Page 51 of Pursuing a Duke
“Indeed,” Lady Langford said. “However, sometimes fake things have a way of becoming real.”
“Not this time,” Andrew said. He turned his attention to Langford and Caldwell. “Do you know of anyone seeking a bride besides Hollingsworth?”
“No,” Langford replied. “But let me mull it over.”
“Me as well,” Caldwell said. “My brother needs a wife and keeper, but I’m afraid Lady Beatrice won’t do.” He nodded his head toward her. “You are gracious and kind, and my brother needs a lady capable of leading men into battle against France.”
Lady Beatrice laughed, then covered it up. “Forgive me.”
“Not necessary—I speak the truth. I wouldn’t want to foist him off on someone so innocent and kind as yourself,” Caldwell said thoughtfully. “He would make you miserable.”
“Please,” she begged, “if he’ll have me, I will marry him anyway. I refuse to allow this sham of an engagement to go on longer than necessary. At this point, I have resigned myself to a loveless and unhappy marriage, and it’s nothing I don’t deserve.”
“Nonsense, Lady Beatrice,” Caldwell said. “None of this is your doing.”
“No, it is not,” she replied. “Yet here we are.”
Listening to Caldwell and Lady Beatrice speak as though they were alone made Andrew think wild things. Despite what he’d said earlier to the earl, the two of them may make the perfect couple after all.
Their conversation was interrupted when the next set began with a waltz, and Andrew knew everyone would expect the newly affianced couple to take to the dance floor. He turned to Lady Beatrice and bowed. “May I have this dance?”
She placed her hand on his forearm, and he escorted her through the crush of bodies onto the dance floor. He led her around the polished floor and noticed how graceful she was. “You dance beautifully,” he said.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she said with a blush. “I had the best dancing master in London.”
“Indeed. I’m sure he knew if he didn’t take you on as his pupil, your mother would, no doubt, ruin him.”
She looked affronted. “She is not all that bad, Your Grace. She has my best interests in mind.”
“Yes, how well I know. Why is she not on her way to the country by now?”
“My father always forgives her.”
Not liking that answer, he made a mental note to watch his back. Could he have welcomed the fox into the hen house with his agreement to a fake engagement? When there was a slowing in the tempo and a reprieve from twirling, he asked, “What did you think when your father told you about the plan?” He studied her face carefully for any sign of deception. By all appearances, she appeared an innocent young lady, but she was her mother’s daughter after all.
“Truthfully, I was shocked. First, my heart was broken when I found out about Baron Godfrey and how he deceived me, and then when Papa told me about our engagement and that it was fake.” Her eyes looked sad. “That he was looking for a gentleman to marry me off to.” Her eyes suddenly turned angry and fierce. “How would you feel, Your Grace, if people toyed with your life and future? If you never had a say in anything?”
“Quite angry, I imagine. Fortunately, I was born a male and am now a duke. However, I understand somewhat, thanks to your mother and what she did to me.”
“I’m sorry, my parents go too far this time, pulling you into their schemes. And I’m just a pawn in their chess game, as always, being moved from square to square for their benefit. They get my hopes up, and then, in time, I will be cast aside and thrust onto some other man to do with me as he will. My feelings and emotions are scattered all over. One moment, I want to scream, and the next, cry my heart out.”
The way she described her life sounded terrible. At least it appeared he had Lady Beatrice’s support in ending the ruse as quickly as possible.
When the last chord played, he escorted Lady Beatrice to her parents, made excuses, and left the ball, seeking the solitude of his study and a bottle of brandy. His mind and feelings were scattered as well, and he needed to mull things over before he exploded.
