“Can’t I introduce myself to the young ladies?”
Now, all three of the Brits laughed heartily at him.
“Oh, Mr. Carson,” the duchess said, “that would mark you firmly as outside of polite society. In these situations, you must be introduced by someone who knows you and the lady. If my husband doesn’t know the person, then one of us must find someone else to introduce you to her. However, since I am the hostess, I will be able to take you around and introduce you, as well.”
“It sounds complicated,” he complained.
“It is designed to keep dangerous people who don’t belong away from the innocent and vulnerable,” the duke explained.
Greer looked at Beatrice, and she widened her pretty blue eyes. Neither of them belonged where they were trying to go, but they weren’t dangerous, either.
“Again, the only thing dangerous about me is how I might stand on a lady’s toes.”
“About that,” the duke said, suddenly looking serious, “I know Miss Beatrice will vouch for you and you have already begun to buy her wardrobe, but do you have any letters of recommendation? I would be remiss in taking all you say on faith.”
“Henry,” his wife said quietly.
“Really, Duke,” Beatrice added, “that sounds as though you don’t trust Mr. Carson. I saw his gold sovereign for myself.”
“And he likes your toffee, too,” the duke agreed. “That’s all very well, but still....” The nobleman turned to Greer expectantly, one eyebrow raised.
He thought about what he’d brought with him from home. “I have a letter from my uncle saying I am who I am, signed by him as head of his railroad company. Some people had travel documents, orpassports, as we call them, during the war and for a few years after, but no one told me to get one to come to the British Isles. I don’t know what to say, Your Grace.”
“You have Scottish ancestry, and family still there?”
“Ancestry, yes. Family, hardly. We’ve practically died out. There is the trustee in Edinburgh, who manages our estate.”
“Very well, perhaps it’s time to send him a letter and receive one in reply. Also, you will need a solicitor who dares to take on the Chancery Division of the High Court to sort out your estate issues. You should count yourself most fortunate you no longer have to deal with the Court of Chancery, a quagmire of do-nothings that was finally abolished a couple years ago.”
“I did secure a lawyer already, and I have recently written to the trustee.”
“Good. I’m sure it won’t be a problem, then. You understand, I would hate to be accused of introducing ladies to a scoundrel from New York City out for their fortunes.”
“Henry!” the duchess exclaimed again, although the toffee-maker laughed.
“Personally,” she said, “I think it would be greatly amusing if our Mr. Carson married some Lady Snout-Nose only for her later to discover he was a pauper from the United States.”
Greer didn’t take offense to any of this. “Without your help, I am as likely to find myself married to a female who pretended to be a lady and is really a common miss.”
As soon as he said it, he knew it was wrong and wished he could call the words back. Beatrice stiffened.
“Indeed, how terrible that would be,” she snapped. “To end up with a common miss.” Turning to her sister, she said, “I am ready to learn the mazurka.”
Greer was glad when they stopped talking and got back to dancing.
“Truthfully,” the duke informed them, “while the count is the same as a waltz — one, two, three — you will find the accent, as I think of it, is on the opposite count. The waltz is highlighted on the one and three, and the mazurka on the second count.”
“Oh, Duke,” Beatrice moaned.
“And it can feel more ... jumpy,” the duchess added. “As if you’re skipping along instead of gliding.”
“Oh, Duchess,” Greer echoed, but he was game to try.
When he held out his hand, he hoped Beatrice would take it as easily as she had before his ill-advised remark. After all, he hadn’t meant her. She was not common in the least. Quite the opposite, she was special, open to speaking her mind and wonderfully sharp-witted. Despite her initial behavior, she wasn’t mean, nor judgmental. She seemed to have encountered some unfairness that left a lasting mark upon her, making her quick to feel slighted. Other than that, she was damn near perfect.
Particularly her blue eyes, the color of hyacinths or delphiniums.
She did take his hand and even gave him a smile. Another one of her good traits — while she seemed quick to ignite, she was quicker to calm and regain her pleasant humor. They followed the regal couple onto the dance floor again.
