‘I thought I’d take Molly with me as my chaperone, Mama,’ she said, just as her mother picked up her own gloves. ‘She’s been so busy lately.’Trying to turn me into something I’m not. ‘And I’m sure she would appreciate being out in the fresh air.’
‘Oh, well…yes, I suppose that would be acceptable,’ her mother said.
She hated disappointing her mother, but being with the Duke again was going to be enough of a strain. She did not need her mother adding to her discomfort.
‘But do come and see me the moment you return and tell me all that you saw and everything you did.’
‘Yes, Mama, I will,’ Margaret said, giving her mother’s cheek a kiss.
The Duke bowed to her mother and she performed a low curtsey, almost reaching the ground, as if being presented to Queen Victoria herself.
Once her mother was upright, the Duke offered Margaret his arm and led her out the house and towards the open-topped carriage waiting for them at the end of the garden path.
‘Have you timed this so as many people as possible will see you courting your intended?’ she said as he helped her into the carriage.
He smiled, and she’d rather he didn’t. He was handsome enough when his face was in repose. When he smiled he became devastating. And devastated was how her nervous system was starting to feel. Why, oh, why did her pulse have to skip at the sight of his eyes crinkling at the edges? And life would be so much easier if her stomach didn’t do that ridiculous flip as she watched his high cheekbones lifting and those cheeky brackets appearing on either side of his lips.
He’d said he appreciated her sense of humour, but she could see it would be advantageous to say or do nothing to make him smile or laugh.
‘Well, I thought a ride in Hyde Park would be pleasant, and yes, at this time of day almost all of London Society will be present, so there is a good chance we will be seen behaving like a terribly respectable courting couple.’
He took her hand and helped her into the open-topped carriage, and she said a silent thanks to her gloves for keeping his warm skin from touching hers.
To the accompaniment of the horses’ hooves clattering on the cobblestones, they left her family’s Kensington townhouse, down the tree-lined streets, the soft breeze lightly touching Margaret’s cheeks and going some way to cooling them.
They turned into Hyde Park and through the ornate wrought iron gates, the carriage crunching over the gravel. Margaret breathed in deeply, loving the scent of the newly cut grass which had driven out all lingering smells of the crowded city, and hoping it would soothe her frazzled nerves.
She had to admit that it really was a pleasant day to be in the park. And the Duke was correct when he said all of London Society would be present. It certainly appeared that way. Men were exercising their horses, groups of young ladies in fashionable attire, accompanied by their lady’s maids or mamas, were walking and giggling together, and couples were strolling arm in arm.
Over at the Serpentine she could see young boys floating toy boats, little girls were rolling hoops or playing with their dolls, and nannies, walking large black perambulators, appeared to be everywhere.
‘I know you want us to be seen by as many people as possible,’ Margaret said, turning to face him. ‘And that would best be achieved by remaining in the carriage, but I really would like to walk.’
‘Then walk we shall,’ he said, leaning forward to tap the driver’s shoulder.
The carriage rolled to a halt. The Duke helped her down then took her arm and they joined the line of people strolling along the path, Molly following at a discreet distance.
It appeared that Margaret was wrong. They did not need to be in a carriage to draw attention. Almost everyone they passed looked at them with interest. Quite a few women smiled at the Duke, and she was certain several even winked.
She told herself not to be surprised and not to react. That was what this was all about. He needed her to provide him with a respectable veneer. That was what she was doing and the only reason she was here.
‘You’ll be pleased to hear that Father has already sent off the notice toThe Timesso all of Society will know by tomorrow that we are to marry,’ she said.
‘Excellent,’ he replied as he nodded a greeting to a passing couple. Margaret attempted to ignore the way the lady looked her slowly up and down with a curious expression, as if to say,Why her?
That was a look and a question she suspected she was going to have to get used to. Even her father had asked it, and nobody would think her more deserving of capturing the heart of a duke and becoming a duchess than him.
‘I must say I was surprised that you told your father what we were up to,’ he said, breaking in on her disconsolate thoughts.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, it isn’t every father who would accept his daughter becoming involved in such a ruse.’
‘Ruse? Oh, you mean telling him it is an arrangement? Well, my father knows how bad my first Season was, how much I hated all the subsequent Seasons and how much I am dreading being dragged to another. Neither of us can stop my indomitable mother, who won’t cease throwing me at men until she finds one who doesn’t throw me back. Father has simply accepted that I have found an effective way out of an unwanted and difficult situation.’
‘That statement has raised so many questions I hardly know where to start.’
‘Well, we have a long walk ahead of us if everyone is to see how respectable we are. What do you wish to know?’
