Page 11 of The Duke and the Spinster

“Well, if you cannot believe me, we shall have to agree to disagree. Let us talk of other things. I will not embarrass you further with protestations of your beauty – for today, at least.”

She turned back to him, a spark of mischievous amusement in her eyes.

“Only for today? I will need to have this conversation again, every day that I see you? What a tiring prospect!”

“Ah, but perhaps repetition will make it easier for you to believe – I must hope.”

She shook her head in silent denial, but her smile remained.

“Talk of other things, you say? I am curious – why do you wish to talk to me at all? Why are you not like the other men, and playing cards, or talking with other men of hunting and the like?”

“Perhaps I find you far more interesting? I have never been one to gamble, and there is only so much one can say about hunting.”

“Are you not afraid that the ‘predatory young ladies’ will see you speak to me, and queue up for their turn at conversation?”

He laughed, and shook his head.

“They may try to obtain my attention, but I have put intensive study into the art of ignoring people whom I do not wish to converse with. There are some advantages to being a Duke…”

“Then I still do not know why you wish to talk to me. But I will admit that I enjoy your company, so I will not push you further on that matter. What other topics shall we discuss?”

Garrett considered a moment, remembering her words of the previous evening.

“You told me, last night as we danced, that you have an interest in the art of scent making. That seems an unusual interest for a young Lady – please, tell me more. I admit to being a little intrigued, for all of the parfumiers I have met have been flamboyant and annoying little French men.”

“I would not go so far as to claim the title of parfumier, by any means, but I do, one day, aspire to create scents of distinction. I wish that I had the skill to create a scent like the one that you wear. It is complex, and subtle, and layered with delicious exotic notes. Perhaps, one day I will.”

“I see. I fear that my understanding of scents is rather uneducated – I wear what I like, and I appreciate the difference between a fine and subtle scent and a heavy unsubtle one, but beyond that… My own choice of scent comes from one of those annoying little French parfumiers, in London. I believe that he obtains his ingredients from the East.”

“I wish that I could afford the imported essences and spices to use in my scents, but, alas, I cannot. One day…”

Garrett felt an irrational desire to seek out whatever business supplied the man who made his colognes, and buy her whatever she wanted. He did not understand the way that this woman made him think.

“I confess that you have aroused my curiosity further – how does one use a spice in making a scent?”

She answered him, in detail, and the conversation flowed on for some time. They were, in a sense, isolated, although they stood in the corner of a room full of people – somehow, he felt as if they were alone – perhaps it was that, when he was with Lady Juliana, he forgot about everything else. They passed the evening that way, unaware of the others who watched them.

~~~~~

The Earl of Fondleton had spotted Lady Juliana, hiding away in her corner, when he had arrived. Satisfied that she was unlikely to venture far, he went to his arranged card games. It took a few hours, but, soon enough, he was far wealthier than he had been at the start of the evening, and the other players were far poorer. He would leave them be tomorrow, but perhaps the day after he would fleece them again.

But now, feeling pleasantly excited by his wins, he went in search of a success of another kind. He slipped through the crowds carefully, listening to the gossip as he went, and obtained a drink from the refreshment table. Now for Lady Juliana.

He turned his steps to the room where she had been, hiding away in the corner like the mouse that she was – which suited him perfectly – if she was so quiet, she would be unlikely to argue with him, once he had her at a disadvantage. He lifted his wineglass, taking a sizeable mouthful, then nearly choked as he lowered the glass.

She was still in the corner, as he had expected, but – damn it! – Kilmerstan was with her. The Duke was fast becoming the bane of his existence. Something would have to be done, and soon. He would find a way to get her alone – he just needed to be vigilant enough – a chance would present itself, he was certain.

~~~~~

Eleanor stared across the room, and her eyes narrowed. How did Juliana do it? She was talking to the Duke, again! Eleanor was, she had to admit, utterly jealous. How inconsiderate was Juliana being? Eleanor was the pretty one, the one that all of the men wanted – so how dare Juliana steal the Duke’s attention? Eleanor turned, and went to find someone to adore her.

~~~~~

Lady Prudence Baggington stood, ostensibly watching a card game, but actually watching the Duke and that annoying Lady Juliana. She ground her teeth in frustration. How did the woman do it?

After years of effort, including chumming up to his mother, Lady Prudence was no further ahead in her quest to be Duchess, yet here was a nobody, with a reputation as a clumsy girl who’d had a disastrous Season, and was destined to be a spinster, just waltzing in, and instantly attracting his devoted attention. It wasn’t to be borne. Lady Prudence needed a plan, or all might be lost.

Considering, she watched another round of cards in which fools lost fortunes, and came to a decision. She would get rid of the annoying Lady Juliana. Starting tonight. The right words to the Lady herself, and the right whispers in the ears of the gossips, and soon the girl would be out of favour.