Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

T he Duke of Rothes had arrived.

He had summoned Caroline back to Edgewood Estate, and she stood there on the front step of her old home, hand raised to knock on the door. But she hesitated. When a duke requested your presence, it would do well to not keep him waiting. And yet, suddenly Caroline wasn’t sure she wanted to keep up this acquaintance. The duke was a connection from her past, one only founded through her late husband, whom she despised. And she knew the sort of man the duke was. The epitome of London society, the sort to gloat about their status and fortune, and look down his nose at those beneath him.

The sort of person that Robert would have nothing to do with. And her desire to gain his trust again was one of the many reasons that gave her pause.

Knocking on the door, Caroline lifted her chin and waited. The door opened and the butler appeared, much more grim and solemn than he had been before.

“Come in, Mrs. Marley,” he said. “His Grace is expecting you.”

He took her cloak and cap, then led her down the corridor to the drawing room in silence. When they entered the room and the butler announced her, Caroline stepped inside and dipped in her finest curtsy. Not out of desire, but out of habit and obligation for nobility.

“Your Grace,” Caroline greeted demurely. Warmth emanated from the roaring fireplace to the point that Caroline wished she had removed her spencer as well, and not just her cloak and bonnet.

“How do you do, Mrs. Marley?” the duke greeted, beckoning her up. Standing to take in his appearance, Caroline remembered precisely why she did not enjoy being in his presence, and it had nothing to do with his disability or his bath chair. It was his demeanor. Despite being close to her own age, he was thin and frail with sharp features. He bore dark hair and dark eyes, and the latter followed her every move with scrutinizing attention.

“Please, do be seated.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

Caroline moved toward the settee across from him and did not miss when he used his cane to strike the servant behind him on the knees, urging him to pour the tea before them.

“I was quite surprised to arrive in Hamstead and see your invitation,” he said, “as I did not know you were in this part of the country.”

Caroline accepted the tea and took a sip. “Yes, my aunt passed on recently, and she left her estate to me, so I returned to the village to inherit. And when I came to visit my old home, I did not realize that Edgewood Estate had been occupied by an acquaintance from London such as yourself.”

The duke nodded dramatically. “Oh yes, I had remembered it from a conversation with your husband. The village is quaint to be sure, but the building is a welcome enough reprieve when traveling between London and Northumberland as I tend to do.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” And took a sip of her tea.

“Though you will notice the changes I’ve made since arriving, and how greatly the estate has been improved since I took possession of it.”

Caroline hummed in her false agreement. “Indeed, Your Grace.”

“But about your aunt.” He leaned forward in his chair. “She was quite the eccentric woman, wasn’t she?”

From what Caroline remembered of her, she had seemed vastly normal for a wealthy woman in the country. “Was she? How so?”

“She had such ideals, you understand. She married into wealth and then lost her husband, so one would think she would wish to live her life in luxury and peace, but instead, she was constantly giving her money away. It seemed she was hellbent on bankrupting herself with charities.”

Caroline cringed. She had said such things herself in the past, but coming from the duke’s mouth, she didn’t like it at all. And though Caroline’s own thoughts on charity were currently in transition, it was considered a regular Christian act and was quite common amongst the poor and wealthy alike. But of course he would consider such a notion eccentric.

“I’ve been told she had quite a generous heart in her latter years,” Caroline said, “but the estate still receives a healthy income, so there is no need for alarm.”

“Which is why I’ve always said, women ought not to handle finances or touch a penny if they can help it. Leave it to the men for such things, else the money will be wasted in excess on frivolous nonsense, and on those who do not deserve it.”

Caroline pursed her lips at the slight, but he quickly corrected himself.

“You I must exclude, Mrs. Marley, of course, as you have managed your late husband’s affairs with grace and economy and wisdom far beyond your sex.”

Perhaps he had intended it as a compliment. Before she could speak a word, he went on.

“In fact, considering your great beauty alone, if you had not been already married when we met, I might have asked for your hand myself.”

The comment caught her off guard, but Caroline schooled her features to be something modest and flattered. “You are too kind, Your Grace.”

“I am seeking a bride to be my duchess,” he went on coolly, “and you would be an excellent candidate. Unless you intend to take up residence in your aunt’s estate.”

“Only for a short time,” Caroline explained curtly, heart pounding at his inference. “You may remember my aunt held an annual Christmas party and asked that I throw the final event in her absence. Though I decided on a smaller party, more intimate with fewer guests, only including noblemen and those of elevated standing, so it will be a much more manageable affair.”

The duke grunted in his approval. “I am glad to hear it. Your aunt had no business inviting the entire countryside, attempting to mingle the genteel with the impoverished. The woman had no sense, I am certain.”

Caroline humored him, reluctantly reaching for an invitation in her reticule. “Perhaps you will deign to join us?”

He waved her off, sitting back in his chair comfortably, giving himself an appearance of easy vanity. “I fear I have grown weary of holiday festivities these past years, but perhaps you can persuade me yet.”

His keen gaze only caused her discomfort to increase. If he expected her to beg for his attendance, he was about to be sorely disappointed. “I understand, Your Grace. Do take your time in considering.” Setting the invitation on the table, Caroline rose to her feet, bobbing again in a deep curtsy and readying to take her leave. “I appreciate your time, Your Grace, but I must be off. More people to visit before end of the day.”

The duke’s brow narrowed. “And what of my offer?”

“You honor me with your regard, Your Grace,” she said weakly, and she swallowed again to dismiss her wavering nerves. “But I cannot fully consider your proposal at the moment, not while planning the Christmas dinner. Perhaps we can discuss further at another time.”

He nodded, accepting her answer. “Very well. Then I shall await your response.”

Caroline blindly made her way out the door, hurrying back to her carriage. Once she was there, she let out a heavy breath. The man might be a duke, and she had met him multiple times before without issues, but the way his eyes traveled over her made her skin prickle with agitation. He had designs to marry her, and marriage to a duke would make her a duchess. It was necessary that she take some time to consider him, even though she had not thought to marry again since she had no need. She was no longer bound to her father or her husband, and once she was free of her aunt’s wishes, she would be wealthier than she had ever dreamed possible all on her own. She didn’t need to marry if she did not wish to. Especially to a man like the Duke of Rothes. Especially when…

No. She could not allow the words to take full form in her mind.

And yet, the thought pressed itself to the forefront, screaming the powerful truth.

Especially when the only man she had ever wanted to marry remained completely unreachable.

But then, a thought snagged in her mind, if she could not have Robert, then perhaps marriage to the duke was her best option. His personality might grate on her nerves, but with that designation of his rank came a certain level of power. It was enticing to think of what she could bring about as a peer in the kingdom. What she would have the ability to do. Even if the duke despised the notion of charity, she would have the ability to organize groups of other wealthy women and rally them to help the poor, the less fortunate. She could bring about great change, and that thought became a heady notion.

The direction of her future was becoming a very difficult choice, indeed.