Chapter Nine

Two weeks later

“The Duke of Dartmoor has been present at almost every occasion these last two weeks!”

Florentina glanced at her mother as they made their way into Lord and Lady Rutherford’s townhouse. “Yes, Mama. He has.”

“Is there any explanation for his sudden change of heart? He was quite clear that he would not be present in London at very many occasions and yet now, here he is, at almost every moment!” Lady Haddington sighed and shook her head. “I do not understand that gentleman.” She cast Florentina a sidelong glance. “My dear girl, are you still quite contented with your betrothal to him?”

Florentina paused, turning to look at her mother as Christiana continued on towards the door. “Mama, you know that I must do this.”

“There is no ‘ must’ .” Lady Haddington grasped Florentina’s hands tightly, looking earnestly back at her. “We will be quite secure in the Dower house, my dear. I know that none of us wanted this but it is not your responsibility to make the situation better! That is your brother’s responsibility and, as yet, he has shown himself to be not only lacking in duty but also in his courage.” Her shoulders lifted slightly, a gentle glistening of tears in her eyes. “You need not sacrifice yourself. Miriam and I shall manage.”

“But the damage to our family’s reputation will be done,” Florentina replied, feeling her stomach twist as the path before her became all too clear. “Miriam will find it more difficult to make a suitable match, as will Christina.” Her throat tightened. “As will I.” Taking in a breath, she shook her head. “I will have very little hope of making a good match to a kind and sensible gentleman, Mama, for we will have lost our home and the ton will do nothing but gossip about us. I shall not allow such a thing to happen—not to my sisters.”

Lady Haddington blinked, her tears all the greater. “Your heart has so much love within it, Florentina, I find myself overwhelmed by it.” She pressed Florentina’s hands again. “But what about Lord Allington? I have not asked you anything about him as yet but I do see his attentions to you. They have not been hidden from me.”

At this, heat flushed up Florentina’s chest and into her cheeks. “Lord Allington has been very attentive, Mama. I will not say that I have not found his company pleasing but I have always reminded myself that I am already spoken for—whether the Duke of Dartmoor wishes to acknowledge it or not!” She sighed inwardly as her mother nodded, though there was a look of resignation on her face. Clearly, her mother felt just the same as she, wishing that somehow, Florentina might be able to respond to the attentions that Lord Allington had been offering her.

“Christina is waiting,” Florentina continued, gently. “Come, Mama. We should go into the ball.”

With another heartfelt sigh, Lady Haddington nodded and then turned towards the townhouse again, taking Florentina with her. As they walked, Florentina had to battle tears of her own, recognising just how difficult her situation was at present. Lord Allington had been nothing but attentive towards her, coming to her side at almost every occasion… but all the same, she had seen the Duke of Dartmoor always nearby and his presence constantly stole her attention. She was tied to him, whether she liked that or not, and even a handsome gentleman’s interest would not turn her from the agreement.

“And what of Lord Crawley?” Lady Haddington asked, as they stepped inside. “He has been coming to call also, has he not?”

Florentina frowned. “Yes, he has but I do not trust him, Mama. He is a close friend of the Duke, and I do not know his reasons for continuing his acquaintance with us.”

“Aside from his clear interest in Christina.”

At this, Florentina could not help but smile. “Yes, it is clear to me that both Lord Crawley and Lord Barlow are interested in furthering their acquaintance with Christina… though she ought to be cautious when it comes to Lord Crawley, as I have said to her before.” Thus far, Lord Crawley had not repeated his request to speak to Florentina in private but she could tell by the intensity of his gaze which lingered on her at times. It did not please her and thus, she was doing all she could to avoid his company.

“I am sure she will be. Now,” Lady Haddington continued, letting out a long breath and then pinning a smile to her face as she lifted her chin, “we must continue on in society and do what we can to enjoy the Season. I am sure that this evening will be one of great enjoyment.”

Florentina tried to smile but there was a knot tightening in her stomach with every step she took. Yet again, she was to face an evening of confusion and sorrow, for she would have Lord Allington’s attentions coming towards her whilst being fully aware of the Duke’s presence near to her and, at the same time, avoiding Lord Crawley’s company! This, as well as doing what she could to assist her mother in supporting Christina in society, in the hope that her sister might make a good match.

It was all very draining and, as she greeted their hosts for the evening, Florentina’s spirits sank all the more.

Just what would this evening bring?

***

“Lady Florentina, good evening.”

Florentina turned, her heart slamming hard in her chest. “Your Grace.”

“I thought I should inform you about my intentions to continue on in society,” he said, speaking to her quickly and quietly, clearly hoping that their conversation would not last long. “I have been enjoying myself and intend to stay for at least another three months.”

Florentina’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “That long?”

He nodded. “Indeed.”

“I see.” She looked back at him steadily, though the Duke’s gaze quickly dropped. “And when, might I ask, will we make our announcement to society? After all, I have been waiting for some weeks now, as you know.”

The Duke sniffed. “I do not feel as though there is any great haste.”

“No haste?” Florentina repeated, her hands curling into fists. “Dartmoor, might I remind you that we are betrothed and that our marriage ought to be at the forefront of your mind? What purpose do you have in delaying it?”

At this, the Duke’s jaw tightened visibly. “Because, as you are well aware, I have no interest in marriage! I did not wish to bind myself to you, I did not wish to wed and now it is being forced upon me— ”

“By your own foolishness,” Florentina interrupted, setting one hand flat against his chest as she glared up at him. “ You are the cause of these present circumstances so pray, do not think that I am somehow to blame.” Her chest rose and fell in great, heavy breaths and as she looked up into the Duke’s face, saw how his hazel eyes were softening though quite why they should be doing so, she could not understand.

Then, his hand lifted and settled on hers and instantly, something shot through her that made every hair on her head seem to stand on end.

Florentina pulled her hand away quickly and stepped back, her breath hitching.

The Duke smiled and, for the very first time, Florentina saw a gentleness there. She could not understand why he was looking at her so, why he should hold such an expression towards her and that confusion made her heart quicken all the more.

“Your Grace, good evening!”

A loud, exuberant voice broke the moment between Florentina and the Duke and she turned to see none other than Lady Dinah standing there, her eyes fixed to the Duke, her expression warm… until she turned her gaze to Florentina. Then, a coldness swept into her eyes, and Florentina shivered lightly, slightly perturbed by the clear disdain Lady Dinah held for her.

“Good evening, Lady Dinah.” The Duke bowed low and Lady Dinah’s bright smile returned, and something sharp stabbed into Florentina’s heart. “How very good it is to see you this evening.”

Lady Dinah let out a small, contented sigh, flashing a look towards Florentina that she did not understand. “Thank you for such kind words, Your Grace. I am quite overwhelmed, truly!” She lifted one hand, seemingly to brush a stray hair back behind her ear but Florentina noticed the way that the dance card attached to her wrist fluttered.

The pain in her heart grew all the more.

“You appeared to be in deep conversation with Lady Florentina and I did not want to interrupt, of course, but if I did not stop to bid you good evening, then I feared you would be lost in the crowd.” Lady Dinah tilted her head just a little, a lightness in her voice. “A very deep conversation, I must say.”

The Duke laughed, though to Florentina’s ears, the sound felt forced and harsh. “Not at all, Lady Dinah. We have nothing of seriousness to speak of, do we, Lady Florentina?” He laughed again, not giving her time to answer. “We speak only of dancing, that is all!”

“Do you?” Lady Dinah’s eyes rounded. “I have not seen you dance at all this Season, Your Grace. Am I to understand that you are to be dancing this evening?”

This made the Duke pause though Florentina, for some inexplicable reason, nodded quickly, then slipped her own dance card from her wrist. “That is quite so, Lady Dinah. The Duke had just asked if I was free to dance the waltz with him and, much to his delight, I have just granted my permission.”

The Duke blinked, a slight lift to his eyebrows and Florentina, unable to explain why she had said such a thing, lifted her chin just a little and then forced a smile to her lips just as Lady Dinah frowned. Perhaps it was Lady Dinah’s tone and clear dislike of her that had made her say such a thing but nonetheless, Florentina felt a sense of triumph within her heart. With that same smile lingering there, she sent another look to the Duke who, upon catching her eye, nodded and held out one hand to her.

“Your dance card, Lady Florentina?” he murmured, as Florentina quickly pulled her card from her wrist and gave it to him, a little surprised when a slight jolt ran through her from where her fingers brushed his.

“And the waltz, yes,” he continued, quickly writing his name there before handing the card back to her. Florentina took it with that sense of accomplishment still within her… only for it to shatter into a thousand pieces as the Duke then turned swiftly to Lady Dinah, a much warmer smile on his face.

“Since I am to dance this evening, Lady Dinah, might I also ask for your dance card?”

This made Lady Dinah’s face light up in an instant and she practically flung her dance card at him, her eyes bright.

“But of course!” she exclaimed, throwing a look to Florentina that she did not much like. “I shall have to make sure that I have the waltz from you the next time, Your Grace, otherwise Lady Florentina shall appear to be singled out and very special indeed!”

The urge to stand up straight and state that, indeed, she was rather special to the Duke was on the tip of Florentina’s tongue and she had to press her lips shut tight so that she would not say it. It was a most confusing feeling and one that Florentina did not want to have within her but, all the same, that determination lingered, even when Lady Dinah smiled at her, a darkness to her expression as though she were quite determined to come between Florentina and the Duke of Dartmoor.

“I do hope the cotillion will satisfy you, Lady Dinah?” The Duke handed the card back to Lady Dinah whose smile slipped just a little.

“Do you… do you not wish to pick another?” The boldness of Lady Dinah’s question made Florentina stiffen, her breath catching but the lady appeared not to care in the least, given the way she continued on. “I have many dances available this evening, as you can see. I am sure that—”

“Ah, but I must make certain that the other gentlemen of the ton have opportunity to dance with you,” the Duke interrupted, inclining his head. “Now, I shall take my leave of you both and—”

“Lady Florentina, good evening!”

Before the Duke could finish speaking, Lord Allington appeared, hurrying towards her as though he had not seen her in a long period though, truth be told, they had been speaking together the previous evening. Ignoring both the Duke and Lady Dinah, Lord Allington bowed low and then beamed at her. “How wonderful it is to see you.”

“Good evening, Lord Allington.” Speaking a trifle faintly given her astonishment over just how abruptly Lord Allington had appeared and how effusive his greeting had been, Florentina only just remembered to bob a curtsy, doing so quickly. “You are acquainted with the Duke of Dartmoor, I know, and with us is Lady Dinah.”

“Good evening to you both.” Lord Allington barely cast the Duke a glance and did not even turn his head in the direction of Lady Dinah, keeping his gaze fixed to Florentina instead. “I have come in the hope that you will dance with me this evening, Lady Florentina.”

“Oh.” Florentina managed to smile, regaining her composure somewhat though, inwardly, she began to wonder what the Duke would be thinking of Lord Allington’s attentions. “But of course.”

“Goodness, I am surprised to see you are dancing this evening, Your Grace!” Studying Florentina’s dance card, Lord Allington’s lifted eyebrows spoke of his surprise. “And the waltz also! I did not think you were inclined to dancing, and certainly not to the waltz.”

Florentina swallowed, a little embarrassed now that she had spoken in such a way that had brought about this situation.

“Though, of course, I can see why one might wish to dance with Lady Florentina,” Lord Allington continued, sending a warm smile in Florentina’s direction. “I shall have to be contented with another dance, then. Mayhap two, if you would care to stand up for both?”

It took a moment for Florentina to respond, aware that she was standing with her betrothed and that accepting two dances from another gentleman would make it quite clear to them all that Lord Allington had an interest in her company. She did not want the Duke to think that she was pursuing another gentleman though, she reminded herself, he was the one who was eager for her to hide their betrothal from everyone.

She let out a slow breath. “Very well, Lord Allington. Two dances would be most welcome.”

“Capital!” Grinning broadly, he held her gaze for another moment and then bent his head to choose her dances.

Lady Dinah frowned.

“You appear to be greatly in demand, Lady Florentina,” she said, sounding a little frustrated. “Though, Your Grace, in order to improve my spirits, you must promise to dance the waltz with me the next time.”

“Oh!” Lord Allington lifted his head. “You wish to dance the waltz with the Duke but he has already taken Lady Florentina’s, I see. Then might I suggest that, should you be so willing, Your Grace, I might take Lady Florentina’s waltz in your place and you can then step out with Lady Dinah?”

This made Florentina’s heart drop to the floor though she still could not quite understand why. Her pulse quickened, her hands clasping in front of her so as to hide her concern. Lady Dinah let out a squeal of excitement but Florentina could not lift her head, her gaze now on her clasped hands. She did not want to be so quickly betrayed by the Duke of Dartmoor, did not want to be easily cast aside and yet, she feared that this was precisely what it was he would do.

Her thoughts were to be proven correct.

“That would suit me very well.” The Duke’s voice was filled with a sense of contentment and Florentina squeezed her eyes closed, trying to contain the sense of mortification that swamped her. “What an excellent idea, Lord Allington.”

“Then it is settled.” Lord Allington handed Florentina back her dance card which she took with trembling fingers. “Lady Florentina, I shall dance with you for the waltz and for the country dance, for I do hope to dance twice with you. And then the Duke shall dance the waltz with Lady Dinah and all will be well!”

“Indeed,” Lady Dinah exclaimed, clapping her hands together as Florentina tried to smile but, instead, was forced to blink back the hot tears which sprang to her eyes. “What a wonderful notion, Lord Allington.”

“Wonderful,” Florentina murmured, turning on her heel. “Pray excuse me, if you will. I can see my sister returning from her dance and I must stand with her.”

“But of course.” Lord Allington bowed low, handing her back the dance card. “I look forward to standing up with you very soon, Lady Florentina.”

Florentina could say nothing in return, such was the ache in her throat. The Duke of Dartmoor had made it quite plain what he thought of her, eager to drop her from his company just as soon as he could and yet, this was the gentleman she was soon to marry! What made matters worse was the fact that her own heart had been acting so very strangely when Lady Dinah had been making clear her interest in the Duke so that now, as she walked away, there was nothing but agony within her.

I want to hate him, she thought silently to herself, her gaze dropping to the floor as she walked. I want to despise him as much as I ever have but the more that I have seen him, the more that I have been near him, the less that hatred seems to linger. Shaking her head to herself, she closed her eyes tightly, wishing she could find an answer to her own confusing thoughts. Why is it that I cannot despise him as much as I did before? And why do I feel so sorrowful in knowing that I will not be the one to be clasped in his arms for the waltz?