Warwick stared. “The Rubens?”
“Consider it a peace offering.” The look of astonishment on Warwick’s face made Raphe smile. “I insist.” He finished off his drink.
“About the fight,” Warwick said, “have you told Gabriella about it? Does she understand the consequence?”
“She does.” He met Warwick’s gaze without hesitation. “At first, she tried to dissuade me, but she has since given me her unwavering support.”
“You’re certain of this?”
Raphe nodded. He understood Warwick’s concern. By forming an attachment with Raphe right after her unsuccessful engagement to Fielding, she ran the risk of becoming a social pariah. “I am. She told me so herself.”
“Well, in that case, I’ll stand by you as well. You are a duke, after all.”
“And yet, that doesn’t seem to matter, unless I also have my reputation intact—a reputation that has come under severe scrutiny since my arrival. The fight is unlikely to help.”
“I agree, but since your mind’s made up and Gabriella’s is as well, it’s time for me to pick a side too. Perhaps if we can encourage others to see the merit of your character, we can turn this entire debacle around in your favor—make you the hero.”
“As unlikely as that is, I appreciate the thought.” Raphe stepped out into the hallway. “If it’s any comfort, Coventry’s with us as well.”
“Really? I always took him to be a conformist.”
“Not at all. He’s rather open-minded, actually.”
Warwick snorted as he followed Raphe out. “At any rate, having a likeable duke in your corner can only help.”
“Agreed.” Raphe gathered his hat and gloves. “Now, if you’ve no objections, I’d like to take Gabriella for a ride in the park.”
“I’ll allow it,” Warwick told him. “As long as her maid goes with you.” Recalling how Gabriella and Fielding had returned unchaperoned from their ride the day Raphe had first met them, Warwick’s condition reminded Raphe that he still didn’t trust him completely. Hesitating briefly, Raphe considered raising the point, but then decided against it. He’d gotten what he wanted—permission to court Gabriella. If Warwick insisted that her maid accompany them on their outings, then so be it.
Chapter 30
The fortnight that followed was filled with quiet walks, boat rides on the Serpentine and picnics in the park. Raphe and Gabriella even managed a visit to the National Museum. But an evening at Vauxhall Gardens was vetoed. Apparently, Lady Warwick didn’t trust the way Gabriella blushed every time she and Raphe were in close proximity of each other. She demanded they only see each other in the light of day, and in as public a setting as possible. “I will not tolerate any more scandalous behavior,” she’d said, which had made Gabriella wonder if the woman was secretly able to look inside her head and see her most private thoughts. But, as it turned out, she’d been referring to Gabriella’s broken engagement. No matter what she said, her mother continued to back Fielding. In her eyes the man was a saint, incapable of doing any wrong.
She did not feel the same way about Raphe, though she had warmed to him a great deal since discovering the lengths he’d gone to on behalf of Victoria. But, that didn’t mean she was going to trust him to sit in the parlor and have tea with Gabriella without a chaperone. As it was, the lady almost suffered a fit of the vapors when she discovered that Gabriella had been visiting Huntley House on a regular basis without her knowledge. A fact she’d only been willing to forgive after Gabriella had sworn that Anna had always been there with her, which was technically true, even if the maid hadn’t always been in the same room.
So there had been little opportunity to hold hands, and no chance at all for a stolen kiss. Gabriella wasn’t pleased in the least. She and Raphe had formed a bond, they’d grown close, and she missed that now. “I hope he proposes tonight,” she murmured to herself as she got ready for the ball he was hosting. Planning a wedding would take time. There would be three long weeks of banns, so at the very least, they were probably looking at a month’s wait. She sighed, unhappy with the thought of it.
“You look so pretty in that gown,” Anna said as she brought her the jewelry box that Gabriella had requested. “Lilac suits you extremely well.”
Gabriella smiled. The gown was new, an airy creation of layered chiffon and silk. Opening the jewelry box, she took out the amethyst earrings and matching necklace, the stones a deeper hue than the gown and outlined by specs of shimmering diamonds. “Do you think he’ll approve?”
“I think he’d be daft not to,” Anna said.
It was only nine o’clock, but Raphe had already decided that he did not enjoy playing host. Receiving a long line of guests was, to put it bluntly, bloody boring. He stuck out his hand again to shake the hand of some earl or marquess, or whoever the man was, who now stood before him. Raphe didn’t really care. The only person he was interested in seeing had not yet arrived.
“May we be excused yet?” Amelia whispered at his side.
“No,” he told her stiffly. A lady was presented to him, he bowed, she curtsied, and so it continued. “This was your idea. If I’m going to suffer, then so shall you.” He pasted a smile on his face and greeted the next individual. Amelia muttered something beneath her breath. He fought the urge to elbow her in the ribs.
“Ah! Huntley!” Finally, a friendly face. Raphe greeted Coventry with genuine enthusiasm before presenting him to his sisters. The duke reached for each of their hands in turn, kissing the air above their knuckles. “I’m delighted to make your acquaintances.”
Amelia stammered a “Thank you,” while Juliette just stood there, gaping openly at the magnificent figure Coventry presented in his perfectly cut evening attire. It took some effort for Raphe not to roll his eyes.
“I’ll expect to dance with each of you,” Coventry added, punctuating his statement with a brilliant smile before moving on.
Another half hour passed. Amelia was now complaining about her feet aching every five minutes, while Juliette’s posture had slipped into a slouch. “Stand up straight,” Raphe hissed at her. She just glared at him, which was probably well deserved. He should have known they weren’t ready for this. This demanded severe training and well-honed discipline.
Hoping it would soon be over so they could retreat to the ballroom and enjoy some refreshment, Raphe turned back toward the entryway. And that was when he saw her. Dressed in some diaphanous concoction that only a Frenchwoman would have been able to produce, Gabriella looked like a dream. Sheer fabric breezed around her, accentuating her figure in all the right places and making him long to just sweep her into his arms and carry her off into the night. She was like a fairy princess, her beauty unparalleled by anyone else, and he could not wait to make her his. Tonight, he promised himself, the ring he’d selected securely tucked away in his pocket.
