“Well, only bad things can come from gambling. It is why I never do it myself. I mean, look what happened the one time I did enter one.”
“Yes, you finally found a way to make things right to that girl you were awful to all those years ago.”
Philip glared at him. It was fitting that Lord Pemberton’s eldest daughter just so happened to be the young lady he had been cruel to, and convenient in a way, because he had never been able to find her himself, even knowing her name from giving acquaintances a description of her. It was as though she had vanished from society altogether. He could not, in good faith, seek out her father for fear that a marriage would be arranged before he could finish a sentence.
He chuckled. Such a fate had befallen him regardless.
“Come now, Philip,” Lucien sighed. “You must admit that you have been fortunate here. You have been thinking about marriage for a long time, even after everything that happened with Lady Ophelia. You are a man who needs love at heart, andthis is precisely what you needed. A man so desperate to find a match for his daughter that he will not ask questions. An easy affair.”
“I would hardly call it easy,” Philip argued. “After all, I might have been thinking about the prospect of marriage, but I cannot in good faith marry someone who cannot stand the sight of me. Not only that, but I cannot bear the thought of having a wife with whom I have nothing in common.”
“You could well have an heir in common with her soon enough.”
“That is not enough for a good marriage, and you know it. It is a convenient marriage in that I require an heir, to be sure, but I nevertheless want a good relationship with my wife.”
“And she is a good woman, so I am sure you will find a way to make that happen. She certainly made an impression on you all that time ago, and based on what her father has said of her she is a lot like you. It would appear that the two of you shall be a good match.”
“In any case,” Philip said quickly. “I am not going to discuss marrying the poor girl. When I wrote to Lord Pemberton, I requested to court her. Nothing more.”
“Courting her with the intention to marry her,” Lucien corrected. “And any young lady that hears those words knows the meaning behind them. She is more than likely excited by theprospect. From the daughter of a poor and miserable gambling earl to a duchess. Why, she is likely dragging her family here as we speak!”
“I doubt that she is dragging her family here to stay for a few months with the prospect of marrying a man that was unkind to her in their one interaction.”
“My God, Philip, can you see things for how they are for a moment rather than how you believe them to be? You are a duke, she is from a family in need of money. It is convenient for both of you, so act like it is.”
“If it is any use to you,” Philip’s mother said suddenly, entering the room. “I made a few inquiries of my own, and I can indeed confirm that Lady Jacqueline is wonderful. Not much is known about her, given that she became something of a recluse after the death of her mother.
What is known is that she gave up her place in society so that her younger sister can continue her role in society. It is an honorable thing to do, especially given the success she was having during her time out.”
“See?” Lucien said pointedly. “She is lovely. All will be well, and I will be here with you throughout this to ensure that all goes according to plan.”
“The plan being that I marry her?”
“Precisely!”
Philip sighed. There was no escaping Lucien’s confidence at times, especially when he was in tandem with his mother. They seemed to make a most formidable team when necessary, and Philip had to admit that if there were ever a time where they had to pounce on him to make him do what was needed, this was it. He was unsure of how to be around the young lady, even though he knew exactly how he would act.
He knew what would happen, too. It would be the same as it always was; he would wear a mask around her, she would find him mysterious and interesting and assure him time and again that he could take the mask off around her, only for her to shriek and then abandon him when he finally did so.
He had been there before, and in spite of the good he had heard about her there was no doubt in his mind that she would not be too different from the other girls of London Society.
“Will you be all right entertaining them at first?” He asked his mother, who nodded gently.
“Of course, but you know that you must show yourself eventually.”
“I plan to, do not worry about that, but I first want to ensure that they are comfortable here. There is no need to alarm them as they settle in.”
“You know, Son, it is not as bad as you believe it to be.”
“You have to say that. You are my mother.”
“I do not say it out of obligation,” she promised. “But if it will make you happier to avoid the festivities for a while, then I shall allow you to do so.”
“I do not know if it will make me happier, necessarily, but it is what I must do. I will keep an eye on the young lady and see her countenance for myself, and then when—if—I am ready, I shall come and join you all.
“Very well,” his mother nodded. “If that is what you want. I will not, however, have Lucien masquerade as you in order to find out more about her. There shall be no schemes.”
Philip could not help but laugh, as the thought had crossed his mind once or twice, though he never considered taking it any further. After all, she had seen him before, masked or not, and she was undoubtedly expecting a man that hid himself thanks to his scars. It was no secret in theton, and that came with good and bad things for him.
