Page 9 of It's All About the Duke
“You don’t need to. Most of them already know.”
“Apparently you don’t. You might as well get used to the fact I may not say things the way you’re used to hearing them. I’m not trying to be callous, just to get acrossmy point that you need things I can’t personally take care of for you.”
“And here is my answer to you,” she argued without fear of retribution. “Mr. Olingworth made sure I was well schooled in all necessary areas. I have mastered mathematics, sciences, French, the pianoforte, how to manage a household, and many other things. Everything he required of me, in fact. I don’t need furthertrainingon any subject.”
Much to her surprise, his expression softened. An attractive smile formed on the duke’s lips. And much to her annoyance, it calmed her and soothed her anger.
“You were digging in the garden when I arrived, Miss Fast.”
“No,” she countered cautiously, and noticed that Tut wandered out of the room as if he was tired of listening to them banter. “I wasn’t digging. I wasn’t. Merely cutting the herbs for Mrs. Doddle. Because I enjoy it. Not because I must.”
“Fine,” he said, but the humor in his expression let her know he didn’t believe her. “And fine, that you need no further lessons added to your accomplishments. But there are other things you do need before you curtsy before the Queen, make your debut, and enter Society. You must have connections to the proper ladies of thetonwho can handle getting you invitations to the balls, private parties, teas, and the many other events that Society deems necessary for a young lady who is seeking a husband. You need clothing, gowns, gloves, and all that finery ladies put in their hair with feathers, beads, and ribbons to wear to balls. I don’t know about these things, but I will employ someone for you who does.”
Marlena had no argument for what he said. It was true. She had no connections to high Society and Justine’swere limited, even though her cousin liked to think otherwise. Marlena had no proper clothing or a piece of jewelry of any kind to wear to a ball. She’d never had need of a silk gown or a velvet reticule. She didn’t favor stiff, satin-covered bonnets that were worn for show. She preferred her straw hats. They were useful, malleable over time. Jewelry around her neck would probably just be a bother and become as tangled as her ribbon. She’d be pulling at it all the time. She had no use for delicate fabrics, either. They were expensive, easy to snag, and difficult to keep clean.
“I’m sure you didn’t want to hear that I’m your new guardian,” the duke said with a tone of finality.
“That is putting it mildly, Your Grace,” she answered, her irritation at being in the unimaginable position of being the ward of the Duke of Rathburne weighing heavily on her.
“Quite frankly, I wish it wasn’t so, too.”
“I’m not sure that’s apparent to me.”
“Then let me make it clear. No matter the reason I accepted this responsibility, I am committed to taking care of you. We both must deal with this because it isn’t going to change until you are wed.”
“Then may I be wed quickly,” she said tartly.
“The sooner the better,” he quipped right back at her.
“That’s the first thing you’ve said that I happen to agree with.”
“Good,” he said with fierce concentration. “Because surely even you know how damned lucky it makes you to be the ward of a duke.”
They both sucked in a deep breath.
Marlena was quite simply stunned by the duke’s proclamation and apparently he was, too. If he’d been looking for a way to silence their heated exchange, he’d found it. Marlena had no words to refute the duke’s blunt remark. She was a practical person in all things and couldn’t deny there would be many benefits to being under a duke’s protection. All he said would be true—if she were anyone other than Miss Marlena Fast who wrote as Miss Honora Truth.
“And yes,” he continued in a softer voice, “you might as well realize now that I sometimes swear in front of ladies. You’ll have to get used to that as well.”
“Contrary to what you must be thinking, it doesn’t surprise me at all that you use such language in the presence of a lady.”
“It looks as if we both have a lot of understanding to come to, but there’s one thing that will not change. I’m in charge, Miss Fast, not you. I know you find me unsuitable to be your guardian, but I would have never thought you one to flee from a good challenge.”
“Flee?” She huffed as her fighting spirit rose up within her. If she had to accept the duke as her guardian, so be it. She would, but she would do it on her terms. “I wouldn’t run away from you, a wasp, or the ghost haunting the darkened hallways of a manor house. It would take a far bigger ogre than you to set me on my heels. I will agree to attend the upcoming Season to satisfy your responsibility. However, I will insist on a husband of my choice, and I want to continue to live here. I’ve been in this house for almost three years now and don’t want to be uprooted. I know all my neighbors. They are good people. Besides, I have a special friend who lives next door. I’d be heartbroken to leave.”
His eyes narrowed in displeasure. “You have a beau?”
“Of course not. Yet I’m not surprised that’s where your mind immediately went. Eugenia Everard has been a good companion, and our friendship is important to me. Her mother died when she was young and her father passed on a few years ago so she lives with her sister,Veronica, and her husband. Veronica is important to me, too. I don’t want to move away from them.”
“All right,” he grumbled impatiently. “Since that is all you ask of me. You may continue to live here. Perhaps it will be for the best anyway, as I reside only a street away. It will be convenient for me to stop by often and check in with you.”
“You live in St. James?” That wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “I assumed you lived in Mayfair.”
“We were called the Rakes of St. James, Miss Fast, not the Rakes of Mayfair. I prefer residing in my smaller town home closer to the clubs. Though my guests usually stay at my Mayfair house when in London.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” she said quietly. “I should have known a duke would have more than one home.”
Without another word, the duke closed the scant distance between them. The toes of his boots brushed the hem of her dress. Heat from his powerful body reached out to her.
