“And? Why should that trouble me?”
“They speak of her as one who will never marry,” his grandmother said. “She lives to push gentlemen away from her. All she cares about is keeping them away.”
“I doubt very much that that’s the only thing she cares about. And if she doesn’t want to marry, what of it? Do you truly believe there’s a lady anywhere who can resist me?”
“If there is, she would be the one,” his grandmother observed. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see her make a mockery of you, Allan. Turn you away just as she has every other gentleman who has ever taken an interest in her. Your time is much better spent on ladies who actuallywishto marry. You know there are many who would have you. If you would stop being so particular, you could be married in a matter of weeks and see your duty filled.”
“Don’t speak to me of duty,” Allan said. “Don’t suggest that I’m not taking my duty seriously. You know it’s the most important thing to me.”
“If that were true you would be married already. As it is, I despair of seeing your heir before I die!”
“Now you really are being dramatic,” Allan huffed. “You’re in fine health, Grandmother. And I’m not going to marry until I find the ideal lady—the perfect duchess. Would you have me rush that?”
“I would have you continue to search for it instead of wasting your time with a lady you know willneverbe your duchess,”his grandmother argued. “Five dates with the unattainable spinster?—”
“Four dates, now. I’ve had one of them. And I was never going to marry someone in the time it will take to complete those dates, grandmother. I’m sure you know that. I haven’t even met someone who interests me.”
“And you won’t be seeing anyone else until those dates are complete?”
“I think I can stand to give her my full attention for the time it will take to complete five dates, yes.”
“Truly, Allan, don’t you see what a monumental waste of your time this is? Don’t you understand that you’re not bringing yourself any nearer to the fulfillment of your duty to the dukedom—and in the meantime, you’re making a spectacle by running around with that lady.”
“Lady Edwina.” Allan was beginning to feel angry with his grandmother. “I’m not going to have this conversation with you if you can’t bring yourself to show some respect.”
“You know who I meant. You know, you’re going to drive potential matches away from you. Ladies who may have had an interest will give up and decide they should seek matches elsewhere because spending time with Lady Edwina makes it clear to them that you are not seeking a marriage anytime soon. Fathers will decide you are no longer worth pursuing as a matchfor their daughters. With every day you waste on this, you are losing opportunities.”
“If they would give up so easily, they’re not the right matches for me anyway,” Allan observed. “The lady I’m looking for to be my duchess will have to understand how important it is to try hard in pursuit of her goals. I don’t want someone who would be discouraged by a setback.”
“You’re far too particular. There are plenty of young ladies who would make perfectly acceptable matches for you. You should settle for one of them.”
“I don’t see that I should settle at all. And frankly, I don’t believe that Father would think so either if he were here. He would agree that I should wait for an ideal duchess, someone who can live up to the responsibility of our title. He wouldn’t have me settle for anything less.”
“And I say you’re holding out for far too much. I knew your father better than you did.”
“Think whatever you like, Grandmother, but this is my business. Don’t try to insert yourself into my private affairs,” Allan said. “I will handle the question of marriage myself and in my own time.”
“I don’t know whether I can truly believe that you will, Allan.”
“What you believe is certainly up to you, but this isn’t a conversation I’m willing to entertain any longer, Grandmother.”
“And you mean to go on seeing that young lady?”
Allan gave her a pointed look and waited.
She sighed. “Lady Edwina.”
“Yes, I mean to go on seeing her. I paid richly for the privilege of these five dates, you know.”
“And how do you think that makes you look? Purchasing time in a young lady’s company? It looks as if you’re so desperate that you were forced to pay for it.”
“Nobody thinks that,” Allan laughed. “Nobody thinks I have any trouble getting dates, Grandmother. You know that. Besides, this is for a good cause. Everyone knows the reason I spent the money was to support the charity. The dates are only an added benefit.”
“If they’re only an added benefit, then set them aside.”
“No. I want the benefit.” Allan grinned. “I’m sorry, Grandmother, but my mind is set on this. Besides, I find her an enjoyable person to be around. The fact that we’re not going to marry doesn’t take away from that in the least.”
He rose from his seat and left the table, no longer willing to participate in this conversation. He knew what he wanted, and his grandmother wouldn’t sway him from that. And the fact that she continued to try to sway him made him feel frustrated with her to the extreme. He didn’t want to talk to her anymore. Not when it came to his romantic affairs. She couldn’t be a part of that aspect of his life, and she was going to have to accept that.
