Now that he had made closer acquaintance with his rival, he realized one thing: The fight for Rowena would be much harder than he’d anticipated.
Chapter 18
Rowena shifted from one foot to the other, nervously licking her lips. Her eyes scanned the crowd outside of St. George’s of Hanover for not one, but two familiar faces.
She had to admit, she was not even sure who she was more eager to see, Betsy or the Duke. Her heart had leapt with joy when her father announced the Duke of Westmond and his brother were to join them for the service. After the abrupt end to their evening, she found herself even more eager to see him again.
And then there was Betsy. It would be the first time she’d see her friend since she’d left to take her posting at Lord Portsmouth’s London home and she could not wait to hear how her posting was like.
“I wonder if the Duke really is in search of a new church,” Catherine said quietly as she leaned over to her sister. “I suspect he only said so as an excuse to see you again.”
“Shh, Mama might hear.”
Catherine shook her head. “Mama is not paying us any attention. She is too busy showing off her new dress to Lady Marlborough to care what we are talking about.”
Indeed, it was true. Lady Hazelshire was deep in conversation with Lady Marlborough, parading around her beautiful silk round dress. As the Lady Patroness of the famed Almack's, Lady Marlborough was a woman whose opinion mattered more than most. At least if you cared about that kind of thing.
It is odd how until a few weeks ago she would have been attempting to partake in the conversation to gain favor with Lady Marlborough. Now, she did not care to be involved.
She looked at her sister who was also eagerly scanned the crowd. Rowena felt a warmth wash over her. She had almost forgotten how scared she’d been that Catherine might give away her secret infatuation with the Duke. Now she wondered how she could have ever doubted her sister.
After their mother had confronted them both about their unsavory argument, Catherine had taken all the blame. Claiming the argument was over a missing bandeau, Lady Hazelshire had scolded them both. Then she’d ordered Rowena to bed, for she truly had done her best to look miserable in order to make her ‘headache’ look believable.
That had, of course, led to her not being able to say goodbye to the Duke. Well, not really. She’d made sure to stand at the window and watch him when he and his brother left. She knew in her heart he would turn and glance up at the window to see if she was there.
She didn’t know how she’d known, but she had. Indeed, he did turn to look at all the windows facing the street until their eyes had locked.
“You are thinking of His Grace, the Duke of Westmont, this very moment. Admit it,” Catherine grinned. Rowena blushed but did not deny it.
Before they could converse more, Catherine pointed up ahead and jumped up and down in excitement.
“There she is! Betsy.”
Rowena turned and found her feet wanting to break into a run as her dearest friend approached them. Reminding herself to maintain proper decorum, Rowena made her way toward her friend and the two embraced, followed by Catherine.
They had only been apart a few days, but it felt like forever. Betsy, to Rowena’s relief, appeared happy and smiled from ear to ear.
“I have missed you, my dearest friends,” she said.
“And we you! I am ever so pleased Lady Portsmouth let you come, even though they favor St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields.”
Betsy shook her head. “She knows this will be my last chance to visit the church before we depart for Bedfordshire. She was quite understanding.”
The reunion was ever too brief for Lord and Lady Hazelshire were quick to join them.
“This looks like a very merry reunion. May I join?” The voice made Rowena’s blood run cold, for it belonged to none other than the Duke of Thornmouth. She tore her eyes away from Betsy and faced the man she was meant to wed.
“Your Grace,” she curtsied before him, followed by her mother, who’d rushed over, and sister.
“My dear Rowena, how lovely you look. A vision. A diamond of the first water, indeed.”
“Tipping over the butter boat, isn’t he?” Catherine muttered under her breath as she glimpsed at Rowena who forced a smile on her face at the compliment.
The words felt hollow, not at all like the last time she’d heard them, spoken in the garden beneath the apple tree. Spoken by the man she truly longed to see.
“I did not know you were joining us today, Your Grace,” Rowena said, sure to make her voice sound neutral. She could not allow the disappointment she felt to bleed through.
“I had not planned on it, but I woke this morning feeling in apious mood. I have not attended church enough, I must confess. I recalled Lord Hazelshire mention that you attend this church, so I decided to do so as well. I trust you do not mind?”
