For the Heart of a Roguish Duke by Harriet Caves

Chapter Ten

Ingrid watched Alexander’s carriage leave, and then she went and sat down in the drawing room. George had left the house, but her husband was sitting on the settee with his legs crossed, smoking his pipe.

She was ready for this. She knew he was going to ask questions, so she had prepared mentally.

“What did Alexander want?” Terence asked.

“You should call him ‘His Grace’ now, Dear,” said Ingrid.

Ingrid was a woman who bore striking good looks, even now at the age of five-and-forty. Her dark hair, as long as her waist, was fashioned suitably, twisted into a lovely style on her head. She stood tall and quite fashionable. Even now, men couldn’t stop staring at her when she walked by.

“He may be the Duke, but to me he is still my nephew,” said Terence. “So, will you tell me or not?”

“All right, I will tell you. His Grace has asked me to help him with sponsoring Miss Snow this Season,” said Ingrid.

“What do you mean? Has he asked for money?” Terence almost shouted. “And did you agree?” Terence asked.

“No, he did not ask for money. He simply asked for my help to guide young Miss Snow at the balls this Season. And why shouldn’t I agree? I did. His Grace is our family, why would I refuse to assist him?”

“But he could ask a Lady of standing, he has influence enough,” Terence stood up, and began to pace around the room. “Why should you waste your time on something that is not of importance?”

“Please don’t do that, Dear, you know it makes me quite dizzy,” Ingrid said. Terence ignored his wife and continued as he was.

“I agree, he can approach a titled Lady. But I think he wanted someone he would have confidence in to direct a young lady the right way. Maybe someone he can trust and would be sure to accompany them to all events of the Season.”

“So you see, it is quite important for me to help them. Poor girl, she grew up without a mother or a lady mentor. She only had your brother. When the Duchess died, your brother did his absolute best for his Ward. I believe that is commendable,” said Ingrid.

“Miss Snow is now Alexander’s responsibility, she is his Ward now. Certainly, he is capable of handling her affairs?” Terence was beginning to get irate.

“What has bothered you this morning, Terence? His Grace is our nephew. He is also an orphan now. We must do we can for him,” Ingrid chided.

“You must remember, Dear, that I didn’t like my older brother. He caused me much grief. Alexander may be our nephew and I am quite fond of him, but it irks me that had he not be born, I could have been the next Duke. Every time I see Alexander, I think of my brother. They are so alike in mannerisms. It is difficult to be in their favor.”

“Yes, but nevertheless, Terence. I won’t step back from my duties as his aunt, and neither should you stop me. And please do keep this conversation from George. He is not to know. Besides, he seems to be spending a lot of time with Miss Snow. I do not like it,” said Ingrid.

“Why? Is there something wrong with Miss Snow?” Terence stopped pacing and sat down much to Ingrid’s relief.

“I do like Miss Snow, and I have nothing against her. But she is to meet a man suitable to marry her, and I’m afraid George is not the right kind for her. That is all I am saying. Now, I believe I will go to the library.”

“Right,” said Terence. “I will be in the study.”

* * *

George looked at himself in the looking glass and smiled. He was vain, he admitted, but he didn’t care, especially when it concerned Miss Snow. She had grown from child to a woman now, and he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

He was mesmerized with her when she paid a visit with Alexander two days ago. His only regret was that he was not able to converse in private with her before she went into the parlor with his mother and his cousin. He wondered what all the secrecy was about.

George went downstairs to the drawing room where Ingrid was working on some needlework. “Ah, George, are you on one of your adventures today?” she asked without looking at him.

“I certainly am,” George grinned. “I am going to see Miss Snow. I hear she is at home.”

Ingrid stopped sewing. She stood up, putting her work to one side. “And why are you going to see her, may I ask?”

“There is no particular reason, Mother. I like her company,” George looked at his mother as if she had gone mad. “Why do you act so bizarre? You never objected before.”

“Well, that was before you two became a man and a woman. You were only children then, and she was a Ward under the protection of your uncle. George, Miss Snow is now on the marriage market, and I don’t want you to be any part of her life process.” Ingrid stepped toward her son. “And it is improper for a man to pay visits to an unmarried woman.”

“I believe we have good conversations, I find her to be quite intelligent,” George protested. “Besides, Mother, I have nothing to do today. The days seem endless without any entertainment.”

“Then I suggest you look for entertainment somewhere else. What about Lady Daisy Spencer? She seems like a nice woman. My sources tell me that you have often visited her too.”

“Who are your sources, who have you been speaking to?” George asked.

“Some of my friends, George. They know everything. I believe it is my duty to keep an eye on what happens in social circles and to determine what is suitable for a lady or a gentleman, and what may turn into a scandal. If you meet with Miss Snow too many times, there will be gossip I can assure you. Your father and I would not like that at all.”

“Mother, it seems as you are warning me. Is that true?” George was beginning to feel irritated at his mother’s persistence to stop him seeing Miss Snow. He wouldn’t listen to her, he decided. He would go anyway.

“Mother, is there no end to your woes about me? When will you give me your blessings to one lady who I would like to court, and perhaps marry? I am not getting any younger, may I remind you.”

“You are four-and-twenty, George. You will find someone else to court and marry. Now, I suggest you leave Miss Snow alone and look for someone of our caliber and not a commoner.”

“But she is not a commoner, Mother. She lives at Bentley Manor.”

“That does not mean she is of nobility. She has no title, and as we know she was left with your uncle as a baby. Who are her parents? We do not know. I do not mean any grievance against the girl, after all, I am helping her find a suitor this Season, I just don’t want it to be you,” Ingrid’s tone suggested a finalization to the conversation.

“All right, I won’t see Miss Snow, but I will go and see my cousin if that is allowed.”

Before his mother could say another word, George left the townhome quickly. George decided to ride to Bentley Manor, he preferred it in fact. To be free of confined spaces was much better. He couldn’t understand his mother’s bizarre behavior. She had never spoken of Miss Snow like that before.

Mother told me Miss Snow is looking for a suitor. Well, that is great news. I don’t care what Mother thinks, to have Miss Snow as my Lady would please me very much.

George trotted away from the town center and onto the country lanes toward Bentley Manor. George and his family didn’t live too far from Bentley and George was grateful. It made visiting Miss Snow much easier.

“Good afternoon,” Scarlet stood up when George was announced by the butler. “I’m afraid His Grace is not at home, I assume it is he whom you have come to see?”

“How do you do, Miss Snow?” George bowed his head. “I have come to see you actually. Isn’t it a wonderful day?”

Scarlet thought it was but she didn’t feel like entertaining George.

“I was hoping we could promenade in the garden,” he said.

“I am rather flattered you have come to see me, Mr. Hargreave,” Scarlet stated. “Was there something you wanted to discuss?”

“Cannot I come without a reason to see you, Miss Snow?”

“Well, I do find it rather odd,” Scarlet said.

George walked nearer to Scarlet. “Miss Snow, I believe you are beautiful.”

“Such flattery,” Scarlet said in a dry tone. “What is the purpose of that?”

“Will you agree to promenade with me, Miss Snow, if only to humor me,” George asked.

“All right then, it would be a shame to waste such a nice afternoon, even though it is quite cold. I will ask my lady’s maid to chaperone,” Scarlet rang the bell.

“Yes, Miss?” asked a maid appearing almost instantly.

“Please ask Anne-Marie to bring me my coat, and she must have one herself. We are to promenade in the garden with Mr. Hargreave,” Scarlet informed her.

“I don’t mind the cold so much, it seems you prefer warmer climates?” George walked around to the window of the drawing room with his arms behind his back.

“I much prefer the Spring.”

The lady’s maid entered and helped Scarlet into her coat.

* * *

Just as Scarlet and George disappeared into the garden, Alexander saw them as his carriage drove into the drive. He was vexed in an instant for finding his cousin here.

He strode inside, wanting to find answers as to why he was here at all. George had come too many times already, and it was not to see him. Miss Snow was naïve and yet didn’t understand the attention of men on her, especially George. He might be his cousin, but Alexander did not trust him.

“Mr. Dalton,” Alexander stopped his butler from going downstairs. “Do you know why Mr. Hargreave is here?

“No, Your Grace. He asked if Miss Snow was at home,” replied the butler.

“All right, thank you.”

Alexander went into his study. Perhaps he would work on his papers and await for their return. But as he sat down and picked up his work, he still was unable to focus. He pushed his chair back in frustration and dashed to the window, peering out from behind the curtain. He couldn’t yet see them. Giving up his efforts in the study, Alexander decided to follow them.

He put on his coat and walked down to the garden. But he couldn’t see them. Perhaps they had gone into the woodland. Alexander went back and told the stable boy to have his horse out and ready.

“Come on, Boy!” he kicked the flank of his horse, and they were off. Alexander galloped away from the Manor and into the woodland. The woodland was quite thin on the outskirts with the trees now bare of leaves. Snow stuck to the ground, which his horse didn’t quite like. It made it difficult for his horse to go in further.

Miss Snow and my cousin would not have ventured out so far here. How silly and desperate am I to follow them.

And indeed he did feel foolish now. A sharp wind blew his way, lifting the fresh snow off the ground and into the air. It made breathing quite difficult, and his nose and fingers were quite numb. Alexander turned his horse around and went back to the Manor.

When he arrived, he found Miss Snow and George laughing in the drawing room.

“Ah, there you are, Alexander,” said George jovially. “Your butler told us you went riding. You were brave to in this cold weather.”

Alexander strode over to the fireplace and fanned his fingers out. They thawed immediately. He felt much better as he warmed up. “And you went for a promenade, you were brave to do that too,” he said sharply.

“You seem upset, Your Grace,” said Scarlet. “Is there something I can do to help?”

Yes, you can stay away from my cousin.

“I am quite all right, thank you for your concern, Miss Snow.” Alexander strode over to the drinks cabinet. “Can I offer you a drink, and you Cousin, some port?”

“I would rather have some tea,” said Scarlet.

“Port for me then, Cousin,” said George.

When the tea arrived, Scarlet delicately poured some out for herself, and settled down in her chair, while the men drank their port.

“Isn’t this lovely, just the three of us, sitting by the fire on a very cold day?” asked George.

“But why would you come such a long way, Cousin?” said Alexander. He looked into the fire, enjoying the heat as the port mellowed him inside.

“I do not believe we live too far from each other, Alexander,” said George. “Besides, I had to get away from Mother. She was being rather strange today.”

“Oh, how so, Mr. Hargreave?” asked Scarlet. She sipped her tea.

“It doesn’t matter really, it was just trivial,” George said.

“Please do tell, what was the conversation she had with you?” Alexander asked his cousin.

George visibly went red in the face. “Well, she asked me to not spend a lot of time with Miss Snow.”

“And have you been?” asked Alexander. “Why would my aunt not want you to entertain my Ward?” Alexander noticed Scarlet give him a sharp glance, which he chose to ignore.

“That was my question to her,” said George. “She would give me no straight answer.”

“Well, I am glad you do come and see me. With the Duke away so often, there is no one else to talk to. And I do not know many people, apart from the Spencers and their married daughter, Mrs. Brown. It can become quite lonely.”

Alexander was aware she was relaying this to George for his benefit. He smirked. “I am glad to be of assistance, Miss Snow,” said George, quite happily.

“Well, you need not be lonely anymore, Miss Snow,” said Alexander.

“And why is that?” asked Scarlet.

“We shall be attending the Season’s Balls. You shall of course, be quite active with Mrs. Hargreave selecting dresses and everything else for the events. We cannot have you without them,” Alexander gently reminded her.

“I was not aware Mother was helping Miss Snow,” said George. “She didn’t mention it to me.”

“That is an interesting fact,” said Alexander, drinking more of his port. He was feeling quite merry now.

“And who is to accompany Miss Snow to these balls?” George asked. “If you need an escort, I can be of assistance.”

“There is no need, Cousin,” Alexander said. “I will be accompanying Miss Snow along with your mother.”

“Ah, I see. Then, I will seek you out at the balls, Miss Snow, and claim a dance at everyone.” George downed his port. “I thank you both for a lovely afternoon. I shall take my leave now.”

Alexander and Scarlet stood up. George bowed and exited. “What an interesting man,” said Scarlet absent-mindedly.

“He is, isn’t he?” said Alexander. He watched her for a while. He wanted to kiss her lips and take her hand in his. He wanted to do a lot more. But he restrained himself. It would not be proper to do anything foolish; that would not serve him or her.

Alexander couldn’t wait for the first ball to arrive. It was becoming harder for him to see her beauty before him every day, one he could not have. It was the main reason he was not in the Manor much. He was avoiding her, to stop himself from falling prey to her magnificence.

Then why was he so against George showing an interest in her? Certainly, he should be happy to let his cousin have her?

He drank his port and made his excuses to do some work. Before he left, he saw Scarlet move toward the fire and sit in the chair, with a book. He sighed in heartache and went up to his study.