Page 33 of The Duke on Her List
“I’m so glad you could all make it,” his wife, Susan, said, beaming at everyone. “Agnes, we had hoped we would see you here, given…what people are saying.”
“What they’re saying about her suitor, you mean?” Reeves asked, raising an eyebrow. “Is the fellow here? I would very much liketo meet him. I have a few questions for him, if he’s going to be courting my sister.”
“I haven’t seen him yet,” Norman said. “If I do, rest assured I will point him in your direction, Reeves. I’m almost as eager for that conversation as you are.” He grinned. “I can’t wait to see what you’re going to say to the Duke of Bellmoor about his scandalous relationship with your sister.”
“Oh, Norman, stop that,” Susan chided. “We all know there was nothing scandalous about it. That’s just the gossips making things up again, just like they always do.”
“Though my sister does seem to provide the gossips with an unusually high volume of material,” Reeves murmured.
“I can’t help it if I’m interesting,” Agnes said, raising an eyebrow.
“But you can help it that you draw attention to yourself,” her brother countered.
“Be happy tonight,” Norman said. “Enjoy the party. And enjoy meeting the Duke of Bellmoor! I’m sure you two will find plenty to like about one another once you really settle in to talking, Reeves. For now, go on in and get yourselves some drinks. I’m going to greet the rest of my guests, but I will catch up with you before the night is over.”
He took Susan by the arm, and the two of them walked off together.
“Really, Reeves,” Bridget admonished. “You don’t want to make a scene.”
“I just don’t understand why this all had to be put together at the last minute, that’s all,” Reeves said. “If he really is courting you, Agnes, why couldn’t he come to the house and introduce himself to me there. Why not escort you to this ball instead of making you come on your own?”
“I’ve told you this already,” Agnes said. “He has a young niece that he cares for. He doesn’t like to spend time away from her. He will be here tonight for as little time as he can without being impolite to the host.”
“And what about rudeness to you?”
She stared him down. “I don’t ask him to choose me over his niece,” she said firmly. “I would never be so selfish as to ask such a thing of anyone. And I would certainly never be offended at the fact that it hadn’t been offered. If someone else needs that sort of devotion in a courtship, they may say so. But I have never been a very needy person, and you know that about me. I am happy with his participation in my life, just as it is. I wouldn’t want anything more from him than what he already offers me.”
“You’re not used to asking for more,” Reeves said. “But maybe you should.”
Agnes turned away to keep from rolling her eyes at him.
“He may be right,” Bridget pointed out gently.
“He isn’t right,” Agnes said. “He hasn’t even met the Duke of Bellmoor yet, and he’s already trying to tell me how to manage this courtship. Reeves may be my elder brother, but that doesn’t mean he knows better than I do about everything. I do know a thing or two about my own life and preferences.”
“Of course you do,” Bridget agreed. “That wasn’t what I meant. I’m just saying that…maybe Reeves has a point about you being unwilling to ask for as much as you deserve, Agnes. You’re a very good person, and you’re worthy of a great deal. I think you should consider that you have the right to expect things of people. Maybe more than you ever have.”
Agnes sighed. “I think you both need to consider that I’m getting everything I want,” she said. “Have I ever given the impression that I wanted a courtship at all? This is a new development, no matter how you choose to look at it. And while I am enjoying myself, I could easily tire of this. If the Duke of Bellmoor were to insist on peppering me with his constant company…”
“I didn’t realize my company was such a burden to you,” said a voice filled with amusement.
Agnes turned. It was him, of course—Gabriel. Fortunately, he was smiling. What she had been saying hadn’t offended him. Even so, though, she was embarrassed at having been caught talking like that, and her face grew hot.
She cleared her throat and tried to regain her composure. “Gabriel—this is my brother, Reeves, Duke of Greystone. Reeves, this is the Duke of Bellmoor.”
She saw her brother’s eyebrows lift at the informal address, but he didn’t comment on it. “It’s good to meet you, Bellmoor,” he said. “It’s good to meet the man who’s been squiring my sister about town.”
“I imagine it would be,” Gabriel agreed, inclining his head in a slight bow. “In your shoes, I think I would be very curious to meet me as well.”
“May I ask you about your intentions?”
“Nothing short of honorable,” Gabriel assured him. “But tonight, my intentions are very simple.”
He turned and addressed himself to Agnes. “Would you consent to walk with me, Lady Agnes, as the dancing has not yet begun? And perhaps we could take a turn on the dance floor a bit later?”
He offered his arm.
Reeves said nothing, simply raised his eyebrows. Agnes couldn’t be sure what her brother was thinking —but it had to be something good. Gabriel was being an absolute picture of honor and class right now. Even a brother couldn’t object.
