Chapter Three

"Did you hear the news?"

Edith blinked as her sister came hurrying into the drawing room, reaching out one hand to grasp Edith's own. "News?"

"About the Duke!"

Instantly, all of Edith's surprise faded. "If there is some rumour about him or some such thing, then I have very little interest in it, Amelia."

"It is not a rumour! I mean, I suppose it may be but everyone in town is abuzz with the news!"

Edith, who had done nothing other than hide herself away in the music room and play her violin that afternoon rather than make her way to town with her sister and mother, let out a small sigh and released her sister's hand. "My dear Amelia, that means that it certainly is nothing but rumour! I do not think for a single moment that there can be any truth to whatever you are to say."

"But you will permit me to tell you anyway?" Such was the enthusiasm in Amelia's voice that despite her own preferences to remain silent, Edith spread out her hands and laughed.

"Very well. What is it?"

"It is about the Duke of Fairglen. Have you heard of him? He has not been in London for some years but now, he has returned!"

This name did not mean anything to Edith and she shook her head. "I do not think that I know of him. Why has he been absent from London?"

"I do not know. However, now that he has returned, it is said that the only reason he has come to London is so that he can find a bride!"

Edith's shoulders dropped and she rolled her eyes. "Is that not the reason that most gentlemen come to London?"

"No," Amelia protested, quickly. "Some come as rogues, some come just to see acquaintances and the like – but this is a Duke , Edith! A Duke!"

Edith shook her head. "Yes, it is but we are the daughters of a viscount – and a somewhat poor one at that. You cannot think that a Duke would spend any time even considering someone such as us, can you?" She watched the light fade from her sister's face and felt a slight pang of guilt. "I do not say such things to injure you, my dear, only to make certain that your expectations are fair."

Amelia dropped down into the chair behind her, let out a long sigh and pursed her lips. With yet another breath, she lifted her shoulders and then let them fall. "You are quite right. Though it is still rather exciting!"

The door behind them flew open. "Did you hear the news?"

A little surprised that her father had rushed into the room in such an exuberant fashion, Edith took a moment before she replied. "If this is about the Duke of Fairglen then yes, Father, Amelia has only just now informed me of it."

"Excellent!" Lord Tidemore smiled at Amelia, who beamed back at him. "It is wonderful that such a gentleman has come back to London and all the more exciting that he seeks a bride! I did wonder whether he would ever marry, given what happened to his previous engagement."

Despite her determination not to listen to anything about the Duke of Fairglen, Edith could not help but feel a little curiosity. "What was it that happened, Father?" she asked, seeing Amelia's eyes turn back to her father also. "He did not marry then, I presume?"

Lord Tidemore took a seat and shook his head. "No, he did not. It was all rather astonishing. There was due to be a wedding between the Duke of Fairglen and a young lady whose name I cannot quite recall, but at the very last moment, the Duke himself did not marry her, but his brother did! And by Special License too!"

Edith lifted an eyebrow in surprise, though Amelia let out a gasp of astonishment.

"But why, Father?" Amelia asked. "Why did that happen? And why a Special License?"

The Viscount shrugged. "I do not know. What I do know is that the Duke quickly removed himself from London and left his brother and his new bride alone. He has not returned to town since then… but now he is here and there was a note in the papers this morning stating that he is in search of a bride!"

"But that could be nothing more than idle gossip, could it not?" Edith asked, catching her father's eye. "We do not want to become excited over something that is entirely untrue."

"Now, normally I might agree with you in that regard, my dear, but something was said last evening at a soiree – a soiree I was not in attendance at, however – which only clarifies this." The Viscount put his hands on his knees and leaned forward, his eyes alight with an expectancy which Edith did not understand. "You see, I heard that the Duchess of Fairglen – the Duke's respective mother – has been informing particular gentlemen and ladies of the ton that her son is in search of a bride. You see?" He grinned all the more broadly and sat back. "It must be true! And therefore, I must get you before him just as soon as I can." This was accompanied by a sharp look towards Edith, his smile fading as his expression grew a good deal more serious. "You must understand this, my dear. This is an opportunity unlike any other. To have the chance to become a Duchess is – "

"There is no chance for someone like myself to become a Duchess, Father," Edith interrupted, blushing as her father's brow furrowed at her interruption. "I do not mean it unkindly but I am the daughter of a Viscount and I am certain that a Duke will seek out a Marquess' daughter – or even the daughter of another Duke! He will not permit himself to look to someone such as myself."

"But his last bride was the daughter of an Earl and a viscount is only a little below that," her father challenged, quickly. "I must admit that you do make a valid argument, but that does not guarantee your success in the end.." He rose to his feet, his chest a little puffed out as he stood tall, clearly aware that Edith was not fully convinced. "I am to go to the Duke's residence this afternoon, to offer him an invitation."

Edith's lips twisted, her stomach beginning to tighten into knots.

"You are to invite him to the musical soiree tomorrow?" Amelia sounded a good deal more excited than Edith felt, for as her father nodded, something like a heavy stone sank down into her stomach.

"Yes, I certainly shall. I do not know if he will attend but I shall make it quite clear that there will be a good many gentlemen and ladies present, so he will be amongst fine company. That way, I will be able to present you just as you are, Edith and he will be able to see how magnificently you play." A small smile touched the edges of his lips as Edith closed her eyes, trying to keep a hold of the growing fear which began to twist up through her. "I think it will be an excellent evening and how the ton will talk when they hear that I have the Duke of Fairglen present!"

"He may not agree to attend, but of course, we will hope that he will do so," Amelia interjected, perhaps aware of the flickering frown on her father's face. "When is it you are going to speak with him?"

"Why, this very afternoon! This very moment, in fact!" The way the smile spread back across her father's face told Edith that she was a good deal more skeptical than he was. Though there was a nervousness within her, Edith tried quietly to settle down and not to scurry away, for was there any real chance that the Duke of Fairglen would come to the house of a Viscount to meet his daughter, simply because he was asked? No, she determined, as her father quit the room, there was no good reason to think that such a thing would happen. From her experience, Dukes were inclined to be a little arrogant, to consider themselves better than all other titles – which, save for the King – they were. Therefore, even if the Duke of Fairglen's last betrothed had been the daughter of an Earl, she would not expect him to then stoop down to pick the daughter of a Viscount!

She managed a half smile as Amelia began to chatter excitedly about it all, clearly hopeful that the Duke of Fairglen would make his way to their musical soiree, exclaiming aloud about what it would be like should Edith be chosen as his bride. Listening with only half an ear, Edith let her gaze drift to the window and to the blue skies and wispy white clouds. There was nothing for her to be concerned about. The Duke would not come and she certainly would not find herself attached to him! The very idea was laughable and, with a small smile to herself, Edith dismissed the idea entirely.