Chapter 5

Theodore pondered the unforeseen consequences of his actions as he sat at a table in a corner at White's after leaving the ball. His encounter with Miss Young was intended to solidify their agreement, but it had instead left him questioning everything.

They'd had more disagreements than a proper conversation, and he was not sure if the ball counted as their first event. He sighed and shook his head, tossing back the remaining contents of his tumbler and gesturing to a waiter to refill it. He reached into his coat pocket for a handkerchief and felt the missive from his solicitor that he had placed there earlier, intending to reply.

Theodore had been reluctant to agree to meet the parties interested in his property. He still had hope in securing a partnership with Asmont and regaining their lost family fortunes. He mulled over their interaction with Asmont at the ball, and the gnawing feeling of doubt only intensified. Perhaps he had been too hasty, too focused on the ends to consider the means properly. His strategy, he feared, might have compromised more than it secured, for Asmont was not convinced he was truly courting Miss Young.

He could blame her entirely for the words she had uttered, but he wouldn't. After all, he had more to gain from this arrangement than Miss Young.

Lost in thought, Theodore barely registered when someone approached him until a voice he hadn't heard in some time reached his ears. "I knew today's pleasant weather augured something good."

He looked up to the sight of his old friend. Anthony Hughes, the Duke of Preston. They had known each other since Eton, but Theodore had slowly retreated from the social circles he once frequented, seeking solace in less judicious companionship to dull his burdens.

"Preston," Theodore greeted, putting forth more effort to mask his weariness. However, he was pleased to see his old friend again.

"Thought I wouldn't live long enough to see more of your society around," Preston said, easing himself into the seat opposite Theodore. "Although you do not seem like someone who's enjoyed pleasant weather today," he added, his keen observation cutting through Theodore's facade.

The mention of dancing with debutantes and the exhaustive efforts to dodge the matrimonial schemes of their eager mothers elicited a dry chuckle from Theodore. "Ah, but after an evening of dancing with giggling and blushing debutantes, and avoiding more matchmaking from their mothers, one's vivacity is bound to run out, don't you agree?" he mused, his thoughts drifting to Miss Young, whose presence that evening had been anything but typical.

"I wouldn't know about the debutantes this season," Preston responded with a nonchalant shrug, his disinterest in the usual social pursuits evident.

"Then you must have mastered avoiding them and their plaguing mothers," Theodore chuckled, gesturing at the waiter to bring a drink for Preston. "What is your secret? Do share," he pressed, half in jest yet genuinely curious.

"I got married," Preston replied.

The revelation that Preston had ventured into the sacred bounds of matrimony nearly caused Theodore to sputter his drink across the table. It also reminded him of how distant he had become from those he once considered close.

"I beg your pardon?" He scanned Preston's face for signs of jest, but the serious look returned by Preston quashed any hope of this being a clever ruse to lighten the mood.

"You are in jest, are you not?" Theodore insisted.

"I must confess it was partially unexpected," Preston said lightly, seeking to ease the discomfort that had momentarily settled between them. "So you are forgiven for not knowing, Gillingham."

A surge of guilt momentarily overtook Theodore, the realization that he had allowed his personal tumults to sever their friendship, leaving him oblivious to such significant events in his friend's life.

"And when did you finally become a tenant for life?" Theodore asked, a part of him still struggling to reconcile with the image of his aloof friend as a married man.

"Just earlier in the season, in fact," Preston shared, a hint of pride in his voice. "I married Frances Turner."

Theodore frowned, attempting to recall the name, or even attach a face to it.

"You need not bother. I am certain you do not know her," Preston laughed, hinting at Theodore's withdrawal.

"My felicitations!" Theodore clapped him on the shoulder. He was truly happy for Preston, and there was a relaxed air about him that Theodore had never observed before. It could mean that marriage was good for him. Sadly, it did not agree with some men.

"Now that you know my secret in avoiding the matchmaking matrons and their daughters, when are you going to implement it?" Preston asked, taking a small sip of his brandy.

Theodore couldn't help the snort that escaped him, the irony of the question not lost on him given his current predicament. "I have other priorities," he responded, a touch defensively, his mind briefly flickering to Miss Young and the complexity she had introduced into his life.

"Like courting Miss Young?" Preston quirked a brow. The news of Theodore's latest social endeavors had apparently reached his ears. And quickly! "It is bound to lead somewhere, isn't it?" he added, and Theodore's brow furrowed slightly. "After tonight's ball, it's all everyone's talking about. Your interest and possible courtship of the woman."

"At least one thing in society remains constant," Theodore sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Which is?" Preston leaned back in his seat and tilted his head slightly, studying Theodore.

"The gossip," Theodore replied with a wry smile. He wondered what the beau monde would say about him if they discovered his false courtship. He was already a blackguard, and this would undoubtedly convince everyone that he was a devil.

Preston chuckled. "It might interest you to know that Miss Young is one of my wife's dearest friends. They attended Miss Chatham's School for Ladies together for four years."

Theodore leaned close, nodding for Preston to continue. This was the first time he was hearing this. In fact, he knew very little about Miss Young beyond what was said about her in society.

"She is a lovely lady, and I believe she would make you an even lovelier wife."

Theodore remained silent. The allure of marriage had long been destroyed by his father's failures. Theodore had steeled himself against the notion of matrimony and clung steadfastly to the vow he had made to himself.

He was not marrying. Ever.

The oddest thought occurred to him right then. However averse he was to marriage, he found that he was not as against the idea of Miss Young as his wife. If anything, he would never be bored. The very idea that he, a man who had sworn off marriage, could entertain such thoughts, even for a moment made him tug at his cravat. He sought refuge in his drink, hoping the familiar burn would clear his head of these dangerous musings.

"Is everything well?" Preston asked. "You look like a man who has been through more than just an evening of debutantes and matrons." The insight cut closer to the truth than Theodore cared to admit.

"If Miss Young is as charming as you say, Preston, then I must call upon her tomorrow afternoon," Theodore said, his words coming out more as a diversion than a direct response to Preston's inquiry. After all, he was supposed to show the world that she was capturing his heart.

If only there was one to be captured, he snickered inwardly.

His resolve hardened; the awkwardness of their encounter with Asmont could not be the defining moment of their arrangement. They needed to present an image of harmony, to ensure the success of their plan. They were equally to blame for tonight's failure, and Theodore must rectify it at once.

"Last night did not go as planned," Theodore said, and Miss Young nodded. He had called upon her to rectify their mistake.

"Forgive me for the words I said. I realize how wrong they were." Her gaze was on her gloved hands that rested on her lap.

Theodore decided to take advantage of her apology. "I will forgive you if you agree that last night's ball does not count in our arrangement." Her eyes snapped up, flashing defiantly. "It would be best if we begin anew, Miss Young."

Her lips parted, likely to produce an argument, but she changed her mind. "Very well. Last night does not count."

He grinned. "May I invite you to promenade the park with me?"

"If I get to choose the park," she replied. She was relentless!

"I would be honored to oblige you," Theodore said sweetly, and she laughed.

"My Lord, I must add a condition to our agreement."

"By all means."

"You must refine your attempts at romance. Even a house cat can tell that your actions are forced."

He laughed. "Very well. I shan't compose any poetry, but you might find your drawing room filled with flowers daily."

She let out an exaggerated gasp. "Not red roses, I hope."

"What have you against them?"

"Why, they are positively trite, My Lord."

Theodore had to agree with her. "What kind flowers do you like?"

"Wild flowers," she replied.

"Are you telling me that if I grab a posy of any kind of wild flowers and present it to you, it will be met with approval."

"Yes."

Theodore leaned back, fascinated. The women he was accustomed to interacting with were demanding even though some of them were not genteel. A rose was the least they would be willing to accept, but here was Miss Young, pleased with buttercups and hyacinths. Smiling, he rose and offered her his hand.

"Shall we?"

"I choose Hyde Park," she said, accepting his hand. "It would ensure we are seen by nearly everyone," she added in a whisper.

They rode a carriage to the park, chaperoned by Miss Young' lady's maid, and with her arm tucked in the crook of his elbow, he guided their walk, ensuring his attention was entirely on her. Not that it required any effort.

"We seemed to have caused quite the stir last night," Miss Young said when several pairs of eyes wandered their way.

"As well we should," Theodore replied. "It is a sign."

"What sort?"

"It means we are not too far away from success," he explained, his words carefully chosen to reassure both Miss Young and himself. "But I'm afraid we have to make more of an effort for that to truly happen. We cannot disagree all the time."

"Then you should make reasonable requests."

"I did concede that this is our first outing together," he gently reminded her.

Miss Young gave him an amused look. "It must have been quite the sacrifice?"

"Oh, I cannot begin to tell you what it cost me, my dear," he declared dramatically, and she laughed, drawing the attention of the matrons they walked past. Excellent.

"I am willing to put forth all necessary effort, My Lord," she said, lowering her voice significantly.

"We should establish some rules to help with those efforts then," he suggested. "For a start, we need to get to know each other better."

"I cannot be taken by surprise if I am asked about your family," she said, her gaze steady on his.

"Nor I. We will not bicker in public, or counter each other's statements when in company." They stopped beneath a tree, and he turned to face her, measuring her reaction.

Again, she agreed, her posture relaxed yet attentive. It was as if she understood the gravity of their arrangement and was ready to adhere to whatever guidelines were necessary to make it work.

"And finally, love is out of the question," he said, the words feeling heavier than he'd anticipated. "Both as a conversation topic, and a possibility between us."

Miss Young swallowed, and she appeared nervous for a moment, but she recovered quickly. "Most definitely." She was not happy with this particular rule, he could tell. However, he was not surprised. Most debutantes held notions of love. "That leaves us with deciding on our second event," she said, sounding more composed.

"Are you fond of the opera?" Theodore heard himself ask before he could finish contemplating the idea. It was a rarity for him, especially in matters requiring careful planning and consideration.

Miss Young' eyes rounded and brightened, and she clapped her hands. "Oh, I'm positively obsessed!" He never imagined her capable of such enthusiasm, much less see her exhibit it with such unguarded joy.

A small smile came over his face. The sight of her happiness, so pure and unrestrained, was unexpectedly pleasing.

He decided to invite Preston and his wife to chaperone them, certain Miss Young would love having her friend with her. Theodore could not understand why, but he wanted to keep that smile on her face. Her excitement was just as appealing as her defiance, he thought to himself.