It would be painful, but as much as I loved Lord Kendrick, I needed to respect myself more.
Chapter Ten
Lord Kendrick, Duke of Alton
I paused outside the Alton box at the theater and inhaled a stabilizing breath. Whenever my mother asked me to meet a potential bride, I flinched. It was my duty to marry, and I knew it had to eventually happen. I was still hesitant for one reason; I wasn’t ready to make adjustments to my current lifestyle. Colt’s suggestion would eliminate that fear. Lady Lillian knew about my unusual household and hadn’t recoiled. That was a plus.
Regardless of my intentions, I had to meet the heiress to appease my mother. Or I could simply tell her I was considering proposing to Lady Lillian. I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about the match. As the daughter of an earl, Lillian was a desirable catch. She had a dowry, but it was a mere stipend compared to Miss Belinda Cameron’s. There were rumors that Cameron made his money in trade, but he was also from an old, respected family with ties to the royal family, which saved his reputation. Perhaps a miracle would happen, and Miss Cameron and I would bond.
Shoulders back, I entered the box. The occupants turned their heads at my entrance.
“Kendrick, you have arrived.” My mother stood and reached out a hand to me. I took it, the silk glove slick against my palm. “Let me introduce you to Mr. Cameron and his daughter, Miss Belinda Cameron.”
Cameron, a short, plump man with no hair to speak of, held out his hand in greeting. I shook it and tried not to wince as he squeezed mine with more force than necessary. “Your Grace, it is a pleasure to meet you at last. I have long been an admirer.”
The cynical side of me wished to ask him what exactly he admired about me. It wasn’t unusual to receive empty praises for deeds I hadn’t accomplished. I kept my sarcasm to myself. I was here to meet his daughter. Of course, he wished to make a good impression, and flattery was a part of the laborious process of courting. “The pleasure is all mine,” I said.
“I have a marble statue of a horse you carved. It sits on a plinth in my foyer, right Belinda?” Cameron stared pointedly at his daughter.
“Yes, everyone who visits has nothing but glowing praise for your sculpture,” Miss Cameron said in a pitchy voice that was at odds with her cherubic visage. My mother said she was on the cusp of turning sixteen, but she looked much younger. I had no interest in courting a mere child, no matter how rich she might be.
“I thank you for your admiration.” I’d had countless chats like this over the years, small talk with little substance. My conversations with Lady Lillian had veered out of the polite realm from the start. Although she was reserved in her manners during some of our discourse, our discussions were absorbing. The kiss we had shared was firmly planted in my imagination. There was definitely a physical connection between us, one I was eager to explore. Another mark in Lady Lillian’s favor. “Are you fond of art?”
“She is an accomplished painter,” my mother said, her smile somewhat forced. She had arranged the meeting, but she didn’t look enthusiastic.
Interesting.
“I learned how to paint watercolors at finishing school,” Miss Cameron said.
“It is a lovely medium.” It was an acceptable activity for a genteel lady, unlike Lady Lillian, who wished to write a salacious book. I suppressed a grin at the memory of our exchange on the subject.
The box had two rows of seats overlooking the second tier of the theater. The noise increased as more patrons crowded their boxes for the upcoming production. I glanced down at the stage, my pulse racing at what or who I would see.
Gavin was the lead in the play. If it wasn’t for my mother, I would have snuck backstage to see him. He had ignored every one of my notes, which was not unusual when he was in a snit. I wasn’t sure why I let Gavin, of all my lovers, manipulate me. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. He put a spark to the dull tinder my life had become. With Gavin, I was always on my toes. It was a love/hate relationship. When it was bad, it infuriated me. When it was good, I was on top of the world. Perhaps it was for the best that it ended the way it had. Maybe it should stay that way.
“Lady Helen, Lord Kendrick,” a familiar voice said from behind me. I turned to see Lady Tapper. Lady Lillian stood to her mother's right, towering over the older woman.
My mother’s face brightened as she made the introductions to the Camerons before turning to me.
“Kendrick, I believe you know Lady Lillian,” she said, angling her head in a sobering manner. Since she and Lady Vivian met, they had become fast friends. I had paid a call on Lady Lillian, but my mother hadn’t quizzed me on why.
Yet.
“Of course, we are neighbors,” I said, offering her a nod in acknowledgment. Lady Lillian’s honey brown hair was upswept in a fashionable style, a few artful curls enhancingher heart-shaped face. The unflattering white evening dress was high-necked and overly embellished with ruffles. She looked uncomfortable and kept her head down. I wanted to say something to rally her spirits. Inside her meek façade beat the heart of a lively woman. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Lady Lillian.”
