Page 38 of Yours Truly, the Duke
Fredericka swallowed hard. “That’s true, but many couples aren’t trying to gain custody of children.”
“Surely Mrs. Tomkin doesn’t think our living arrangements will matter in Chancery.”
It was as if he wasn’t listening to her. “That’s the problem, Wyatt. She does, and so far you and I have done nothing to make her believe otherwise. That is why I’m suggesting I stay here and we do things together. Nelson has made claims that his brother Viscount Longington knows the Lord Chancellor well and can persuade him to see things Jane’s way.”
Wyatt’s eyes seemed to study her for a bit too long before he spoke. “There are reasons the two of us and the children doing things together as a family won’t work.”
She folded her hands across her chest in frustration and stared at his handsome face with determination. “You don’t have to remind me it wasn’t part of our arrangement.”
“Good. I don’t have time for walks in the park and rowing on the Serpentine, Fredericka. My training schedule and tournaments for the Brass Deck Club are long, often, and hectic.”
“Training?” She had heard of men’s sporting clubs where all manner of skills were tested and enormous amounts of money were won or lost on the outcome of the games and matches.
“Billiards, fencing, and cricket as well as others. We take each tournament seriously. Especially this time of year. A great number of wealthy people are in Town for the Season and they want to gamble on their favorite team. It’s the opportune time to have tournaments for the men to attend, enjoy, and place their wagers. There are several events already lined up. I have to practice and stay focused in order to make sure I win my games.”
“Really, Your Grace!” she exclaimed. “I would think my problem is a little more important than a cricket match or horse race.”
His eyes softened and searched hers. “I know, and I’ll handle this problem for you, but it won’t be by rides in the park.”
He seemed to be trying to convince himself more than her that he would get it done. “Today?” she questioned because he seemed hesitant to commit.
Wyatt shrugged, and then gave her a reassuring smile. “I don’t see why not. I don’t personally know the Lord Chancellor, the Master of the Rolls, or anyone else in Chancery, but I daresay they will listen to me over Viscount Longington and Mr. Tomkin. I have other plans and obligations I must attend to today, but I’ll take care of this as well and a carriage so you can be on your way back to Paddleton.”
“Plans?” she asked, with an unexpected flare of emotion and frustration that he wouldn’t even consider her idea after she’d come all the way to London to present it to him. He was dismissing her as if she were an unwanted fly buzzing about his head. And not for the first time. Blinking rapidly, she held back the threat of tears gathering behind her eyes.
Unreasonably, she asked, “Do those plans also happen to include the young lady you were dancing with?”
Keeping his gaze solidly on hers, he said, “We might as well talk about Priscilla and get it over with.”
Priscilla.
It wasn’t surprising she had a name as lovely as her face and as graceful as her dancing.
“It’s none of my concern. No, I shouldn’t have asked. I don’t want to hear about her,” Fredericka admitted honestly, and glanced away from his tight expression of irritation. She just wanted him to help her keep Angela’s children for her own.
“You brought her up,” he reminded.
She glanced back at him and matched him gaze-for-gaze. “I changed my mind.”
“I don’t intend to keep this insignificant matter hanging between us, Fredericka. There’s no reason to. I’ve wanted to tell you about her since you arrived.”
“Very well. I suppose I have been curious and I do need to know.”
“Miss Priscilla Fenway is the sister of a good friend I’ve known since my days at Eton. Grant’s not a wealthyman but a good man who would like to see his sister marry well. So would I. Since the day of Priscilla’s birth fell during her debut Season, I offered to give a party in her honor. I’m sure you know having a duke host an evening for a young lady increases her chances for getting suitable offers and making a good match. Rick and Hurst were involved in the arrangements too. We all wanted to do this for Grant and Priscilla.”
His answer sounded reasonable, kind even, but it also brought up the question, “Why didn’t you marry her instead of me? That would have settled your problem and hers.”
“She’s a sister to me and always has been,” he answered, his tone becoming less tolerant. “But even if she wasn’t, do you really think I’m capable of pursuing a young lady I couldn’t possibly marry?”
“No, I guess not,” she answered honestly, feeling her own temperature rising.
Wyatt stepped in closer to her once again and put his hands on his hips. “You aren’t convincing me, Fredericka.”
“You two were the only ones on the floor in what seemed an intimate embrace. The truth is that I have no idea what you’ve been doing in London these weeks we’ve been apart other than what has been written in the scandal sheets. And quite frankly, they haven’t been flattering to either one of us.”
A muscle worked in his jaw and his eyes flared with anger. “The scandalmongers make their money by dreaming up and printing outrageous stories to entertain the ton and anyone else who will read them. You know that. You should also know ruining a proper young lady for my own pleasure isn’t something I would ever do. I have a mistress for that.”
Stunned by his outrage, by his words, she could only whisper, “You have a mistress?”
