Page 19 of It's All About the Duke
“I’m sorry, Justine.” Marlena took no pleasure in remaining firm on this, but she had to stay near Eugenia and finish the scandal sheet through this Season. “I know you would enjoy it but I wouldn’t. I have declined and he’s agreed. The matter is settled already. I may have to change guardians but I refuse to change houses, too.”
Justine stared pensively at Marlena and looked as if she might say more on the subject but instead said, “Well, we’ll leave it at that for now. As I said, we will tell no one about any of this until I speak to the duke.”
“Thank you for understanding,” Marlena said quietly.
“Of course,” Justine said and sniffed loudly. “We’ll stay here. Poor Mr. Olingworth has done right by you all these years. We shall never forget him. A sad thing for him to have passed, I know. But we won’t dwell on that, will we, my dear? This news of your new guardian is too exhilarating and should be given its due significance.”
“Justine, no. Mr. Olingworth hasn’t passed on. He’sstill with us as of now. It’s just that he is making arrangements for my future while he still can.”
“Oh. Well. Even better for the poor soul. How thoughtful of him to keep you out of the hands of the Chancery Court. Now, that would have been madness. Dreadful. There’s no telling who they might have chosen as your guardian. You can’t trust the lot of them. It’s all about giving favors to their cronies and to whomever slips them the most money.”
“I think I would have been better off,” Marlena answered quickly. “I doubt they would have selected someone for me with the reputation of the Duke of Rathburne.”
“It’s true. They wouldn’t have even considered asking a duke at all. The titled don’t usually bother with such matters unless a very close relative is involved. That’s why I must hear everything from the duke. I will speak to him about how this came about. It’s probably because he remembers me from our dance and wanted to help me. I was the diamond of the Season, you know.”
Marlena knew. She’d heard it several times a day since she’d come to live with Justine. At first Marlena thought she’d get used to the constant reminder. But that day hadn’t come.
“I’ll find out everything,” Justine continued. “First, did you tell Eugenia why the duke was here?”
“Yes, of course. I tell her everything. You know that.”
“I do. That is why you must head over to the Portingtons’ house right now and make sure Eugenia knows shemust nottell a soul about this. She’s probably already told her sister and Mr. Portington, too, but make certain they know they must keep quiet about this.”
“Justine, I don’t think we need worry about that. They would never tell anything heard in this house.”
Her cousin raised her eyebrows and said, “We won’t take any chances. This will be my news to tell when thetime is right. I’ll probably tell Lady Westerbrook first. She’d like that and she can help me make a list of who to inform. Now you run along next door. I can’t have them spreading this news before we are ready. We must do a little celebration tonight. Some amount is necessary, appropriate even.” She stopped and shook her head as she looked at the hem of Marlena’s dress. “And then up to your room and change. I see a smudge of dirt on your skirt. No doubt from the garden. I can tell by the color in your cheeks.”
There hadn’t been a ray of sunshine all day. It wasn’t the sun that had put flush to Marlena’s complexion. It was the duke.
Though Marlena knew she spent too much time outside, she tried to always wear a wide-brimmed hat even when there was no sparkling sunshine but… she often looked up at the sky, even if only to watch the dark gray thunder clouds to determine how long she could stay out before the raindrops started falling.
“I hope the duke didn’t see the soil on the hem of your dress,” Justine continued. “And I do hope that you will stay out of the garden now that it appears you have such an esteemed benefactor. I’m going to tell Mrs. Doddle we’ll need a special dinner tonight. We’re going to dine and celebrate as we did when I was younger.” She stopped and smiled pleasantly as her bare shoulders lifted and her chest stuck proudly out once more. “You are under the protection of a duke. Which means I am, too, because I am the family member in charge of you. A duke! How good can one’s life get? Tell me I am not dreaming. No, don’t tell me.” She turned to walk out.
“But wait,” Marlena called to her. “Justine, doesn’t it trouble you at all that such a man, a rake, a scoundrel, a rogue, and a libertine, will have control over my life?”
Justine blinked, clearly not expecting such a reactionfrom Marlena. “Not in the least. I’m sure he’s all that you say he is and more. Thunderbolts and lightning, dear girl, what’s the problem? He’s going to be your guardian, not your husband.”
“And I thank the angels who watch over me for that,” Marlena murmured under her breath.
“So what are you worried about?” Justine’s brows went up again and she seemed to be studying over something while she fingered the topaz again. “Though I can’t say it would be horrible if he has designs on me. And I think he might. I mean he wants to see me. And I have been married and know how to please a man.”
Marlena gasped.
Justine cupped her hands under her breasts and lifted them up and then touched her hair. “Well, I won’t say more on that subject. Such talk is not for your tender ears. Now please go next door before Veronica and Eugenia start gossiping and then do change into a gown. We are dining tonight as the elite of Society do. We have returned to it, my dear, and high time. We shall enjoy every moment of it while His Grace makes his intentions known to me and finds you a suitable husband. He probably already has someone in mind for you. Having the Duke of Rathburne as your guardian just made you the diamond of the Season as I was a few years ago—not too many years ago, mind you. We must rejoice!”
Justine laughed heartily as she floated out of the room. Marlena grimaced and folded her arms across her chest. The words her cousin spoke seeped into her soul.
A husband.
What would she do with a husband?
And what would she do withMiss Honora Truth’s Weekly Scandal Sheet?
Chapter 5
He could be a rake if he goes to an inappropriate establishment and enjoys himself.
MISSHONORATRUTH’SWORDS OFWISDOMANDWARNINGABOUTRAKES, SCOUNDRELS, ROGUES, ANDLIBERTINES
