Page 42 of A Virgin to Tempt the Duke

Frederick stood in the garden with his hands at his sides and did not watch her go.

Percy remained on the paving. He had not moved. He looked up at Frederick.

“I know,” Frederick sighed.

CHAPTER 16

The garden party at the Clarkes’ was in Grosvenor Square, which meant it was the sort of garden party where the garden part was ornamental. People arranged at precise distances from one another, presenting a careful version of ease.

I abhor these outings, but appearances must be kept. Thomas is right…

Frederick stood at the edge of the upper terrace with a glass he had not drunk from in twenty minutes and watched Rachel accept a cup of tea from a woman in yellow he did not recognize.

She was doing very well, and he recognized that the outing was good for her. Rachel always did well in company, which was one of the reasons he had taken such care of her prospects. She had the ability to listen with genuine warmth, to say the right thing without appearing to have planned it, to make a room feel like it had improved by her presence.

He had been at the party for forty minutes. He had spoken to Lord Clarke about parliament’s latest bill, and to Clarke’s son John about nothing in particular that Frederick could remember. He had passed two men from White’s who had seen him come in and made the usual approaches. All of it was exactly what it should be, visible, unremarkable, a duke in London doing what dukes in London did.

This is a far simpler story than an absence would be.

He was considering whether he had done sufficient duty to the terrace when he heard?—

“Frederick.”

Lady Oldbarrow materialized at his elbow. She was in dark green, which she wore with the authority of a woman who had long since established her colors and would not be moved from them. She was radiant, her white hair pinned up elegantly. She had a glass of ratafia she was not drinking, which suggested she had taken it purely for the occupation of her hands.

“Godmother.” He turned to offer his arm, which she accepted. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Honoria Clarke and I have known one another for thirty years,” she said pleasantly, steering them toward the far end of the terrace, away from the main congregation. “I don’t require an invitation. I come and go as I please.” She guided him to where the terrace met the garden steps, which was conveniently out ofeasy earshot of the other guests, and stopped. “Now. How is she getting on?”

Frederick looked at the garden below. “I’m not certain who you mean.”

“Yes, you are. How is Miss Cartwell?”

“She is well.” He kept his voice at the same level. “She is managing the situation with good sense.”

“Of course she is. I mean how is she genuinely getting on, in a house that is not hers, in a city where her husband is somewhere within carriage distance.”

He looked at his glass and decided to take a sip. “She is fine. Rachel is with her.”

“Rachel is here with you,” Lady Oldbarrow observed, then added with a whisper only meant for him. “Which means Miss Cartwell is at Rathbourne House. Alone.”

“She is not alone often. And there is a full household staff and?—”

“Frederick.” Lady Oldbarrow used his name as she had for thirty years. She looked at him. “I have watched you for a very long time. Since before you were responsible for your sister, for the duchy. I know the difference between you controlling a situation and you controlling yourself.”

He said nothing. He looked at the elm at the far end of the garden, which was very fine.

“She is a remarkable young woman,” Lady Oldbarrow continued whispering. Not as an opening. As a card she was placing on the table between them, like she would playing bridge.

“She is,” he said quietly. “Which is why I intend to see her situation resolved correctly.”

“For Rachel’s sake.”

“Yes, as I’ve established before. Rachel’s happiness has always been the most important thing to me.”

“Frederick.” The weight of the name again hit him in the chest. “I am sixty-three years old. I have not stayed alive this long by being fooled by men who are trying to fool themselves.”

“She will have her annulment,” he whispered as he looked at her, her eyebrow raised at him. “And then she will be free to make a proper match, with the full use of her dowry, and her name restored. That is what I am working toward, and that is the whole of it.”