Chapter 8

Oliver

A bloody accident.

That's what all the information they had was pointing toward. A bloody stupid drunken accident. As much as Oliver's head did not want to believe they could have been so irresponsible, so foolish, his gut was telling him that it truly did not indicate an attack on England. Which he should be relieved about, but the fallout was going to be terrible, regardless.

Eight new dukes had just unexpectedly inherited their titles. None of them married, much less with their own heirs. Most of them were still in their feckless stage of life, more concerned with gambling and seducing than running the estates they would now be expected to manage. Oliver was going to have them investigated as well in case someone had sought to receive his inheritance early.

However, doing so in such a spectacular manner that also caused the death of multiple dukes was incredibly foolish… or brilliant, as it would make it difficult to ascertain who the true target was.

Then there were all the social ramifications. Eight newly minted dukes who would all need brides and heirs immediately? This was going to shake the entire ton.

He was simultaneously invigorated and exhausted by the prospect. At least he would not be at the helm for this mess—that was up to Evie and Anthony—yet he had enjoyed somewhat stepping back into his role today. It had shown him that he needed something to do.

Diana was right. He was mostly recovered.

For now, there was very little he could do but wait. They had all the reports they were going to get for today, and Evie and Anthony had gotten on the road posthaste. The faster they could confirm it was an accident, that there were no signs of outside interference, the better off everyone would be. Then all they would have to deal with were the vast social ramifications, and that part of the mess he would happily leave to Evie and Anthony.

In the meantime, he had a future wife to court.

Which was not his forte. Romance, courtship, wooing… not among his strengths. But he was willing to give it a try, especially because Diana had seemed intrigued by Evie's suggestion. And since she'd agreed to stay in Camden House while Evie and Anthony were gone, he had some time.

What did women like?

Flowers.

Poems.

Jewelry.

None of which seemed entirely appropriate for Diana. Especially the jewelry now that they'd spent the night together. He did not want her to think he saw her as his mistress. Once she was his marchioness, he'd be able to deck her in the family's jewels and any other shiny bauble she desired, but right now, he did not think it would send the proper message.

Hm. Carriage rides in Hyde Park. That was something he could manage for the moment. It would also be a declaration of his intentions, of sorts, to the ton. The gossips were sure to be there all chattering, especially as the dukes' families were being informed of their unfortunate demise. His going through the park with a young lady would cause a stir on a different day—today it would be an afterthought, but it would be noted.

Very well. A drive it would be. And he could send a footman out for flowers. Perhaps a book as well. Diana did like to read.

Oh, and something for her family. That was easy enough. He'd already looked into her family's financials, of course. Before going to look for her, he dashed off several notes.

One to her family's local dressmaker to subsidize whatever her younger sisters wanted for their Seasons.

A note to the Duchess of Windham—thankfully, the duke had not been part of the hunting trip that had decimated the ton's upper crust—to request she take Miss Margaret Rutherford under her wing for the remainder of this Season. The duchess had turned into a formidable force among the ton, but she had a soft heart, especially for younger women from good families without large dowries looking for matches. A personal request from him was likely all that would be needed, but Miss Margaret's circumstances would clinch it. A duchess taking interest in the young lady should spur on some suitors, even with the upheaval to the Season.

He also wrote a quick note to Mr. Sylvester Rutherford to inform the gentleman of Oliver's intentions toward Diana. It did not hurt to establish the family connection. He did not think Diana was of the sort to bow to familial pressure, but he did want her to know he was quite serious about his pursuit of her since she seemed to think she was not a proper prospect for his wife. Informing her father would prove he was in earnest, regardless of what she might think.

As would taking her out in public.

Notes finished, Oliver smiled to himself. Sending a footman off to deliver them and another to procure the flowers he wanted, Oliver went in search of Diana.

She was in the sunroom, reading. At least a book was open on her lap, though she did not appear to be paying much attention to its contents. Instead, she had her hand propped up on her chin, her elbow resting on the arm of the chair she was sitting in. She made a very pretty picture sitting there in her day gown, almost too pretty to interrupt… but if Oliver was going to court her, then interrupt her, he must.

"My Lady." His smile broadened when she jumped, apparently not having noticed his approach.

"My Lord." She got to her feet, holding her book in one hand. Her gaze flickered down to where he did not have his cane to support him—no point in further pretense, and he'd rather appear healthy and virile to her—and she raised her eyebrows. "Is there more news?"

"Actually, I was wondering if you might wish to join me for a turn about Hyde Park."

Diana blinked in surprise.

"Hyde Park?"

"Yes."

"Why do you want me to go with you to Hyde Park?" she asked suspiciously. It was not as if outings to the park were a typical part of his daily agenda. Though she had insisted he take walks regularly, he'd consistently avoided such places, as they were more for seeing and being seen than for actual exercise. He'd also had no interest in socializing more than he had to.

But this was an exception.

Still, announcing that he wanted to take her to the park to ensure the ton's matrons understood he was declaring his intentions toward her probably would not go over well. If she had not already cottoned on to the ramifications of driving through the park with him, it was probably best not to inform her just yet.

"I want to see what people are saying about the dukes." It was, after all, the secondary part of his desire to go to Hyde Park specifically. "If you're there, you might catch something I miss. And the ladies will be more inclined to talk to another lady." Especially one he was escorting about publicly. He suspected quite a few of the matrons would be very interested to formally meet and speak with his future marchioness.

Just because she did not understand the implications of such a drive did not mean everyone else would miss it. He could not decide if the fact she had never been a debutante and was not as familiar with all the social overtones of such gestures was a boon or not. On one hand, if she understood what message he was sending by this proposed drive, she might not agree to go. On the other hand, she clearly did not realize this was part of his courtship gestures.

Ah, well.

He would work with what he had.

"I see." Diana pursed her lips, studying him. Something must be telling her there was more to it, but she did not seem to be able to figure out what.

Finally, she nodded, and something inside him relaxed. If nothing else, he could show her that taking her for a drive was part of his new determination to court her. And by the time they returned home, hopefully, he would have flowers to present to her as well.

"Give me a few minutes to change, then we can go."

"Of course, My Lady. Take all the time you need."

Diana

It had been a trap.

Dratted man.

She'd suspected he had some kind of unstated motive for suggesting a drive through Hyde Park. She just could not fathom what it was until she saw the reactions their presence was receiving.

Correction—the reactions her presence beside him was receiving.

Eight dukes were dead, yet the arrival of the Marquess of Camden at Hyde Park with a young woman caused nearly as much stir.

It did not take her long to figure out that some kind of declaration had been made to the ton with this outing. Not when their first few interactions were far more focused on who she was than on the current gossip about the dukes. The Marquess was not helping either.

"Oh, yes, have you met Miss Rutherford? Your cousin, Brackley… her sister is married to his younger son."

"This is Miss Rutherford from Wiltshire. Yes, her older sister is Baroness Crommey now."

"That's right, Miss Margaret's older sister. I take it you've met the family?"

Diana ground her teeth, smiling through her annoyance with him as he paraded her around. She was not going to be pressured into marrying him just because he had introduced her to the ton. If anything, she could see it as a way of meeting prospective employers.

Though, she was not sure any of them would want to hire her. Socially, being hired on as a nurse would be quite a fall from being courted by a marquess.

Dratted man.

That was the refrain that kept playing in her head.

Finally, after Lady Cowper strained the last of Diane's patience by remarking approvingly that she had the demeanor of a marchioness already, Diana could not hold her tongue any longer. As the Marquess directed the curricle away from Lady Cowper's barouche, she cleared her throat.

"It is not going to work, you know," she told him in a low voice. Due to the crowded path, they could not move any faster than a slow walk, and there were ears everywhere.

"What is not going to work?"

"I am not going to marry you just because others think I should."

"Well, I should hope not. I want you to marry me because you want to."

Diana opened her mouth. Closed it again. Looked at him sidelong as he pulled up to another landau, this one full of another pack of matrons.

Marry him because she wanted to.

Did she want to?

It truly depended on why he wanted to marry her, and she was… unsure. Yet, Evie had mentioned courting her, and here he was, engaged in some kind of courtship ritual. Perhaps not one Diana fully understood since she had not had the benefit of a Season, but she did comprehend that something was occurring.

Maybe she could ask Evie. Not that Evie had had a Season or a conventional courtship, but she had studied the ton in a way Diana had not. She had never felt the need to because she'd never thought she would be in a position to be courted by a gentleman of the ton.

She felt wildly out of her depth.

Not only that, she felt singled out by his attentions. Which, she supposed, was the point. But what was she supposed to do with that?

"Ladies. Have you met Miss Rutherford?" The Marquess smiled widely as the ladies in the landeau all perked up with interest. Diana sighed inwardly as she pushed a smile onto her lips again… although this time, the smile felt a little more natural.