Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

" F rances? You have a visitor downstairs."

Frances opened her eyes to the curtains being drawn open. Dorothy was annoyingly spritely today.

"Ugh. Dorothy, no. Close the drapes and send the visitor away. I don't wish to receive anyone today." Frances burrowed further under the duvet.

She could hear Dorothy's feet walk towards her bed, and within seconds, the cover was ripped from her hands. "Enough of this, Frances. You've wasted another day; it's nearly four in the afternoon. You must move on. Miss Jenny is downstairs."

Frances' stomach dropped. She was not ready to face anyone, especially not Jenny.

"Well, tell Jenny I'm ill. I'm contagious. I'm —"

"You're going downstairs. She's your friend and a good one at that. She's been defending your name whenever she can. You're going to have to face her sooner or later, so you might as well get it over with." Dorothy's voice took on a matriarchal tone.

Frances sat up and weighed her options. Dorothy was holding her duvet hostage, so she couldn't snuggle back underneath it. Frances eyed her maid. She probably could take her, but she had seen Dorothy get into scrapes with her brother. Dorothy was known to be feisty.

Frances groaned. "Fine. Please send word I'll be down. But good luck trying to get my hair close to anything presentable. It hasn't been properly done in days."

"That's because you'd rather lay around having fits of the blue-devils. It's time for you to get back to the world outside your room."

Frances made a face at her maid but knew she was right. This moping around was getting old even for her. If she was going to live with a broken heart, then she might as well learn how to do just that. First step, getting dressed and meeting with the sister of her unrequited love. Good morning, indeed.

Frances gingerly patted her head. It took Dorothy longer than expected to get the knots out, and Frances was sure she lost some hair in the process.

She stole a moment before opening the door to her morning room. She took a deep breath and pushed it out. Jenny was her friend. She did nothing wrong. In fact, it was Frances that did Jenny wrong.

She opened the door. "Jenny, it's so nice to — oof !"

Jenny slammed into Frances' body and wrapped her in the most crushing hug she'd ever received.

"Oh Frances, I am so sorry for everything!"

Frances could only pat her friend on the back and make little mewling sounds for air. "Jenny — air — Jenny! "

Jenny pulled back. "What? Oh! I'm sorry. I got carried away. It's been so long since I've seen you, and we didn't part on the best of terms, and I feel just awful for that. Then the ball happened, and I didn't get a chance to talk to you before…"

Frances was still doubled over trying to catch her breath. "It's ok, Jenny. Please, let's sit."

Jenny glanced at the door before agreeing to sit. Frances moved to her favorite chair that faced the window when Jenny let out a scream. "No! I'll sit there. Here, you sit on the settee, that way you can have some air to breathe."

Jenny's face had a frantic smile plastered onto her face.

"Jenny? Are you ok? Why do you keep looking at the door? Is someone else here?" Frances' throat went dry. She could barely handle Jenny; she didn't want to think of the heartache she'd feel if she had to face him .

"What? No." Jenny's voice was borderline hysterical. "I'm just…" She took a deep breath and settled into the chair across from Frances. "Sorry. My emotions are getting the better of me. So much has happened in such a short amount of time. I'm just so happy to see you."

"There!" Frances pointed at Jenny before turning around to look out the window.

"What?"

"You keep looking over my shoulder. Is there someone out there?"

"Frances. Stop. There is no one there. Something must've caught my eye. It's a beautiful day outside, not too hot. It's the perfect day for walk."

Jenny toyed with the cuff of her sleeve.

"Ah-ha! You're playing with your cuff. It's your tell. You're nervous." Frances pointed at the offending gesture.

Jenny stilled her hands and looked pointedly at Frances. "Frances? When was the last time you encountered another person?"

Frances sighed into the settee. "I'm sorry, I'm all out of sorts. So, catch me up. Am I still the belle of the ball?"

Jenny looked at the floor, once again playing with the cuff of her sleeve. "You can thank Marie for that. She won't keep her trap shut about what she saw."

The knife in Frances' heart twisted. Marie . She knew Marie had a manipulative side to her, but she never thought she would go so far as to purposefully ruin a person.

"Frannie, may I ask you a question?"

Frances nodded, afraid to speak. Jenny's tone turned from cordial to timid, and it made Frances nervous.

"Why did you turn down my brother?" Frances hated the hurt she heard in Jenny's voice.

Frances bit her lip. She needed a moment to collect the swirl of emotions coursing through her body.

"It wouldn't be proper for a duke to marry a baron's daughter. There are more suitable choices for him. He worked hard to be seen as legitimate duke, and I don't want to bring him down — and tied to a scandal at that. He's been through enough; he deserves more."

Both women sat in silence.

"You love him." Jenny's voice was just a whisper, but it knocked the air from Frances' lungs.

Tears collected on her eyelashes before silently rolling down her cheeks.

"Frances, you must know my brother, of all people, could not care less what the ton thinks of him. If he offered you marriage, it wasn't out of necessity."

Frances wiped the tears from her face and looked at Jenny. "He specifically said he wanted to make it right . It wasn't exactly the kind of proposal little girls dream of," she said nonchalantly.

Jenny let out an exaggerated breath. "My brother has never been good with words."

After a moment, Jenny gathered her dress and stood up. She offered her hand to Frances. "Come. It's too beautiful a day to stay inside. Why don't we go for a walk and get some fresh air. It'll do you some good. I'll go tell Dorothy. I'm sure she'll want to come as well. It's been too long since we've had some time together."

Frances turned to look out the window. It did look like a nice day. Her only hesitation came from the number of people passing by. She knew she'd have to face them, but the thought of handling stares and murmurs this soon had her stomach turning.

Although, she was never one to back down from a challenge. It's what got her in this mess in the first place. Collecting her courage, she stood and followed Jenny out the door.

Arm in arm, Jenny and Frances walked through Hyde Park with Dorothy just behind them. So far, everyone she encountered was pleasant enough. The sun felt good on her face, and the warm breeze felt freeing after she had been cooped up in her bedroom for the better part of a week.

They rounded the corner, and Frances' feet stopped moving. Ahead of her were Marie and some women Frances wasn't familiar with.

"We can take the path to our left to ignore them, and it'll only add a few more minutes to our walk." Jenny began to move in the other direction when Frances stopped her.

"No. She has had enough say in my life; she doesn't get to dictate where I walk. Let's continue on."

Jenny's eyes lit up. "I think I finally understand the friendship between my brother and Jonathan."

"How do you mean?" Frances cocked her head as they approached the couple.

"Jonathan is a very old friend of my brother's. He's seen Thomas through just about everything including many brawls. They're always claiming they would fight anyone who got in the other's way. If I could, I would remove Marie from your sight, so you'd never have to witness her horrible person again. But I'm told that would be very unladylike of me. We've worked so hard to fool people into thinking I'm a proper young lady."

The women couldn't contain their giggles as they came within steps of Marie.

"Good afternoon, Marie. 'Tis a lovely day for a walk, is it not?" Frances smiled and was proud that she felt no nerves, only cool, rational distance.

Marie sputtered but recovered quickly. "Yes, it is a beautiful day. I must say, I'm surprised to see you out. I heard about what happened with the Viscount and the Duke." Marie sniffed, raising her chin. "It's such a shame it ended that way. But if I remember correctly, you are fine with the prospect of a lonely life." The women behind her snickered to each other.

Frances was losing her hold on her aloofness but remained calm.

"Oh, Marie, you know Frances better than that. She is well liked amongst the ton , and she has many friends who like and respect her. One rumor from a silly busybody nobody takes seriously will not impede her future."

Marie scoffed. "Well, the Viscount believed it."

Frances laughed. "I have no disrespect for the Viscount, after all, he has a family to consider, but if he went running after one little story, then he would not be the man for me. I like a little chaos in my life. No run of the mill marriage for me, I'm afraid. Heaven forbid I become so bored in my married life that I would feel the need to interfere with other people's lives."

Marie's face drained of color. "How dare you!"

Frances tugged on Jenny's arm. "Come, Miss Pilton, we have better use of our time. Lady Stellon," she nodded before walking off.

Jenny danced on her tiptoes. "That was fantastic! Did you see her face? I will remember that forever. This is the perfect start."

Frances couldn't help but smile; it felt good to put Marie in her place.

"Wait. What do you mean? A perfect start to what?"

Jenny coughed and looked back at Dorothy, who was looking over their shoulders with a goofy smile on her face. Frances looked between the two women in confusion.

"What are you two going on about?" She caught Dorothy's eyes light up and turned to see what she was looking at. Only it wasn't a what, it was a who.

Thomas.

No, no, no, no. I'm not ready.

Jenny turned, so she was facing Frances, and tucked a stray blonde curl behind Frances' ear. After planting a kiss on both cheeks, Jenny turned Frances around and gently pushed her in the direction of the Duke.

Frances honestly didn't know how she was walking; she was numb from the waist down. Her heart was beating so loudly, her ears hurt. Her vision was blurry. Yet, even through the haze, she could see the piercing blue eyes drawing her in.

She stood in front of Thomas, holding her breath.

"Breathe, Frances." His command was soft, enticing. It lit a flame in her belly that she thought had been extinguished.

"I'm glad I ran into you today. You're looking well."

Frances blinked a few times as she reclaimed her wits. "Something tells me this wasn't a chance meeting." She threw a glance over her shoulder at two clearly eavesdropping women.

Thomas smiled, and Frances' heart squeezed. He didn't smile often, but when he did, he was captivating.

"No, I'm afraid it's not." He gestured to the path. "Will you walk with me?" Frances raised an eyebrow. "Jenny and Dorothy will chaperone us, of course."

Frances looked at her friends once more before returning her gaze to Thomas. It hurt to be with him and know she couldn't be her honest self with him. However, being in his company was like a soothing balm to her aching heart. If she could only have him in this capacity, then so be it. It was better than not having him in her life at all.

She nodded and walked along his side, both content in listening to the birds and passing carriages.

Thomas cleared his throat. "I've heard some good news regarding your father."

Frances turned her eyes to him. She had locked herself in her room for the past few days, so she hadn't kept up with anyone, including her poor father. She'd need to rectify that as soon as she got home.

"Oh?"

Thomas nodded. "Yes. It seems he and I have a mutual acquaintance in the business world. And it just so happens, I knew this acquaintance needed your father's business expertise, so I put them in contact again."

Frances stopped Thomas from walking. "You didn't have to do that."

"I know." Thomas said, continuing his walk, causing Frances to jog to catch up.

She grabbed his arm to stop him from walking. "Why did you do that? If this is some way of ‘fixing the situation', I assure you, you —"

"Frances." Thomas' voice cut through her rant. "When will you understand, I only do things I want to do. No one makes me do anything I don't want to do."

Frances looked at him skeptically. "That's not true. I got you dance."

"Did you?" he asked, his eyebrow raised.

Frances scanned their surroundings and leaned in. " I propositioned you."

" Correct." Frances smiled, triumphantly. "But I agreed to it. No one forces my hand, Frances. When I offer help, it's because I want to help. If I agree to something it's because I want it."

Frances' head began to swim. "You wanted it? You… you wanted me? "

"Want."

"What?"

"I want you. Not past tense. I want you." Thomas said, still walking. The damn bastard dropped this news and then had the audacity to continue walking.

Once again, Frances found herself chasing after him. Curse his long legs .

"Will you wait a moment!" This time she stood in front of him to stop him from walking away. "You want me? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of?"

"Really? More ridiculous than a girl propositioning a duke she barely knows to do things that the illustrious ton deems acceptable for only a husband and wife to do?"

Frances blanched. "That's beside the point."

Thomas' mouth slid into a devilish grin. "Then what, my love, is the point?"

All clear and conscious thought left her brain when he said those words, my love .

They sobered her immediately. "Thomas. We can't."

Thomas took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm.

"Wh- what are you doing?" Frances frantically looked around to see if anyone was witnessing this behavior.

"I'm told this is the correct way to woo a woman."

Frances blinked up at him. She must've heard him wrong. "Woo a woman?"

"Are you sufficiently wooed by this gesture?"

Frances laughed. "Have you gone mad?"

Thomas canted his head. "In a manner of speaking. It has come to my attention that during our last meeting, I was a rightful ass. I'm hoping to make up for it and do this the proper way."

Frances was at a loss for words. "Uh, yes. If you were courting me, this would be a proper outing, I suppose. But Thomas, we discussed this. We are not a suitable match."

"Why not?" Thomas' voice was curious, playful even. "And the whole duke and baron's daughter excuse doesn't count."

"It's a perfectly logical reason."

Thomas shook his head. "Not to me, and last I checked, I am a duke who doesn't care for the inner workings or thought of the ton . If you were a scullery maid, I'd still want to marry you."

Frances felt the ground drop out from underneath her.

"What did you just say?"

"Hmm? Oh, that I want to marry you? Really Frances, if I have to repeat myself over and over again for the rest of our lives, it will get tiresome."

"Thomas. We —"

Thomas turned and placed his finger over her mouth. "Frances. We can try to reason our feelings away, but we'd only be lying to ourselves. You are a smart woman who isn't afraid to speak her mind or get what she wants. It was the first thing that drew me to you. We've both endured heartache at young ages; why would we want to bestow more onto ourselves?"

Frances felt tears well in her eyes.

"Neither one of us gives much credence to other people's thoughts about rules and such nonsense; why would we start now? I love you, Miss Frances Ambrose. And if I have to walk around this park a hundred times to prove to the ton you're my rightful choice, then so be it. But I refuse to have anyone but us dictate if we are to be together or not."

Words failed her. All this time she was certain his feelings towards her were platonic and based off their agreement. She was so caught up in what was expected of her that she never considered there would be a chance for him to see her in the same light she saw him.

"So, what say you? Shall we continue this walk. Start some juicy gossip for Lady Staunton to spread? She's right over there with her corgis and has been watching us this entire time."

Frances chewed on her bottom lip and saw Thomas' eyes catch the movement. He groaned. "Oh, to be that lip," he whispered.

Frances blushed and failed at keeping her giggle from escaping. "I would love to walk with you, Your Grace."

Thomas raised her hand to his lips and placed a kiss on the back of her hand. "Please, call me Thomas, I insist," he said with a cocky wink.

"I guess you can openly call me Frances, then."

Thomas shook his head. "No, there's only one name I will call you."

Frances cocked her head in question. "And what is that?"

"My love."