he likes her for the same. He is always staring at her if she is within view and he finds excuses, reasons to bring her up in conversation,” she said.

  “It sounds like love to me,” the duke said.

  “I thought the very same thing. They are so fond of one another, it might as well be love,” she said.

  “And do you think they will marry before you do? Your cousin told me that you have been pushing back the date of the wedding,” the duke said.

  Rosamund could not look at him directly for a moment. He was mentioning something which brought her deep shame, but she was also still caught up in the fact that she had come to like him which was even more shameful.

  “I wish I knew what to say in that regard,” she said.

  “But you do not?” he asked.

  “No, I fear that I do not. I know that I must marry him at some point, but I am doing all that I may to keep it from being soon,” Rosamund said.

  “I understand,” he replied. “Well, I do not, actually. I have never been forced into a marriage which I did not want.”

  He smiled at her, both amusement and apology on his face. She laughed in reply and shrugged.

  “It is what it is,” Rosamund said, turning directly to him.

  It looked as though he had a question for her. She was not sure what he wanted to ask, but she was ready to answer. She was ready to answer him anything.

  Something about this man, this duke, left Rosamund utterly longing to hear what was on his heart. And by the time he opened his mouth to ask, she was ready.

  “Miss Fleet, I wondered if you might be willing to dance with me.”

  Chapter 20

  “You know this dance?” Miss Fleet asked as the music began.

  “I do indeed. I actually know all of the dances quite well. You may not know it now, but I was always rather fond of dancing. I attended very many balls before…what happened…and whenever I could, I would indulge in a dance,” Albion said.

  He remembered how much he had loved it back in those days. He would dance with his mother, the sisters of his friends, any young lady in whom he might have some interest. But all of that was so long ago and he had never really cared enough for any of those young women to proceed with interest.

  Instead, he had lost everyone and withdrawn and not looked back. This was the first time Albion had danced in somewhere close to five years. He could hardly believe it. He felt so old when he recognised that fact. And when he looked at how young Miss Fleet was, how she was still so fresh in society, having entered it only a few years before, he wished that she had been at the balls he used to attend.

  But as it was, they had now this moment. He spun her when the moment came and placed his hand upon hers in another instant. Their eyes met as they moved with the music and he was delighted that they had this time to share with one another.

  “Do you often go to dances?” he asked.

  “When I am able. But I am glad for the season now,” she replied.

  “As am I,” he said.

  “Why are you coming to a dance like this when there are grand balls all over society in London?” she asked.

  “Because this is where I belong,” Albion said as if it were obvious.

  “How can that be? You are not like the rest of us,” Miss Fleet retorted, although there was sweetness in her gaze.