Susannah didn’t like feeling as if she had to defend her reluctance to enter Society, but she did understand Race’s cousin’s curiosity about her.
Keeping a smile on her face, she pleasantly said, “First appearance? Perhaps you didn’t know that I was in the park with Lord Raceworth just a few days ago.”
Lord Morgandale cleared his throat uncomfortably and then said, “Pardon me, Your Grace. I should have said at a party or ball.”
She gave him a knowing smile. “There has been so much to do that it has taken me longer than I expected to get settled into my new home.”
“So I understand. I was actually at Race’s house for the card party when you arrived there a couple of weeks ago, though we didn’t manage to meet that day.”
Susannah thought she heard a hint of disdain in his voice, though he kept his face impassive. No doubt he knew that she claimed the Talbot pearls belonged to her family. She couldn’t expect Race to keep something as important as that from his cousins. And according to all she had read about them, the three men were quite close.
“I’m sorry we didn’t meet at that time. I remember how busy with activity his house was that day, and I’m sure my unexpected arrival only added to it.”
He lifted one eyebrow and said, “In ways you’ll never know, Duchess.”
“Morgan,” Race said, “are Blake and Henrietta here?”
“Yes, and Gibby’s here, too,” Morgan said, turning to Susannah. “Though I believe you have already met our dear friend.”
A warm feeling washed over Susannah. Just thinking about the spunky old gentleman made her feel good. “Indeed, I have met Sir Randolph. I look forward to saying hello to him later in the evening.”
“I thought it was you two I saw standing in the doorway when I walked by. What is this? Are the two of you having a meeting without me again?”
Susannah heard a very pleasing and friendly voice, but Race and Lord Morgandale were standing side by side and their wide shoulders blocked her view of the man approaching them.
But when Lord Raceworth and Lord Morgandale turned, it allowed Susannah to see another magnificent man of towering height and broad shoulders striding toward them. He wasn’t quite as tall as Race or the earl, but he was equally handsome, and he walked with a stately air befitting a king. Somehow Susannah knew this man was Race’s other cousin, the recently married Duke of Blakewell.
Susannah smiled with pleasure and lightly shook her head in awe. How had one woman, the legendary Lady Elder, been blessed with three such masterful and powerful-looking grandsons?
Something Susannah had read just recently in one of Lord Truefitt’s columns came back to her as Race made the formal introductions once again.
Everyone in the ton knew that Lady Elder had tried many times by fair and foul means to force her grandsons to marry. After all, she had been married four times. Decades earlier she had successfully married off each of her three daughters to titled gentlemen. And in turn, each daughter had given her a grandson, all in the same year.
The grandsons turned out to be rogues of the highest order, notorious for many reasons, including their titles, handsomeness, and rumored debauchery. But nothing made them more popular than the fact that all three remained bachelors into their thirtieth year. Not even vast fortunes had tempted any of them to propose matrimony to any of the young ladies who fancied them, until the fair Miss Henrietta Tweed made her way to London and captured the heart of the handsome Duke of Blakewell, and she became his duchess.
The duke turned to Susannah and said, “My wife, Henrietta, has been anxious to meet you. She was sorry you declined her invitation to tea.”
Though the duke said the wordsorry, she was quite sure he meant she wasmiffed. Perhaps Susannah had been too hasty in her refusal of the duchess’s invitation to tea, but at the time, she was still reluctant to open herself up to too many people, especially those connected to the marquis.
She was momentarily at a loss for words but finally managed to say, “I’m sure no excuse will make up for my being unable to attend that afternoon. Perhaps I can meet her tonight and offer my personal apology.”
His Grace remained silent and looked her over as thoroughly as Lord Morgandale had. Susannah’s chin lifted ever so slightly, but otherwise she stood perfectly in stature and without shame or guilt and let him assess her for as long as he wanted.
Susannah was pleased with her appearance for the evening. Her amethyst-colored gown had a demure neckline befitting a dowager, though she was far younger than the average widowed duchess. The capped sleeves of her bodice were adorned with plum-colored velvet ribbons that had been tied into perfect bows. The decoration banded her high-waisted gown and trimmed the four flounces of her full skirt. Her maid had swept her hair up and threaded small violet flowers through the curls. At the base of her throat rested a large amethyst circled by diamonds, held around her neck by a velvet ribbon.
Though she felt good about herself, Susannah certainly hadn’t impressed either of Race’s cousins. But what could she expect? She didn’t have much to recommend her. She had been compromised as a young lady, and now in their eyes she was after Race’s inheritance from his grandmother. She really couldn’t expect to find favor with them. She was content with that.
Her gaze drifted over to the marquis. His sensuous eyes were riveted on her. Even though he had remained quiet and let her assess his cousins, she hadn’t lost sight of his nearness. Susannah felt an unexpected rush of joy. It didn’t matter what the earl or the duke thought about her; Race found her desirable, and he was the only one she wanted to please.
“That will not be a problem, Blake,” Race said, looking completely at ease. “I’ll make sure Henrietta meets Susannah before the night is over.”
“So it’s Susannah,” Morgan said, looking from Race to Susannah. “Race wasn’t sure what your given name was when I last spoke to him.”
“That said, Duchess,” the duke said, “may Morgan and I be allowed to call you Susannah?”
Susannah faced the handsome man who had no real friendliness in his tone. The duke knew that, out of respect to her title, they must call her Duchess or Your Grace unless she gave them permission to be so informal and use her Christian name. She had the feeling from both Race’s cousins that they would be quite comfortable calling her names that couldn’t be used in mixed company.
That thought made her smile.
