Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Anthony rubbed his eyes, staring morosely at the ledgers spread over his desk. He felt as though he were drowning beneath the mound of papers. The numbers on all the papers had begun to blur together in his mind.

Although his predecessor had died three years ago, those years had been so chaotic that Anthony had yet to really immerse himself in the affairs of the dukedom. The previous Duke of Hamilton, Anthony's uncle Frederick, had been what the ton politely called an eccentric, and his papers reflected the appropriateness of such a term. His ledgers were in complete disarray and often seemed written as if they were intended only for his uncle's eyes.

His uncle's death had been sudden, and it had taken Anthony some time to adjust to his new role. The previous Duke of Hamilton had been a young man, and his wife, Catherine, had been in good health. Everyone had anticipated an heir would soon arrive. None had, however. Then Lady Rose's father had died, and the young woman had become his ward.

Anthony would have been content to let Lady Victoria manage his cousin's Seasons, but it quickly became apparent that Lady Victoria was a woman with delicate nerves and one who had not been involved in the ton's affairs for decades. She was ill-equipped to see a young woman's prospects on the marriage mart.

There was a light knock on the door of his study. "Come in!" Anthony called.

Kitty, the maid, opened the door and curtsied. "Lady Victoria has arrived for you."

"Escort her to me."

"Of course, Your Grace."

After she left, Anthony ran his hands through his hair and sighed. He supposed that he should have expected his aunt's arrival. The Dowager Duchess of Hamilton had wanted to host a ball, and Anthony had seen the wisdom in the decision. A ball would be a good opportunity to show the ton that he was an effective and prosperous duke, which would mean better suitors for Lady Rose. Even better, Her Grace had suggested that she do all the planning, which meant Anthony would not have to devote any time to preparing for the festivities. Of course, she would have told Lady Victoria; they were family by marriage.

Anthony took a steadying breath. He sympathized with her grief. Truly, he did. It was only that he had never been a man who was good at comforting others. Tears made him anxious and uneasy, and with women especially, he always felt as though he would say something wrong and worsen their distress.

The door to his study opened again, and Kitty curtsied. Behind her, he saw his aunt. Once, Lady Victoria had been a great beauty, and she held her age well. At five-and-forty years, she was as tall and slender as the stem of a daffodil. Her eyes were blue and her hair gold, just like her daughter's. If one looked at the lady for only a moment, they would think her lovely, indeed. It was only upon closer inspection that one noticed the dark shadows that lingered beneath her eyes and the thinness of her face, neither of which had been present when her husband still lived. She still wore black.

Anthony stood. "My dear aunt," he said. "I had not realized that you would be visiting."

"Your Grace," she said, curtseying. "It was a rather impulsive decision of mine. I knew you would forgive me for it."

She laughed a little at the jest and smiled at him. Anthony gestured towards the seat across from him.

"You are quite right, my lady. I am delighted to see you, and I do forgive you." That was not entirely true; the past few years had caused Anthony to develop a particular aversion to unexpected events. "We have much to discuss. Kitty, will you fetch tea and biscuits? I am sure Lady Victoria would delight in some refreshments."

Kitty curtsied and departed. Anthony led Lady Victoria to the chair and waited until she was seated before returning to his own place behind his desk. "Lady Rose will be delighted to see you," he said. "She had just mentioned that she was preparing her wardrobe for the Season."

"Preparing it now?" Lady Victoria asked. "Why, that should have happened months ago."

Anthony chuckled anxiously. "She has a few gowns for the Season's earliest events," he clarified. "She could do with a few more, though."

"That is good," Lady Victoria said. "No matter! I shall help her procure what she needs, and I have no doubt that we will find her a husband this Season."

Anthony nodded. He hoped they did. If Lady Rose married, she would no longer be his ward. It was not as though he disliked his cousin. She was pretty and kind enough. He had no daughters of his own, though. Nor did he have a wife. Anthony had not the faintest idea what he ought to do to prepare a young lady for her Season.

Lady Victoria could be helpful in that regard, but he could not really depend on her. She had already made a habit of fleeing unexpectedly, something that always won his sympathy but that also made Anthony hesitant to assign her the task of ensuring Lady Rose's success that Season. The dowager duchess was seldom better in that regard; she enjoyed being a widow and had a tendency to disappear to Scotland or Wales in flights of fancy.

At the moment, though, it seemed Anthony had the cheerful version of Lady Victoria, the one who was determined to see her daughter successfully wed to a gentleman.

"Her Grace extended an invitation to the ball for me," Lady Victoria said. "Why, I can scarcely remember the last time I attended a ball!"

"I imagine it has been some time," Anthony replied, treading carefully. He did not want to say anything that might remind Lady Victoria of her deceased husband.

"I assume you intend on accompanying Rose as her chaperone?" Lady Victoria asked. "It would be beneficial, I think, if you were to attend the ball with her."

Anthony nodded. "I did intend on acting as her chaperone, yes."

He had not thought much about his duty to ensure that Lady Rose found a husband at the ball, though. Anthony had not considered the occasion much beyond it being yet another duty that he was expected to fulfill. His thoughts drifted to Lady Rose's friend, the beautiful Lady Bridget.

Perhaps she would be at the ball. Anthony felt a tightness between his legs when he thought of the young lady with her flushed face and the mud staining the hem of her gown. She would look even more exquisite if she were in attendance at the ball. Anthony had always had an appreciation for women in all their finery, for the way that the candlelight of ballrooms traced the delicate lines of their bodies.

"I am pleased to hear it," Lady Victoria said, dragging Anthony's thoughts way from Lady Bridget. "I am uncertain if I will attend yet, but I have brought a fine gown with me just in case."

"Of course," Anthony said.

"Well, I see your attention is otherwise occupied," Lady Victoria said, her face softening. "My William spent many evenings just like this, surrounded by papers and books. He liked his solitude during such times."

Anthony smiled politely. Lady Victoria stood and set her shoulders, just as Kitty entered with the tea and biscuits. Anthony offered the maid an apologetic glance.

"Lady Victoria, perhaps, you wish to speak with your daughter? I believe that she is usually practicing the pianoforte at this time."

"Indeed!" Lady Victoria's expression brightened. "I wish to see which gown she is considering for the ball."

"Kitty, take the tea to the drawing room for Lady Victoria and Lady Rose," Anthony said.

"At once, Your Grace."

Lady Victoria clapped her hands together in delight. "Oh, this will be simply wonderful!"

Anthony managed to keep smiling until his aunt was well out of sight. Only then did he let his expression relax. His muscles remained tense, and the cause of them was readily identifiable: Lady Bridget. He raked his hands through his hair and shifted in his seat, adjusting his trousers. How embarrassing to be affected so! He was not a young man any longer, and he had far more important matters to think about than Lady Bridget.

When he thought of placing his hands on her waist, gathering handfuls of her sodden skirts, and pulling the gown away—bearing her body to the eyes of London—it nearly undid him. Anthony groaned. He had best be careful around Lady Bridget. Anthony had had no desire to wed after Anastasia's passing, but that did not mean he was as adept at resisting the desires of the flesh.

Very careful, indeed, he thought.

The last thing he wanted to do was dishonor a young lady, especially the dearest friend of his new ward.