Chapter 13

Aaron regarded the large brass fish on the Hoskins' front door with a jaundiced eye. How many times had he knocked or rung at this door in the past fortnight while courting Miss Dorothy Hoskins? Still, this vulgar ornament offended his eyes every time.

Before he could bring himself to ring or knock, he became conscious of raised voices from within the house, both Dorothy's and that of her brother. They must be in the front drawing room for the sound to carry so clearly.

"I shall not, Patrick. Your investments are your own affairs. I am not some saleswoman in a shop. I am your sister…"

"You have a duty to our family…"

"It is up to you to conduct your own business, Patrick…"

Aaron exhaled, shaking his head. He already knew that Patrick Hoskins hoped to involve him in various schemes and had declined even to converse about the subject. Of course, the man would try to inveigle his sister to his cause. Aaron trusted that Dorothy was made of sterner stuff than to yield to her brother's entreaties, but the sooner he got her out of this damned house the better.

Patting the folded sheaf of paper in his pocket, he pressed the bell and held it down for longer than was perhaps polite, hoping it would irritate Patrick as much as overhearing the argument between the siblings had irked him.

"Your Grace," Patrick said, immediately stepping in front of the manservant who had opened the front door. "We were not expecting you until this afternoon, but do come in. I shall inform my father that you are here."

"I have good news, Mr. Hoskins," Aaron announced, stepping over the threshold and producing the paper from his jacket without delay. "The Archbishop of Canterbury has approved the special license, and the wedding ceremony can go ahead forthwith."

"Excellent news," Patrick gushed, attempting to steer Aaron towards his study. "We should then finalize the marriage contract."

Aaron smiled but stood his ground, guessing that Dorothy was in the drawing room and perhaps instructed to stay in there by her brother.

He had no interest in joining Patrick Hoskins in the study for a dull hour of poring over papers, when he could sit in comfort in the drawing room, gently teasing his betrothed and imagining all the intimate pleasures they would soon be able to enjoy in the privacy of his bedchamber.

"There is no need, Mr. Hoskins. With the special license, and my agreement to top up the dowry from my own funds, I believe I have met all your demands. I myself am now content. My lawyers will bring the final copy for your father's signature this afternoon. I must tell Miss Hoskins the good news. She is in the drawing room, I assume?"

"Oh, but there was one more matter I wished to discuss with you," Patrick began, but Aaron's hand was already on the door handle even as Dorothy opened it from the other side.

"So, that means we can set the date, Miss Hoskins," Aaron said, watching Dorothy's face as she examined the document.

Her features were carefully controlled, hiding her true feelings from both Aaron and her brother.

"We could marry tomorrow, then, couldn't we?" she asked. "In your garden? We don't even need to be in a church with a special license. We can get it all over and done with quickly and easily at home."

Patrick balked at this notion, seeing the chance of a useful high-society networking event going down the drain.

"That is no way to speak of your wedding to His Grace, Dorothy. As we have discussed several times, it is an occasion of dignity and ceremony and?—"

"If you wished it," Aaron replied to Dorothy, paying no attention to Patrick's objections. "I'd happily take you tomorrow, Miss Hoskins."

His dark blue eyes flashed with some unspoken intent that Dorothy felt her body respond to automatically.

"My only request would be that you first spend some time with my mother," the Duke added. "Her memory is not always good, and while I think she understands that I am marrying, she cannot remember who you are. I would like her to have the chance to get to know you."

"Yes," Dorothy agreed instantly. "Whenever you think best, Your Grace."

"Come to dinner tonight. I will speak to the local vicar after I leave here and establish when he could conduct the wedding ceremony. I can then tell you this evening."

"But what about your dress, Dorothy? And your wedding guests? There are many people who will be expecting an invitation."

"Why?" Aaron challenged the man. "I have given no one a hint to expect that they will be invited to our wedding. Have you, Miss Hoskins?"

Dorothy shook her head. "No one," she confirmed.

"Then we have only my mother and your father to consider, along with suitable witnesses. It is all perfectly simple and shall be arranged as you wish, Miss Hoskins."

Patrick was almost choking on the idea of this small and hasty ceremony but could make no objection. Aaron had already agreed to his greedy, self-seeking requests in Dorothy's marriage contract, after some strategic pretense at negotiation about the low dowry offer and Aaron's settlement of considerable money on Dorothy and their future children. Hoskins now not only lacked further leverage but was considerably in his debt.

"Well then, Sister," Hoskins said with forced joviality. "It seems you will be Duchess of Dawford before the week is out."

"Indeed," Aaron agreed. "I will begin arrangements to have Miss Hoskins' personal belongings moved to my house once I know the wedding date."

Aaron saw yearning, relief, and fear all battling on Dorothy's face before she smoothed her brow and hid her feelings again for the remainder of his call.

"There is no need to be afraid," he whispered before he left, stroking her face gently once Patrick disappeared into the hallway ahead of him.

Impulsively, Dorothy turned her head and briefly kissed his palm, sending a shot of desire through him as intense as a bolt of lightning. He wished he could carry her out of that house and into his own right now, ignoring all protests from her family.

The wedding ceremony could not come fast enough.

Dorothy had dressed carefully but not ostentatiously for her first dinner with the Dowager Duchess of Dawford. She chose a simple brown evening dress with a little gold thread at the neckline, as well as the gold locket containing her mother's portrait and small amber earrings, handed down by her grandmother. Her hair was twisted and pinned with plain gold clips.

Patrick walked her to the door of the Duke's home, appearing more than a little sore that he had not been invited to dinner.

"Do not forget to treat the Dowager Duchess with respect at all times, Dorothy. Until the wedding ceremony, you are of considerably lower rank, and she will expect you to remember your place."

"I am well aware of that, Patrick." Dorothy sighed for what felt like the thousandth time.

"I do wish you had those diamonds I bought for you to wear for this Season. It seems a shame that they would not be displayed after I paid so much for them. "

"We've been through this already. They're over the top for a family dinner. I would look overdressed. There was no time to get them from the bank vault anyway, by the time you suggested it. As the marriage contract states, I want only the jewelry left to me by Mother. Why don't you save the diamonds for your future wife?"

"Yes, you're right, I will. Now, Dorothy, you should give a full curtsey on the first meeting, and then smaller shows of deference will suffice. It's been a while since I've seen you perform the full curtsey, but you managed it well in your presentation at court. Just make sure you hold your skirts gracefully."

"Wherever did you learn so much about curtseys, Patrick?" she wondered aloud, and, as so often, he took her words entirely seriously.

"I have read many books on protocol and manners, Dorothy. I suggest that you do the same. I'm sure the Duke will expect you to know how to behave appropriately in all social situations."

"Oh, whatever you say, Patrick," she answered carelessly now.

She would soon escape from his sphere of influence and never have to listen to his claptrap again. Of course, she would be swapping these familiar irritations for an unknown new life with the Duke of Dawford, but surely that could be no worse.

The neat, dark-haired butler answered the door after Patrick rang the bell.

"Miss Hoskins, you are expected," he said with a small bow, gesturing for her to enter. "I will show you to the drawing room, where the ladies are waiting."

"Thank you, Toynton," Dorothy replied, dropping Patrick's arm and stepping over the threshold.

Her brother glanced at her in surprise at the recognition of the Duke's staff, but he could not ask any questions at this point. He continued to stand a little pointlessly on the doorstep, puffing out his chest in its garish waistcoat and peering inside.

Dorothy knew he was still probably itching for some sort of invitation into the house, but Toynton merely looked at him impassively, just as he might regard a marginally interesting change in the weather or passing flock of birds.

"I am Patrick Hoskins, Miss Hoskins' brother and the Duke of Dawford's neighbor. Do you know what time I should return to collect Dorothy?"

"His Grace will make appropriate arrangements to return Miss Hoskins to her home after dinner," Toynton replied and now began to close the door regardless of her brother's continued presence on the doorstep.

"Of course, but what time should I expect her?" Patrick pressed.

"I cannot say, Sir, but Her Grace, the Dowager Duchess, does not keep late hours. I can only assure you that the Duke always takes the utmost care of his guests."

"Yes, I appreciate that and…"

Dorothy grinned to herself as the door was quietly closed in Patrick's face, his eyes still straining for a glimpse of the hallways and corridors within as he vanished from her sight.

"This way please, Miss Hoskins."

She followed the butler into a different drawing room from the one she'd seen on her first unplanned visit here. This one was at the front of the house, overlooking the street. It was warm and comfortable, arrayed with vases of summer flowers and various watercolor and oil paintings of grand houses and English landscapes.

The Dowager Duchess sat in a dark blue brocade chair, her eyes closed as her companion, Miss Hughes, read aloud to her from a book of Shakespeare sonnets, silver framed reading glasses perched on the end of her nose.

"From you have I been absent in the spring,

When proud pied April, dressed in all his trim,

Hath put a spirit of youth in every thing,

That heavy Saturn laughed and leapt with him…"

The birdlike woman paused at the opening of the door and looked up expectantly.

"Miss Dorothy Hoskins," Toynton pronounced and then soundlessly absented himself again.

While the Dowager Duchess's eyes remained closed, Miss Hughes had risen to her feet and came to take Dorothy's hands with a friendly smile.

"Good evening, Miss Hoskins. Whoever would have imagined the circumstances of either our first meeting or our second?"

She laughed brightly, with no hint of disapproval or malice, and Dorothy relaxed. She might at least have one friend in this new household.

"I myself am quite astonished by both," Dorothy returned. "Is Her Grace sleeping? Is she quite well? I hope I am not imposing on you at a difficult time."

"Do not be concerned. I shall wake Her Grace presently. She was eager to meet her son's prospective bride, Miss Hoskins. I am afraid that she likely will not remember your first meeting. You may have to begin again."

Dorothy nodded, having been prepared for that from what she had already seen and heard.

"Your Grace," Miss Hughes said, gently shaking the gray-haired woman's shoulder in its old-fashioned black dress. "Miss Hoskins has arrived for dinner. You wished to meet her."

The old lady opened her eyes and looked around in bewilderment, apparently not yet noticing Dorothy.

"We have guests for dinner? Why, I am not ready, Louisa. I must dress. Where is my cap?"

"You are perfectly dressed, Your Grace, and your cap is on your head, quite straight."

"Oh, you are right! As always, Louisa. Where would I be without you?"

"May I present Miss Dorothy Hoskins," Miss Hughes continued, beckoning Dorothy forward into the Dowager Duchess's line of sight.

"Your Grace," Dorothy greeted her future mother-in-law and gave a small curtsey that she judged appropriate to a family drawing room rather than the court of Queen Charlotte. "I am very glad to be invited here by your son this evening."

"You are very welcome, my dear," the Dowager Duchess said dimly, leaning forward in her chair to get a better view of her. "My son invited you, you say?"

"Miss Hoskins is the young lady betrothed to Aaron," Miss Hughes reminded her. "Aaron spoke to you about this not an hour ago."

"Why, yes, yes, he did. I couldn't understand how he could be marrying a young woman I did not know, but now he has brought you here."

Again, the Dowager Duchess stared at Dorothy as though trying to make out some strange phenomenon. Then she pursed her lips as if seizing on one of the many thoughts passing through her disordered mind.

"Was there a reason you avoided meeting Aaron's mother before the marriage was announced?"

Dorothy took a deep breath and glanced at Miss Hughes, who shrugged helplessly.

"This is the first opportunity I've had to meet you, Your Grace, and I'm grateful for it. I do not even know myself yet when our wedding will be."

"Aaron said it would happen very quickly. Is there a reason for such haste?"

Now the Dowager Duchess looked Dorothy up and down almost disapprovingly while Miss Hughes turned slightly red with embarrassment.

"Your Grace, your son said that he saw no reason to wait. I doubt the timing has anything to do with Miss Hoskins. As you know, His Grace is not a man to delay matters once he has made up his mind. If he has decided that Miss Hoskins is a suitable bride, then let us be happy for him."

the Dowager Duchess looked unconvinced, and Dorothy's heart fell slightly, seeing the evening turning into an uncomfortable interrogation, full of questions she could barely answer honestly and which would in any case soon be forgotten.

"How did you meet my son, Miss Hoskins?"

"We met here, Your Grace. Do you remember? I found you in our garden after the gardener left the gate open and walked you home. I met Miss Hughes, Toynton, and His Grace that day."

The Dowager Duchess looked baffled and unconvinced by this, as though Dorothy were trying to take her in with some tall story.

"That does not sound very likely," she commented.

"No, I don't suppose it was. You were trapped by the garden canes, and Tabitha, our cook's big black cat, gave you a fright…"

"Oh! That black cat," the Dowager Duchess exclaimed. "It did give me such a fright, but you chased it away, didn't you? Then we took a nice walk in the garden. I remember you. You're our neighbor."

"Yes," Dorothy said, delighted at this breakthrough.

"Well, I'm glad you're here tonight. I suppose Louisa has invited you. Apparently, I am to meet the woman my son is to marry. I know nothing about this woman or her people. It is most suspicious. She might be anyone—a rich American title hunter, a common English gold-digger, or even a lady of easy virtue! You must help me investigate her."

Lost in this bizarre U-turn, Dorothy glanced again at Miss Hughes but received only another hopeless shrug.

"Why don't I read you some more Shakespeare until dinner is ready?" Dorothy suggested, taking a seat beside the Dowager Duchess. "I'm sure Miss Hughes' eyes must be tired from reading by lamplight."

"Yes, you are young, and your eyes are strong," the Dowager Duchess agreed affably. "Louisa can watch out for this woman of my son's. You are staying for dinner, aren't you?"

"I am," Dorothy confirmed and then began to read.