Page 20 of A Duke in Autumn

“Good afternoon Dobbins, where might I find my Aunt?”

“Lady Bellinghaugh is in the main parlour, Your Grace.”

“Thank you.”

He left the butler standing there, and went to the parlour. Perhaps it was time for some tea and cakes or biscuits, and to hear more of his Aunt’s opinions on life, which were always entertaining.

“Ah, Oakthorpe – well timed. Our visitors should be here momentarily.”

“Visitors?”

Morris considered evicting the cat to allow him to sit beside his Aunt, then sat on the wide couch opposite her instead. The cat deserved the sunbeam as much as he did.

“The Dowager Duchess of Kilmerstan, and Lady Eugenia. I invited them for tea. After all, they are currently our neighbours – I should have invited them weeks ago.”

“Indeed. I am glad that I’m presentable, then.”

“I have never seen you less than presentable, you rogue.”

Before Morris could respond, there came the sound of the door knocker, and Dobbins’ footsteps as he went to answer it. Soon after, the ladies were shown into the room. He rose, and went to greet them. As he did, his Aunt tipped the cat from the cushion, and stood herself.

The cat gave them the look it reserved for moments of great disappointment, and went to curl on the window ledge instead.

He bowed – first to the Dowager Duchess, and then to Lady Eugenia, taking her hand as he did so. Her eyes met his, and a blush rose in her cheeks.

“Your Grace, Lady Eugenia – it is delightful to see you this fine afternoon.”

He allowed his fingers to press hers just a little longer than was appropriate, watching her response with some amusement. Her eyes widened, and her cheeks became a darker shade of pink, but her lips set into a firm line. She was annoyed with him again, it was obvious. She curtseyed, and responded quietly, as if nothing had just occurred.

“It is indeed a fine afternoon, Your Grace. I trust that you are well? And you, Lady Bellinghaugh?”

His Aunt stepped forward, with her usual smile, and waved a hand.

“I am very well, but come, let us dispense with overly formal manners – do be seated, and I will call for the tea service.”

Lady Bellinghaugh led the Dowager Duchess to the couch where she had been sitting, and they settled down together, obviously quite ready to talk for hours. Morris gave a slight bow again, and indicated the couch opposite them, where he had been seated when they arrived. Lady Eugenia came forward, and sat, perched a little nervously to the far end of the seat. He sat beside her, amused again at the little twitch away from him that she made – which he, of course, was far too gentlemanly to indicate that he had noticed – for now, at least.

“Have you done anything interesting, these last few days, Lady Eugenia?”

He kept his voice light, and waited – would she tell him about ordering gowns? Her eyes met his, and for a moment, he felt as if he were drowning in their blue depths, as if all else had faded away. Then she moved, looking away.

“That, Your Grace, would depend upon what you might consider to be worthy of the word ‘interesting’.”

Wonderful! She was going to challenge him, rather than just spout forth the socially acceptable drivel that women often provided as conversation.

“Almost anything, my Lady, which is more than sitting at home, embroidering a sampler which will never be framed.”

“I believe, Your Grace, that I have not touched a sampler since I was eight years of age. If I embroider now, it is likely to be a far more useful item. But yes, if that is your definition of ‘interesting’, then I have done things which meet that criterion. I went on a shopping expedition, with Lady Annet. To order gowns and the like from the modiste, and to investigate a book shop or two. The coachman was utterly bored by the time that we were finished, I think, as we kept him creeping about the town after us for hours. But our maids enjoyed the excursion – I do believe that they dream of fashion more than we do.”

“Perhaps they do – but if maids were not obsessed with fashion, how could they ensure that their employers are presented in the latest stare of fashion? So you have done your part in ensuring that the shops of Bath survive. If you have been ordering gowns, dare I hope to see the result at the Ball a week from now?”

She flushed, and Morris could not help but grin at her, knowing full well that she really did not wish to speak on this particular subject, but unable to resist teasing. She met his eyes defiantly for a moment, then sighed.

“Perhaps – I will confirm nothing at this point. But Lady Annet tells me that there is talk of that Ball being the last large event before many of those currently resident here return to their country estates, or to London. As a consequence, it is expected to be quite a crush. Certainly, we will most likely be returning to Upper Nettlefold not long after that date.”

The Dowager Duchess, catching the edge of their conversation, turned from Lady Bellinghaugh a moment, and spoke directly to Lady Eugenia.

“Perhaps we should stay longer? But then, if others are leaving, it would not be to much point. I had so hoped, when we came here at the end of summer…”