Page 21 of Sincerely, the Duke
Alberta gasped, sniffed, and then looked away before turning back to say, “That’s not fair, Your Grace.”
Rick gave her an affectionate smile. “No, but it willbe best. You can invite a few friends if you like. That should make you feel better.”
“No, it doesn’t,” she admitted. “But, of course, I’ll invite a friend or two. What about Miss Fine and her family? Is this what they want? A rushed wedding with not even one small dinner party to announce the engagement before the Season even starts?”
“It starts the next day, Maman. Besides, I plan to see her tomorrow and will make sure she’s accepting with the short notice.” His gaze strayed to the book again and he debated what he should do. “There’s one more thing I need to tell you before I go.”
The dowager braved a smile and lifted her chin. “What’s that?”
“She has red hair and green eyes.”
“Oh, dear, Your Grace. Get my sachet quickly. I think I might faint.”
CHAPTER 8
THE ART OF BEING A FINE GENTLEMAN
SIR DUDLEY SAMSON PEMBERTON FINE
A gentleman should never overburden a lady with too much information.
Familiar sounds of harnesses rattling, wheels rolling on hard-packed ground, and horses clopping along echoed around as Rick drove his curricle down the quiet streets of St. James the next morning. Most of the two- and three-story houses he passed had been built years ago and were close together. Some people called the nestled residences a cozy way to live, while others insisted it was nosey. Either way, there were no secrets among the people in this neighborhood.
The homes in this section of town were separated by fences made from wood, iron, or sometimes a simple hedgerow, but Rick knew such enclosures did little to add to one’s privacy. Aside from some variations in styles and colors, the things that made every home different were the distinctions of flowers, trees, and shrubs gracing front lawns, and the occasional fancy awning of iron or latticework around the front doors.
Bright midday sun had the skies blue and took a bite out of the cool spring air. Rick tapped the ribbons on the horses’ rumps to keep them moving when they slowed.In his eagerness to get to Miss Fine’s leased house, he ignored the friendly greetings of waves, nods, and hat-tipping from pedestrians and other drivers as the horse clipped down the road at a brisk pace.
Rick had already missed Wyatt’s early morning fencing match and would probably miss seeing Hurst run his newest thoroughbred as well, but what the hell. He’d see them in time for his shooting match later in the day. His friends would forgive him for his absence, after they picked themselves up off the ground. News of his upcoming nuptials was sure to have them rolling in laughter.
Hurst was the only one of the three friends who’d been eager to marry, and it looked as if he was going to be the last to tie the knot of matrimony. For reasons Rick didn’t understand, Hurst always talked of wanting to fall in love before saying “I do.”
In order to secure a sizable inheritance he was about to lose, Wyatt had agreed to an arranged marriage last year with a young lady he hadn’t known until a day or two before the wedding. Now he was devotedly in love with Fredericka and happy as a lark perched on the highest branch of a tree on an early summer morning.
News of an impending marriage would be the last thing they’d expect to hear from Rick. He hadn’t seen it coming either. Now that his decision to wed had been made, he was feeling impatient and wanted to get on with it and do right by his father and the title and have an heir as soon as possible. He no longer wanted to leave to chance the possibility of another fierce fever and not living through it. Twice was enough to get his attention.
Besides, Miss Fine captivated him more than any lady he could remember. Yet, his strong, physical reaction to her was interesting, to say the least. He’d never been attracted to redheads, but her hair was beautiful, lush, andmade her green eyes twinkle and sparkle seductively. Especially when she was irritated with him. Which was most of the time they’d spent together yesterday.
When he’d first walked back into his book room with the water for her, he’d been stunned at the sight of her. Not from the color of her hair, but because he immediately envisioned seeing it unpinned and draping across her pale, bare shoulders, delicately covering the tips of her breasts. The image had seared into his mind and he enjoyed remembering it.
Thinking about Miss Fine made him smile as he maneuvered the curricle around and ahead of a slow-moving landau packed full of a family of three or four children who were talking and laughing, and at least one was squealing to the high heavens! He quickly gave the horses leeway to go.
He supposed he most admired Miss Fine’s determination to fight for what she believed was fair when asked repeatedly to leave his house. In the end, she was right to be so insistent. The letter that had been sent to her was not something he’d want her discussing with Mr. Wrightmyer or Palmer.
Perhaps some of her strength came from the fact she wasn’t just fighting for herself but also had a duty to see her older sisters married. The problem was she thought he could create a miracle and do that for her. And he would. Eventually. But by the end of the Season might prove a challenge.
Rick chuckled under his breath. Miss Fine had tried to hide it, but he’d seen how she’d hedged when saying her sisters were alittleolder. No doubt that meant they weremucholder and perhaps not as gorgeous as their younger sister and had already become settled in their lives as spinsters. Which was probably the true reasonthey didn’t want to come to London and marry. All they needed was the right man to tickle their fancy and they’d be ready for the altar.
There was one possible hitch but he could overcome it. Because he’d never made a lot of friends in the ton, Rick didn’t know any of the older bachelors. He’d have to call on Wyatt, Hurst, and others to help him find suitable men to call on the sisters—once they made it to London. He would have them married or betrothed by the end of the Season if he had to wrap the men in pastry dough and sprinkle them with sugared apricots. Perhaps her sisters didn’t know it yet but would learn—dukes could accomplish most anything.
The warmth of the sun on the back of his neck reminded him of Miss Fine’s warm, inviting lips. Their kiss was intensely vivid in his mind. He had no doubt it had been her first. That pleased him and substantiated her claim to innocence. Kisses should be anticipated and wanted but never forced. Unfortunately, Miss Fine was being unreasonable, so on impulse he had been unreasonable in return. The kiss was only meant to give her a truthful purpose to summon her sisters to Town, but it managed to give him a little foresight into his newly betrothed as well.
When he’d held her in his arms, he liked the way she’d felt next to him. Natural, warm, and womanly. It was as if he knew she was the one who belonged in his arms. No other. He’d never had that feeling about a lady before. She smelled of freshly washed skin and hair, not even a hint of rose, lavender, or any other perfumed water on her. Her bosom wasn’t billowy or puffed above the neckline of her dress in a showy manner but seemed to fit nicely with her slender frame.
In the short time he’d held her, he learned she had anarrow waist and gentle, feminine flare to her hips. She’d been so caught off guard by the kiss that she trembled. He wasn’t happy his quick action frightened her, but it was necessary, and her reaction had told him a lot about her. The fact that she was appropriately abashed with shock and outrage at his tactics, and wasn’t willing to lie to her sisters, let him know her standards were high.
By all he could tell, it appeared that fate had been good to him when his finger stopped on Miss Fine’s name. Now he hoped fate would be equally generous and make their first babe a son.
Rick continued to ponder as he guided the horses onto the street where Miss Fine was residing. Though he was committed, he wasn’t without concerns. He didn’t know how successful he would be at having a wife. All his life he’d enjoyed being alone. Something that had never been allowed him as a child or young man. His mother saw to it there were always servants, governesses, or tutors hovering around waiting and wanting to do everything for him. Even as he grew older and managed to slip away to explore the woods or take his horse out for an early morning ride by himself, it wouldn’t be long before he realized someone had followed to keep watch.
