Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

T he young woman stared at him as though he had flown into the room on some sort of magic carpet. She blinked her green eyes at him and looked at him up and down while Aaron thought of what he was supposed to say now.

The truth was, seeing Lady Judith before him had taken him by surprise. He hadn't expected to see her the moment he stepped into Oliver's study. In fact, he had been entirely unprepared. Not that he was going to show that.

He had known, of course, that he was going to see Lady Judith today. He was, after all, supposed to look after her—whatever that was supposed to mean—on behalf of his friend. The details of the arrangement were not yet clear. Oliver had simply told him he needed Aaron's help to ensure his sister was looked after during his absence – and had help finding a husband. He was to learn the details of this arrangement this afternoon.

He hadn't been certain what he was to expect but now that he saw her, he realized Lady Judith looked nothing like he had imagined. He had not seen her in a number of years, not since her mother's funeral some six or eight years ago. The years had blurred before him, and he wasn't quite sure how long it had been, but he remembered her being a lanky, somewhat awkward girl, not yet old enough to have her coming out, but too old to require constant attention.

The last time he had seen her before that had been when she was a mere child. Judith had always been what Oliver considered a precocious child, someone who had an opinion about everything and was not shy about announcing it. The truth was, Aaron had found her thoroughly vexing, and his friend's request to look after her and help her find a husband while Oliver tended to his business had not exactly filled him with any joy.

Aaron had no sisters of his own, and being tasked with tending to Oliver's sister was not how he had imagined his return to England would commence. Oliver was his best friend, and Aaron hadn't been able to say no. The poor lad had just lost his father, after all, without having a chance to reconcile their differences. He wasn't going to make his situation worse by refusing.

Still, now that he saw Judith before him, he realized that the task ahead might be a little different than he had anticipated. How did one find a husband for a young lady one did not know well?

Indeed, when Oliver had told him that his sister was still unwed at the age of four and twenty, he had imagined her to be rather unattractive. Perhaps with buck teeth, crossed eyes, and pigeon-toed. He was sure there had to be a reason why a lady of her standing, the daughter of a Marquis, wouldn't be married yet. However, now that he saw her before him, he realized that his assumptions had been entirely wrong.

For Lady Judith was a beauty. Her hair, the color of wheat in the sunshine, was pinned up around her head with sparkling gemstones, and her eyes, almond-shaped and a bright green, sparkled as she looked at him. Her lips, plump and parted, were pressed together, but he could imagine that she had a beautiful smile if she allowed herself to engage it. Her nose and chin completed her heart-shaped face. She was stunning. That was nothing to say of her elegant, graceful figure.

Why was she not married?

"Your Grace," she said, and gave a half-hearted curtsy before rising and looking at him again. "It has been some time."

Her voice was melodic but carried an edge. She was clearly not pleased to see him. Indeed, the way she looked at him through narrowed eyes, highlighted by her pulled-together brows made it clear—she did not want to be in his presence. So, Oliver had already told her about his proposition. Good. At least he did not have to. Still.

"It has," he replied. "But I understand your brother has already told you that we will be seeing a lot more of one another."

"Yes, indeed. Not that I was consulted," she said, in a surly tone that made his shoulders clench.

It must be her salty personality that has kept her from finding a husband yet.

He sighed and looked at his friend. Why had he ever agreed to any of this?

A knock interrupted his thoughts and the butler, whom he recognized from past visits, entered. "Excuse me, my Lord, but the solicitor is here with the documents."

Oliver sighed but nodded. He placed one hand on Aaron's shoulder. "I will return as soon as I can." Then, he slipped out of the room, leaving him alone with his sister who now blinked at him with a mix of curiosity and judgement.

"Well, it seems we will be spending rather a bit of time together these next few months."

Her eyebrows rose as he said this, and she crossed her arms.

"I will have you know, Your Grace, that I am more than capable of looking after myself. I am not a child who needs a governess," she said, and he had to suppress a chuckle because she reminded him of the forward child she had been.

"Then it is a good thing I am not a governess."

"It sounds as though you are, given how my brother described the reason for your visit. That or a matchmaker. Pray, will you be staying here? For I am almost certain our old governess' quarters are empty; a little dusty perhaps, but suitable," she said.

She was feisty – and he could see now why she did not yet have a husband.

"Lady Judith, I do appreciate your kind offer, however, I shall decline. We will meet in a more organized manner which does not require my staying here. However, if I dare say so – if you wish to successfully leap off the shelf you have been placed upon, then controlling your tongue might be a first step," he said and crossed his arms. Her eyes grew wide, and her chest rose as she inhaled sharply.

"I did not ask for your advice," she retorted, and he shrugged.

"But you shall receive it anyhow, because your brother has tasked me with helping you find a husband and keeping you safe during this endeavour. And I am true to my word, that I can assure you of."

She pursed her lips and looked toward the empty seat where her brother had sat a minute earlier. "Have you nothing better to do than to tend to a grown woman who has no need for you?"

The venom directed at him was both surprising and worrying. He hadn't wanted to help her to begin with but had agreed out of duty to his friend, but her behavior was rather vexing.

"I will have you know that I have many more enjoyable things to do than spend time with an uncouth young woman without manners," he fired back.

"I beg your pardon? I am by no means uncouth. I only object to being treated as though I were a mere child, rather than woman of four and twenty. I can make my own decisions and I do not need help from anyone."

"Oliver believes you do," he pointed out and she sneered.

"Oliver has hardly been here to know what anyone in this family might need."

She was exasperating, that much was for sure. However, he could see these next few weeks might be a challenge – and while she was rather irritating right now, Aaron wasn't the sort to shy away from a challenge. Indeed, as he watched her, he realized that it was quite understandable she'd be upset.

For one, she was of an age where she was considered an old maid – a circumstance that had to be mortifying for any young lady. And for another, she had to worry about her status so perhaps her defiance was not born out of rudeness but of mortification and fear? Determined to break through to her, he lowered his voice and used the sort of tone he usually used when he wished to charm a young lady.

"Lady Judith, I believe we have misunderstood one another. I do not want to upset you. I am merely here to help you and Oliver. That is all. It is my duty to ensure you can court and be introduced to eligible gentlemen while your brother is away with a sense of security. Security I will provide. You can rest assured, there is nothing to worry about at all," he said and smiled. Alas, his assurance had the opposite effect than desired.

She threw her head back and glared at him.

"Your Grace, you might be used to charming ladies whenever you wish, but this theater will not work on me. I will speak to my brother for I do not need nor wish someone to provide me with security or a match. I am quite independent, even if my brother refuses to see it. Excuse me," she huffed and marched past him before he could so much as gather his wits about him.

The door creaked open and slammed shut behind her while he was left to stand there and blink in confusion. She was a spitfire, there were no other words for it. And in that moment, Aaron realized that the task before him would be much more difficult than he ever could have imagined.

"I am not so certain about this, Oliver," Aaron said later, after his friend had rejoined him. "Your sister stormed out in rather a huff. She doesn't seem to want my company while you're away."

Oliver waved a hand, dismissing his concern. "Ah, she is a little theatrical. She always has been, you know this. She will learn to appreciate your help. Besides, she has no choice."

Aaron took a deep breath, taking in the notes of cedar in the air from the fireplace.

"Exactly what is it that you wish for me to do? You said I am to look after her but that she also needs help finding a husband? I am unclear what role I am to play."

Oliver smirked. "Yes, when I asked you to look after her and keep an eye on things, that is what I meant. She will need to attend balls and dinners and all manner of things to find a husband. I cannot accompany her, but I want you to. Along with a proper chaperone, of course. You know everyone in town, Aaron. Introduce her to your friends."

Aaron shrugged. That he could do. While he enjoyed traveling the world with Oliver, he spent more time at home than his friend did because Aaron's own father had passed some years ago, thus leaving him with the burden of carrying the Dukedom. He still made sure to spend much of his time away from rainy England – preferring Italy, Spain, and France – when the war allowed. There was indeed nothing better than to frolic in the waves under the Italian sunshine, and spending evenings with assorted lovely ladies while sipping fine wine and eating delicacies. He knew in England, his tendency to enjoy life was looked down upon and he'd earned a reputation as a rake, but his life had made him happy – so far.

Besides, Aaron hardly considered himself deserving of being called a rake. Yes, he liked to keep the company of ladies, but he wasn't the sort to abuse his position or wilfully ruin anyone. Indeed, he made it a point not to spend private time alone with young ladies whose reputation might suffer because of it. No, all the ladies he was with over the years were willing and capable of looking after their own affairs. However, he'd never felt the urge to clarify this to the English high society. In fact, he liked having such a bad reputation because it achieved two things: A certain popularity among the young nobles who wished to live as he and Oliver did but wouldn't dare. And a distinct lack of attention from aristocratic families looking for husbands for their daughters.

No gentleman would want to marry his daughter off to a man with so adventurous a reputation as him – and it suited him just fine, for he was not in any hurry to find a wife. Indeed, he enjoyed his bachelor life so much, he had a mind to make it permanent.

"I can introduce her, certainly. But pray, what exactly is it that you want? For her to have a husband ready for you to approve of when you return?"

"Indeed," Oliver confirmed. "My father has been far too lenient with Judith. He should have made her get married when she was betrothed but he gave into her foolish desire to marry for love – because her friends, those Blackmore sisters, did. And see where it left her. An old maid."

"I would not call her an old maid," Aaron replied, uncomfortable with that description for it felt unkind and needlessly rude. Besides, Lady Judith hadn't struck him as what he considered an old maid. He always pictured timid, homely women when he heard that term – and she was none of these things. "She struck me as rather opinionated and independent."

Oliver let out a belly laugh. "She fancies herself both these things, but she is neither. She has not courted anyone in years, and I doubt she knows how to charm a man. You will need to teach her. I already told her you'd teach her skills."

At this, Aaron's mouth dropped open. "Teach her?"

"How to charm a man. I know you are not one easily charmed but you know what we like. Help her be graceful, help her make conversation that will draw a gentleman in. Help her find herself a husband for if she doesn't find one by the time I return, I shall have to make a match for her."

"You do not think that is a little too far?" Aaron demanded at once. He was not one to favor arranged marriages, having almost been forced into one himself. Years ago, his father had attempted to force a match between him and a young lady, Lady Emilia Cornell. Emilia had been perfect for him, according to the matchmaker. Alas, he'd never taken to her – and if she was honest, neither had she. He shuddered as he thought back to the brief courtship and its long, drawn out, ugly end. No, arranged courtships were a recipe for disaster. Surely, Oliver had to know this. However, he seemed determined.

"On the contrary. Arranged marriages are good for some people – like my sister who isn't able to find one for herself. Now, I can count on you, yes? You will do all you can to help her?"

Aaron gulped but nodded. He didn't want to be Lady Judith's wingman, but he also didn't feel right about leaving her to her own devices. The idea of his best friend forcing his sister to marry a man of his choosing didn't sit right with Aaron. No, he'd do what he could to help the young woman. If she was as capable and confident as she'd presented herself as, it ought not be a problem. He'd introduce her to a few eligible bachelors, she'd lose her heart to one of them – and he could wash his hands of the entire situation without upsetting his friend.

No, it wasn't how he wanted to spend his days, but he had no option. He'd do what had been asked of him – and hope it would go seamlessly, for the last thing he needed was to get stuck with Lady Judith for any longer than necessary.