Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Josephine put all thoughts of the duke and her parents' plan out of her mind as best she could following the conversation with them at dinner. She reminded herself, on those few occasions that it broke through her attempts at avoidance, that there were so very many ladies living in the area that she needn't worry. She was a viscount's daughter. His youngest daughter, at that.

It worked well enough for what it was.

And when it didn't, she found another task to occupy herself with.

The front flower beds had never been weeded so well as they were that next day, nor the downstairs fixtures gleamed quite so brightly.

Of course, only so many things needed to be done, and eventually, her other looming problem took precedence. Unlike her issue with the duke, the problem of her family's budget wouldn't solve itself. And, no matter how hard she'd searched for any answer other than Caroline's suggestion, she'd come up short.

She frowned at the empty paper in front of her, the sunlight from the far window in the sitting room catching a corner of the page and making it brighter.

She didn't want to write a single one of her siblings. They knew the state of affairs here; they could have offered help if it was something they could provide. The combination of guilt and anger sat uncomfortably in her stomach as she tried to decide which sibling she should even contact in the first place.

Laughter from the entryway stopped her mid-cycling through her siblings' names, her eyes shooting over to the door in time to see her father beckoning her mother, who had also come to see what the noise was.

"Come, come. I'd rather announce it all at once," Josephine's father instructed.

"Announce it?" her mother repeated, already trailing after her husband to come and join Josephine in the sitting room. "Good news, I hope?"

"Very good news," Josephine's father chuckled. He beamed at his wife and daughter, his grey eyes alive in a way that Josephine hadn't seen for quite some time. "I've just received a reply from the duke."

Josephine's heart, if possible, sank even further in her chest at the proclamation, her face frozen as she willed his excitement to be about anything other than what she knew was about to come out of his mouth.

"And? Is he willing to consider Josie?" Josephine's mother pressed, excitement building beneath her words as she spoke.

"Willing to consider?" Lord St Vincent chuckled. "Consider? My dear, he's written to agree to the arrangement already! He's asking for Josie's hand and inviting us to dine with him the night after next!"

Josephine's mother made a noise of happiness, her hands lifting to cover her mouth in surprise as she fought her own excited bubble of laughter. "Agreed to the arrangement?" she replied as if she couldn't quite believe such a thing. "Oh! That is wonderful news! Isn't it Josie? Isn't that wonderful?"

Josie's face felt as if it had been burned, her muscles tightening as she forced a smile onto her lips that she couldn't begin to feel through the horrified numbness spreading through her.

"That's fantastic," Josephine murmured. "And you're sure that he wants to finalize such a thing? There are so very many other girls …"

Even as she spoke it, that hope was withering slowly in her chest like parchment put too near an already lit candle.

Her father brandished the letter he had read happily, grinning from ear to ear at the prospect.

Josephine had to bite down on her tongue hard to keep her smile in place.

Suddenly, the prospect of writing to her siblings didn't seem nearly so daunting.

But then – with this news – she wouldn't be required to do so.

She should be as happy as she was pretending to be. She knew that she should be. This solved all her problems. Logically, it was a better option than any other she had gone over. As a duchess, she would be able to provide for her parents in a way that her other siblings were either refusing or unable to do. She wouldn't need to worry herself over wondering whether, when winter came, they would have enough firewood or money to purchase it to keep the draught out of the old estate.

No one would have to go over expense reports before going to the market to purchase fresh food or supplies. Her mother wouldn't have to sell off any more of the heirlooms she had brought with her from her family into her marriage.

Her parents' excited back-and-forth served as a background hum as she tried to reason with herself, that smile forced into place the whole while.

She jerked out of it only when she heard her name.

"Josie? Isn't that right?" her mother enquired, her voice pitching at the end. She sounded almost worried, her blue eyes running over Josephine's face as if trying to see past the mask that Josephine had affixed there.

"Hm?" Josephine jerked back into reality, her eyes moving between her parents as she pushed her reservations further down. "Yes, yes, of course! I'm sorry, I was just thinking about the dinner and what I should wear. Do you think he'd like me better in the blue or the green dress?"

The words were instantaneous, though very carefully placed. She knew she stood no chance of hiding from her mother's searching gaze if she stayed the course and allowed herself to drift off once more.

So, she would steer the conversation. And worry on her own when there weren't eyes on her.

Oh, how she hated being a woman.

***

Two days passed relatively quickly. And by relatively, Josephine was inclined to think they passed in a blur. One moment, she was sitting at dinner with her parents, discussing the upcoming dinner party, and the next, they were all seated in their carriage, bumping along the old country roads towards Wallburshare Manor.

"That blue really does complement your eyes, Josie. Doesn't it, darling?" Lady St Vincent asked, smiling over her fan as the countryside passed by outside their windows.

Lord St Vincent had been staring out the windows as they went, a contemplative frown on his lips. When his wife spoke, though, he jerked to attention, turning to look over Josephine with a discerning eye.

"You look lovely, Josie," he assured her warmly. He smiled, a look of pride filling his features as he did. "Of course, there was no question of that, was there?"

Josephine only just kept from snorting. There was always a question of that, though she wasn't about to argue with their parental sentiment. Her blue dress was one of her very best, and there was no real question about what she would wear. Her sisters were the ones who had got all of the fancier, more expensive gowns over the years, being that they were older. She had been left with a much smaller budget for her coming out.

Still, it was a nice blue dress, with little frill but fitted to her like a glove and with all the modesty still to be eye-catching while remaining charming.

"Are you nervous?" her mother stage-whispered, winking at her as they turned a curve down the drive of Wallburshare Estate.

Josephine laughed, shaking her head. "Of course I am. What do I say to a duke?"

"Whatever you would say to any gentleman," her father dismissed with a chuckle. "Something witty, knowing you."

Neither of her parents looked nervous, Josephine realized. It spoke volumes to their faith in her. Among all those nerves twisting about her belly, she suddenly felt something else, a pressure as she looked at the older couple across from her.

They'd given her such a good life, her father working his fingers to the bone to keep things going after their finances had begun to fall. They'd put all their children through society and ensured they made matches that pleased them as well as advanced them in society.

And her older siblings had paid them back by moving out and not looking back even once.

Her chest was tight as she made herself sit straighter, the weight of her duty heavy upon her shoulders.

She would not be like her sisters. This was her one opportunity to ensure that both her future and theirs would be secure.

If she had to marry a depressed, staid duke stuck in the past, then so be it.

"Oh, wow," Lady St Vincent whispered, catching Josephine's attention.

She followed her mother's gaze out of the windows, her breath catching for a wholly different reason as she did.

She'd only ever driven past the Wallburshare Estate. It was set far enough back from the road that only the barest details were visible. So while she'd known it was large, she hadn't known quite how large. Or how exquisitely detailed.

Marble pillars framed the front entrance they pulled up to, greenery filling the front beds and beyond.

This was to be hers?

She was supposed to be the mistress of this estate?

She couldn't speak. She could barely hear the conversation between her parents as a footman rushed to help them down from the carriage, opening the doors for them and then taking his turn helping Josephine down as well.

"Lord Wallburshare is expecting you," the footman murmured, bowing as he ushered them in through the front.

Josephine couldn't help craning her neck to try and take it all in at once. It was so expansive that she felt like she was missing most of it.

Inside was even larger than she had expected. It was all elegantly decorated in neutral, muted tones, the gold inlays almost everywhere she looked.

"Keep up, Josie," her mother hissed as they were led through the entrance into a side room.

Despite her curiosity, she pulled herself together, turning and rushing to come up just behind her parents as they were seen into the sitting room.

"Ah, Your Grace!" Her father greeted immediately upon entry. He and her mother stopped just inside the door, their shoulders blocking Josephine's view.

"Lord St Vincent," a silky voice greeted in a deep monotone. "I'm very glad you could attend tonight. Lady St Vincent."

"Oh, your home is just so lovely," Lady St Vincent breathed. "Thank you so much for having us."

"Thank you."

Josephine's stomach was in knots as she waited, fighting every instinct not to crane her neck to try and peer around her parents to see her intended. His voice was different than she had expected. She didn't know how, but it was enough to pique her interest.

"And this, of course, is our daughter," Lord St Vincent continued, stepping aside at last to introduce Josephine. "Josie – I – ahem – Lady Josephine St Vincent."

If he said anything further, it was lost to Josephine's ears. And not because of her father's social blunder.

The Duke of Wallburshare was indeed a tall man like she thought she'd remembered. But he was nothing even slightly similar to the image she had built in her head.

He wasn't stooped or sallow. He was a good head or more taller than her five foot four, with a head of golden curls slightly shaggier than was now considered fashionable but no less attractive for it. His skin was also golden, and his eyes were a bright shade of green that seemed to penetrate her very being.

"Lady Josephine," he greeted kindly. "It's lovely to meet you."

Lovely. Lord help her, but he was.

Even with that haunted, lost expression that he wore.

Maybe more so because of it.

"The pleasure is mine," Josephine murmured quickly, remembering her manners at the very last second.

"I very much doubt that."

No one knew what to make about such an enigmatic expression, the elder St Vincents sharing a look between themselves before the duke ushered them over to the armchairs and loveseat off to the side of the room.

"I trust that your trip here was easy enough?" he enquired politely. "I hope you don't mind. We are waiting on Lord and Lady Fethmire; they should only be a few minutes longer."

"Lady Fethmire is coming? Oh, we do so enjoy it when they visit the countryside!" Lady St Vincent exclaimed.

Josephine had to bite back a smile as she veered for an armchair, that smile fading even inside of her as her father quickly took that seat. Her mother did love Lady Fethmire; that wasn't just politeness.

"That's a sentiment that I happen to share," Lord Wallburshare said easily. "Although I won't tell Lord Fethmire that you were only so pleased to hear about her attendance tonight."

Josephine was surprised to hear her mother giggle as she moved to warily take one side of the loveseat after seeing her mother take another armchair. Giggle. Just like a schoolgirl.

"Oh, please don't! It's only that I'm better acquainted with Lady Fethmire," Lady St Vincent insisted.

"And she always sends such lovely thank-you gifts," Josephine's father teased.

Lady St Vincent coloured a pretty pink, her eyes widening.

Lord Wallburshare, though, just looked on as he came and took his clearly orchestrated seat next to Josephine. She could almost swear there were hints of a smile in the corners of his lips, though.

"Don't worry, Lady St Vincent. That is the usual consensus. I've told Lord Fethmire for years that she is the more amiable of the pair." There was just the slightest bit more life in Lord Wallburshare's tone as he talked about his friends, and Josephine took that opportunity to stare at him unabashedly.

He really was devastatingly handsome, but there was something else there. Something closed-off and untouchable. Even when his voice warmed, and he said all the right things socially, clearly intending to be friendly, there seemed to be an absence behind his green eyes. A shuttered, far-away thing.

"I don't mind Lord Fethmire in the slightest," Lord St Vincent said bluntly. "He makes an excellent hunting partner. And I quite like his opinion regarding parliament as well."

"Darling," Lady St Vincent warned, her voice hushed.

Again, Josephine could swear she thought she saw the duke's lips twitch.

"And you?" he asked suddenly, turning his piercing green gaze on her and catching her mid-act of staring so intently at him. "Are you well acquainted with our arriving guests?"

Our arriving guests. Mercy, he already made it sound as if they were married.

"Only slightly, Your Grace," Josephine answered honestly. She felt put on the spot. Unnerved by the intensity of his gaze and the sudden butterflies it inspired in the pit of her belly. "I trust, given how you speak of them, that they are good friends of yours?"

It was perhaps too blunt for society, too forward, but again, that almost smile danced about the duke's lips.

"You could say that," he agreed cryptically.

Before Josephine could put her foot further into her mouth by questioning him, though, the door opened once more.