Dusk With a Dangerous Duke (6 page)

Reign offered him a half smile. “Perhaps.”

Hunter offered his hand in apology to Sin. Thankfully, the marquess accepted it without hesitation. “Do you have some advice on how I might get back in the lady’s good graces?”

“I might,” Sin said, releasing Hunter’s hand. “Though do not count on the task to be simple. A mistress can be swayed by flattery and expensive baubles. A lady worthy of marriage will demand a higher price to restore her honor.”

Hunter made a soft scoffing noise. “What lady concerns herself with honor?”

“One worth fighting to keep,” Reign replied.

*   *   *

Rosemary greeted Grace upon her return.

“How was your meeting with Lady Netherley? Did it go well?”

Grace untied the bow under her chin and carefully removed her bonnet. She handed her it to her companion. “Our visit was amiable, though I did manage to startle her when she learned the reasons for my journey to London.”

Rosemary made a soft clicking sound with her tongue as she gathered up the dangling ribbons and tucked them into the bonnet. “I’ll wager she was. And what was Her Ladyship’s response?”

Grace handed over her gloves. “I have her support. However, she warned me that Hunter might be a concern.”

“Hunter,” Rosemary said, her eyebrows lifting in curiosity at her lady’s affectionate abbreviation of the duke’s name.

“It is what his family and friends call the duke,” Grace defensively replied, ignoring the abrupt pang in her heart. She had been betrothed to him for most of her young life and she had not known he was called Hunter. “Lady Netherley sympathized with my reasons when I explained the why of it. Nevertheless, she went on to explain that the duke was quite close to his grandmother and this marriage arrangement was important to her.”

“And your grandfather, sweet.”

Grace nodded reluctantly. “Yes. It was important to my grandfather as well.” Her encounters with her uncle had proven that the gentleman could not be trusted.

Together she and Rosemary ascended the narrow staircase. “Lady Netherley recommended that I approach the Duke of Huntsley before I hire a solicitor.”

Her friend sighed with disappointment. “So the marchioness will not help you.”

“On the contrary, I have the lady’s support either way.” Grace raised her skirt higher as she climbed the last step. “As the daughter of a duke, Lady Netherley assures me that I shall fare very well with the
ton.
Once I have secured the duke’s consent to dissolve the marriage contract, she is quite confident that she can find me a husband before my twenty-first birthday.”

“Truly?” Rosemary asked, sounding surprised. “And are you so eager to marry?”

Grace smiled in an attempt to ease her friend’s concern. “Not particularly,” she said carelessly. “I have spent most of my life preparing to be a proper duchess for the Duke of Huntsley. I have not given much thought to a life without the burden of the title or the man who cannot bear my very presence. On the other hand, I have no desire to trade one master for another. With the duke out of the way, my uncle will seize my lands and fortune, while he prays for a timely accident to claim my life.”

“Temper your tongue while you reside in London,” Rosemary whispered. “You are accusing a duke of plotting your murder.”

Grace shrugged. “He has been accused of worse,” she said, recalling some of her grandfather’s conversations over the years. “Though it might not come to that. All my uncle would have to do is lock me away in the country or marry me off to a gentleman of
his
choosing.”

She would prefer to live her life as a spinster than submit to a gentleman who was under her uncle’s thumb. “Once I free myself of the Duke of Huntsley, I will be at liberty to marry a gentleman of my choosing. Rosemary, I will finally be free.”

“Not quite,” Rosemary said, dousing Grace’s enthusiasm as effectively as pouring water on the kitchen coals. “You are too young to appreciate this bit of wisdom, but I love you too much not to say it. There is no such thing as freedom, my girl. Not the sort you are dreaming about. We are all tethered in numerous ways: family, duty, expectations of our neighbors, need to fill your empty belly—”

The older woman held up her hand to silence the protest rising in Grace. “Now, I am not trying to convince you one way or the other. If you want to walk away from this marriage arrangement between you and the duke, you have my full support. And you have a friend in Lady Netherley, which is helpful since all of London is filled with the Duke of Huntsley’s friends.”

She made it sound as if Grace were treading onto enemy territory. “Rosemary … His Grace has done his duty by looking after my inheritance, but he has ignored
me
for nineteen years. He will most likely be relieved that I am willing to cry off.”

“One would think, but I know men. They can be territorial about their possessions.”

“Don’t be absurd!” Grace moved her shoulder to shrug off Rosemary’s hand. She continued down the hall. “I am no man’s possession.”

Certainly not the Duke of Huntsley’s!

The very thought made the fine hair on her arms prickle. “You will see that I am right when I work up the courage to confront him.”

Perhaps she should seek out Mr. Porter first. With him and Lady Netherley at her side, the Duke of Huntsley would temper his responses to her generous offer.

“Just remember, most men do not respond well to the unexpected. And you, my sweet girl, are definitely unlike any lady His Grace has encountered.”

Grace halted, wondering if her friend meant that as a compliment. “I do not care if I give
Hunter
indigestion. I just want to be released from my obligation to him.”

Chapter Five

Her first London ball.

Grace could barely contain her excitement as she stood next to Lady Netherley and her youngest daughter, Lady Ellen Courtland. The two ladies had invited her to join them in their coach this evening so she would not have to enter Lord and Lady Lovelace’s town house without an escort.

She wished Rosemary could have shared this adventure with her. While her former nursemaid was an agreeable companion at Frethwell Hall, she would never be accepted by the
ton.
Her and Rosemary’s differences were more apparent in London, and though Grace understood, she wished she had been in a position to change the rules.

“Are you nervous?” Lady Ellen whispered in Grace’s ear after they had paid their respects to the earl and his countess. At nine-and-twenty, the youngest child of Lord and Lady Netherley was as independent and incorrigible as her mother. She was an unrepentant spinster, much to the dismay of her family.

Nonetheless, Grace had already deduced that the lady’s unmarried state was not due to the lack of suitors. Lady Ellen had numerous admirers. It was a subject she hoped to one day discuss in great detail with her.

“Am I nervous? Not at all,” Grace replied as she surveyed the ballroom.

“There is no shame in being anxious,” her new friend continued. “After all, if Mama has her way, she will have half a dozen gentlemen vying for your hand by evening’s end.”

Grace was heartened by the news.

“Hush, Ellen,” Lady Netherley lightly scolded her daughter. “If I proved to be so successful, I would have had you married off years ago.”

Lady Ellen rolled her eyes, having heard this old lament on countless occasions. “If you are as clever as you appear to be, Lady Grace, you should run before my mother tosses you to the lions.”

“Honestly, daughter.” The elderly marchioness placed her hand on Lady Ellen’s arm as they promenaded the circumference of the ballroom. “Where do you come up with such notions? If you had any sense, you would tell the dear girl that you are merely jesting.”

Grace idly wondered if Lady Netherley was holding on to her daughter for much-needed support or if it was to prevent the young woman from dashing off.

Lady Ellen grinned down at her mother. “But that would be a lie, would it not, Mama?”

Lady Netherley shook her head in feigned disappointment. “You’re an insolent child.”

Grace walked beside them when it was possible, and when it was not she trailed after them. Earlier, when the marchioness was not berating her daughter over her unfortunate unmarried state, she had announced that her son and daughter-in-law would be meeting them at the ball.

“I do my best,” Lady Ellen said cheerfully. She turned her face toward Grace and whispered, “I wasn’t jesting. Consider yourself duly warned.”

It was an odd statement, coming from a lady she barely knew. Then again, it was apparent within minutes of sitting in the coach with the two women that Lady Ellen found her mother’s attempts at matchmaking tiresome. Perhaps she thought Grace would react in the same manner.

“I am looking forward to meeting all of your family and friends,” Grace said sincerely.

Lady Ellen chuckled. “Such an innocent. Let’s see if you feel the same way on the drive home, eh?”

“Ellen, I believe Lady Child is attempting to get your attention,” Lady Netherley said, sensing it was time to change the subject.

The young woman glanced in the direction her mother was gesturing toward. “No she is n—” Lady Ellen bit her lower lip and raised her hand in greeting. “If I hadn’t been standing beside you, I could swear you did this deliberately.”

Bewildered by the resignation in her companion’s voice, Grace asked, “Is something amiss?”

Lady Ellen pouted. “Lady Child has a younger son and a nephew she would like to get rid of.”

“Ears, my dear daughter … ears,” Lady Netherley muttered.

“Her Ladyship does not care which one I marry. And if it was legal, she would probably insist that I marry both of them,” she confided, but softened her voice to appease her mother.

“Oh.” Grace tipped her head to the side and noticed that Lady Child was still beckoning Lady Ellen to join her and a very sallow-colored gentleman. “You have my sympathies.”

“Indeed.” Lady Ellen lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “Perhaps I could convince Vane to challenge the whole family. Such an insult should free me from the lady’s tender hooks.”

“I forbid you to speak to Vane or Isabel about Lady Child or her family,” the marchioness said, stabbing her walking stick into the wooden floor to stress her dictate.

“Don’t fret, Mama.” Lady Ellen kissed her mother’s cheek. “For your sake, I won’t speak to Vane about it this evening. I will meet up with you later.” To Grace, she said, “Best of luck with the lions!”

Grace contemplated the woman’s parting words as she observed her greeting Lady Child and her son in a friendly manner. Or was the gentleman the lady’s nephew?

“What did she mean about the lions?” She looked at the marchioness when she did not respond right away.

“Nothing. My youngest has an odd sense of humor,” Lady Netherley said, taking her by the arm and leading her in the opposite direction. “In truth, my son suffers from the same affliction so you have my permission to ignore him, too. Heaven knows if I had listened to half the things he said, I would have never bothered introducing him to his wife.”

“I see.” Grace was uncertain how to respond. It appeared the entire family comprised odd fellows. Perhaps her faith in Lady Netherley had been misplaced?

“Come along, my dear,” the marchioness said, her wizened face brightening as she recognized several people in the distance. “This has all the promise of an intriguing evening!”

*   *   *

Hunter had less charitable thoughts about his evening.

Earlier in the afternoon, he had received troubling news from the messenger he had sent to Frethwell Hall. His intention had been to alert the household of his upcoming visit so preparations could be made in advance. Instead, he learned that Lady Grace was not in residence. According to the butler, his mistress had taken residence in London since she was in the market for a husband.

A husband. Had the silly chit forgotten that she was betrothed to
him
?

He could not decide which upset him more—the notion that Lady Grace was ignoring rules he had established for her protection, or her determination to find another gentleman to take his place.

Lady Grace had placed herself in peril by traveling to London on her own. Not only were there brigands and scoundrels to contend with, but she did not have a single friend in town who might offer her shelter. A wealthy lady drew all sorts of unsavory attention, and for that alone he could quietly strangle her with his bare hands.

The chit was a lamb in a town of wolves.

Working feverishly to pick up her trail, it had taken Hunter’s men three hours to deduce that Lady Grace was not without resources or friends. He should have guessed that Lady Netherley would embrace the lost little lamb.

The marchioness was also the one lady who had a certain reputation as a matchmaker. Had Lady Grace asked the elderly woman for assistance in securing a husband this season?

And what would have been Lady Netherley’s response to such a request? Vane’s mother was too kindhearted to turn away a lady in need. Of course she would help her. There was no doubt that Lady Grace viewed him with a jaundiced eye, and the marchioness had likely heard rumors of Hunter’s conquests while she resided in town.

Saint and Catherine had been visiting when Hunter had received the news of his errant bride-to-be. His first inclination was to confront Lady Netherley immediately, and scold her for her part in this mischief. Saint advised against this. The marchioness was Vane’s mother, and he did not take kindly to anyone upsetting her. Catherine also recommended caution when handling his reluctant betrothed. If Lady Grace was preparing to contest the arranged marriage, she might flee, and this time she might not find herself among friends. Saint concurred.

Outnumbered, Hunter had not rushed over to the Netherleys’ town house to demand Lady Grace’s whereabouts. Saint vowed that he and Catherine would call on the marchioness on his behalf.

A messenger arrived at the door an hour later with a note from his friend. Lady Netherley had not been at home, but Saint assured him that he would send word after he spoke to the lady.