“Yes. Thank you.” How could she turn away one of her mother’s dearest friends? She had always been a wonderful person, more like an aunt, and if she remembered correctly, was a distant relative on her father’s side, which made her family.
Though she appeared unaffected as she watched Willa and Lady Mara saunter away, she silently begged for them to stay. Any time alone with the duke would surely cost her something. What exactly, she did not know. Why had she come here? Did she expect to escape this intimate gathering without having a confrontation with him? If she had, what a silly fool she was, for here he stood, ready to engage in whatever games such a man thrived on.
“I am happy to see you, Lady Julia,” he broke the silence between them.
“It has been an enjoyable experience, Your Grace.”
“Of course, you came for the musicians, not to hear me sing.”
“I attended out of curiosity,” she said calmly.
His brows rose in humor. “Is that a confession? I piqued your interest enough during our brief encounter yesterday that you risked coming here not knowing what to expect?”
Julia allowed herself to relax as she gazed about the lively drawing room. As long as they were in such a public place, there was no danger in engaging in a revealing conversation with the duke. “The countess is a respected member of theton, sir. She’s also a fellow patron of the arts, something I, too, endeavor to support.”
He ran his fingers through his hair, considering her words. “Is that why you were wandering about St. James’s unescorted, to support the arts?” His tone sobered. “No lady of quality belongs there alone. Though I fail to see any reason for a woman to be in that neighborhood at all.”
Julia rolled her eyes, steadfast in her opinion that women deserved the freedom to choose where they went without reprisal. “My friend owns the bookshop.”
“I am aware of it,” he said disapprovingly. “Lady Willa’s situation is unfortunate at best. If I were her brother…”
“But you aren’t,” she quipped.
“I have two sisters, Lady Julia. Give me the benefit of sharing my opinion on how women of quality should be treated.”
“You may keep your opinions, Your Grace. I do not believe we shall ever agree on anything.”
“No?” He studied her for a long moment. “Let me guess. You consider yourself a revolutionary, someone who can change long-standing traditions put in place to protect the interests of the families who have made Britain the greatest empire in history.”
“And what is the benefit of that?” she asked, trying to maintain a modicum of control over her temper. “The commoners outnumber the nobles, sir. And soon enough, as we’ve already seen in the United States, workers will demand more pay, better working conditions, and a higher quality of life for their own families. All of this…” She raised her hand, gesturing at the lavish surroundings they now stood in. “Is unsustainable. The Combination Laws cannot silence the poor forever.” Somehow, she managed to smile after her less than pleasant speech.
The duke loosened his cravat and shifted on his feet, his intense gaze never leaving her. “You are a complicated woman, Lady Julia. Even I can appreciate that. But we are in Mayfair, the cradle of London prestige and wealth. It is easy to judge your peers while you live in comfort under your father’s protection, but have you truly seen the world, your own country, and experienced the way of life in a place such as…” He thought for a moment. “East Anglia, where the working-class struggle to put food on their tables every night?”
“I have not had the opportunity to travel much in the country.”
The duke nodded and stepped closer to her. “Nearly half their children die before the age of five, Lady Julia, for many reasons, though malnutrition is a leading cause. The men and women are forced to work long hours in unsanitary conditions. Disease runs rampant among the poor.” He looked as if he were about to chastise her.
“You take a particular interest in that part of the country. Why?”
“My family has long owned assets in that part of the kingdom,” he said shortly. “And now, if you are done testing me, madam, I will leave you to your friends.” He bowed in cool courtesy just as Willa and Lady Mara arrived with refreshments.
“Goodness,” Lady Mara exclaimed as the duke stormed off. “I wonder what has upset our songbird?”
Willa gave Julia an accusatory glare.
Lady Julia’s mood had deteriorated, too. “Songbird is too kind a name for him,” she gritted. “From what I gather, Lady Mara, the duke is able to maintain his excellent singing voice because he is acastratostar.” Taking the offered glass of ratafia from Willa, she took a drink, then walked away in a huff, in search of a private place to take some air.
Chapter Eight
Alonzo could almostsympathize with Lady Julia’s causes except that she came off as short-sighted and judgmental, and infuriatingly intelligent. In essence, a paradox. He’d escaped the heat of the drawing room by visiting the countess’s extensive garden, appreciating the clear sky and thousands of stars overhead, a rare thing to behold in Town.
Had he stayed a moment longer with Julia, he might have said things he would have later regretted. The woman knew no boundaries, and he guessed that her father would disapprove if he knew his daughter was gallivanting about Town sharing her political views. Unpopular views when it came to the peerage. Fortunately for her, he did not completely disagree with her list of grievances on behalf of the less fortunate.
But her approach to finding solutions for those problems lacked the finesse of an experienced man. Change would not happen overnight. Perhaps not in their lifetime. In order to raise awareness of the horrible conditions in which more than half of the population of his country lived, it must be revealed slowly and deliberately, with men such as himself making improvements on his holdings for his tenants and servants.
He had realized these hardships on his own years ago, before he inherited the dukedom. But his father cared little for the well-being of his servants as long as his own needs were being met. After his sire died, Alonzo began the strenuous effort of visiting all of his estates, spending time with his tenants, and compiling a list of the most important matters at hand—like repairing dilapidated housing and lowering the rents for his tenants. By doing so, after only four years, the many children that lived on his lands or in the villages were healthier and happier, and had a better chance of making it to adulthood.
By making these small improvements, Alonzo had guaranteed the next generation of workers for his estates, thus securing another generation of his own family. After all, that is what had finally brought him home from the Continent—responsibility. He required an heir at some point, and the first step to finding an appropriate wife was securing his place in Society again. Performing must become a thing of the past, unless it was for a small crowd like tonight.
