Page 22 of It's All About the Duke
“I came in to pick up something for my ward thatsheneeded.” Rath lifted the package to their eye level, innocently bobbing it for their discomfort.
“Ward?” Esmeralda exclaimed.
“Yes. A young lady.”
“You?”
It appeared Esmeralda was finally regaining her composure. “What about me?” he asked inoffensively.
“Shopping for a ward in here.” Loretta added, as indignant as Esmeralda had been. “You’re unsuitable to be responsible for a young lady.”
A feminine, “Yes, quite,” from Esmeralda followed suit. “You must be teasing us.”
Rath enjoyed them taking him to task. Especially now that the duchesses were getting over their astonishment at seeing him and were taking him to task. At first, he thought he’d have to bring out the smelling salts for them. Their demonstration that he lacked abilities to take proper care of Miss Fast didn’t stress him nearly as much as they were anguished at the possibility of him doing it.
“I’m not trying to fool you about this, ladies, and I beg to differ with you on my qualifications to be a responsible guardian. Women like me, and I, in turn, respect and appreciate them.”
“A bit too much, I’d say,” Loretta’s gaze remained fixed on his countenance.
Esmeralda blurted, “How did the poor unfortunate fall under your guardianship?”
“I was asked. By a family friend—who holds me in high regard.” Not quite the whole truth, but close enough. “And as unthinkable as it sounds for me to be responsible for a young lady, I’ve embraced the idea and am ready to take it on.”
“The poor lamb,” Esmeralda whispered.
Loretta didn’t let up, either. “What do you know about being a proper guardian to a young lady?”
“Not much,” he admitted honestly. It was easy to do since he knew the ladies so well.
“Who is she?” Esmeralda asked.
“Miss Marlena Fast. She’s not made her debut and I don’t think you would know of her. She was the ward of my father’s dearest friend. His ill health makes it impossible for him to continue.”
Loretta dug her teeth in and asked, “Rath, have you told our husbands about this outrageous situation?”
“No, but I believe they will hear about this today.” He feigned false encouragement. “I’ll await their gallant responses and their reprimands.”
Fortunately, Miss Fast was the reason he was in here, and she had given him the perfect justification to prolong this conversation a little longer and get him some much-needed help, too.
“I’m glad I ran into you today, Esmeralda.”
Clearly she wasn’t glad to be meeting him in Miss Lola’s shop.
“I was going to stop in at Miss Mamie Fortescue’s Employment Agency later today. I believe you were managing the place when you and Griffin met.”
“Yes,” she said warily. “That’s right.”
“Perhaps you could help me with something and save me the trouble of going by. If you wouldn’t mind?”
“Oh, well, yes, of course, if you need me.” She looked around the room quickly as if to assure herself there was no one else there to watch her continue to converse with a gentleman. “You know I’d be happy to help with anything I can—within reason. What did you have in mind?”
“I’m looking for a finishing governess for my ward.” Now that he’d said the words, he wasn’t sure exactly what they were called. He had little to no experience with a young lady who hadn’t made her debut. The ones he knew were already properly set for Society with all they needed by the time he was introduced to them.
He really didn’t know what went into getting a young lady ready for the Season other than fashions and the coveted invitations to the best parties and teas. There had to be more to it than that. Over the years he’d heard fathers talk about spending small fortunes to get their daughters ready for their debuts into Society and hopefully wedded bliss.
“I need someone who can prepare Miss Fast for the Season. Clothing, invitations to balls, Almack’s. Everything. All of it. Do you know someone to suggest?”
With his sincere request for her help and genuine regard for his ward’s welfare, Esmeralda’s expression turned inquisitive and she asked, “How old is she?”
