Page 60 of Sincerely, the Duke
She smiled and, for the first time, Rick realized it really wasn’t like Edwina’s smile at all. Eileen’s was more cunning in a determined way. In fact, he was learning all three of the sisters were very different.
“Thank you for listening to me about Mr. Herschel and his sister.”
Rick was not going to get drawn into another conversation with her and have someone else see them together. She had been mistaken for Edwina once, but he wouldn’t press his luck.
“No more talk, Eileen. No more wandering off anywhere without one of your sisters or your aunt by your side. Don’t stand here, go.”
Rick watched Eileen turn and stomp off toward the open doorway of the ballroom. No wonder Lord Quintingham wanted to wash his hands of three young ladies of marriageable age. Getting them married wasn’t going to be as easy as he thought. One seemed to be taken with a reckless blade, the other worried about not being able to see the stars, and his wife was still not his wife.
He didn’t understand either of the sisters. But he was beginning to understand why Edwina had been chosen to take charge of them. Her father must not have trusted the other two to do it.
Edwina had a goal and it hadn’t wavered. She was fighting hard to attain it. A worthy goal for a younger sister to take on. He admired her for that and should tell her. And maybe he shouldn’t have been so rigid about Malcolm. He could understand why Eleonora would be more attracted to the strapping youth with a cocky smile than the older, settled Mr. Mercy.
But Rick hadn’t reached his goal either. He had a wife he wanted but not an heir on the way. He had wooed Edwina today, but he had also argued with her. He smiledto himself. Wooing was much better. His words might have sounded like anger, but he hoped it was annoyance she heard in his tone. No matter. He intended to forget Edwina’s sisters’ issues and continue pursuing his wife.
He watched Eileen disappear inside and headed toward the ballroom himself. It was time to dance with his wife. When he was about to step inside, Malcolm came out and they almost bumped into each other.
They both stepped back. Malcolm quickly bowed. “My apologies, Your Grace.”
Rick had wondered what else was going to happen tonight. Now he knew. The bad penny. “None needed Mr. Malcolm, however you can do me a favor and not go near my sister again.” Rick turned to continue inside.
“Asking your pardon, Your Grace. I’ve already asked if I could call on her tomorrow for a ride in the park and she agreed.”
Rick turned around slowly. The buck’s voice had a slight tremble. His cocky smile was gone and in its place was a sober expression. Rick was happy to see the overconfident attitude he had on the day of their shooting match was gone, but he hadn’t expected him to appear lacking courage.
“But I don’t give my permission and I am her guardian.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he clearly swallowed hard. “Her sister, the duchess, agreed she could go as well.”
What was Edwina thinking? After all Rick told her about this man, she gave permission for a romp around the park?
“She is the most beautiful young lady I’ve ever seen, Your Grace. I watched her at the wedding and tonight.”
Rick took a step toward him. “You watched her?”
Malcolm’s expression brightened and he held up his hands in a show of submission. “Not in a wicked way, Your Grace. I’m quite taken with her. I would never do anything to disrespect her.”
Another stride took Rick toe to toe with the blade. “We are clear on that last statement. I am the one who has say as to whom she courts, Malcolm. You are young, wild, and not ready to settle down.”
“I’m not denying I have fun with my friends after a shooting match and when we are about Town, but I would never mistreat a lady.”
Rick gave him a critical eye. The buck seemed sincere, but then Rick remembered the ribald invitation to join him at the tavern.
“I am looking for her husband.”
Malcolm jerked back a little, and quickly said, “Then I would like to be considered. I knew she was the lady for me the moment I saw her at your house. I’ll court her properly and earn your respect.”
“You can dance with her at parties and balls but there will be no rides in the park. I’ll tell her in the morning that you won’t be calling on her tomorrow.”
Rick turned away. He had to talk to Edwina. And she had to decide if she wantedhimto find her sisters husbands or whethershewanted to do it. It wasn’t working with the two of them sharing the duty.
The music wasn’t any softer as he entered but the crowd had thinned and the roar had settled to more of a hum. Edwina was with his mother. Only now her two sisters, Hurst, Wyatt, and Fredericka had joined them. Obviously, it wasn’t the time for a talk with Edwina about who was in charge of making matches for her sisters. He wanted to woo her, not anger her.
As he approached everyone he watched the way Wyatt and Fredericka were interacting with each other. He could probably use a little friendly advice about wives from his friend. From the loving way Wyatt looked at Fredericka, it didn’t appear he’d ever had a cross word with her.
Rick spoke to everyone before positioning himself close enough to Edwina that his arm brushed against hers. She was quiet and beautiful as she gave him an appreciative glance.
“So nice of you to join us, Your Grace,” his mother offered in her usual formal manner. “I was just saying there’s a lady in my new group, the Insightful Ladies of London Society, who is a stargazer and knows all about the alignment of planets. I’d be happy for Miss Fine to be my guest at a future meeting.”
