Chapter Four

" Might I enquire as to your name?"

Louisa resisted the urge to rub her side, disliking the gentleman intensely. Thus far, he had not only been incredibly rude towards her but she could practically see the thoughts that were running through his mind. He was clearly trying to make her feel a little uncertain, to set her off-balance simply because she had had the audacity to demand an apology from him and had stated outright that his behavior was entirely improper. He was rather handsome with a shock of dark hair and clear, green eyes but the smile on his lips was not a pleasant one and his remarks towards her had been most improper. Clearly, he wanted her to feel ill at ease.

But I am not about to be so. She did not know his name nor his title but there was certainly nothing about him that made her want to be introduced to him! "If you wish to be introduced, then might I suggest you do so properly?"

A hint of a smirk touched the edge of the gentleman's lips. "But I do not know anyone who is acquainted with you."

Louisa let out a slow breath, feeling that stir of frustration in her chest which she was determined not to reveal to him. Her eyes closed briefly as she strengthened herself, then looked back at him. "In case I have not made myself plain, sir, I have no interest in being acquainted with a strange gentleman who has not only injured me but, thereafter, seeks to do whatever he can to disconcert me." Seeing his smile begin to fade, she let her own lips quirk. "You did not truly believe that I have been entirely unaware of your intentions thus far, did you?" Seeing him begin to frown, she let laughter enter her voice, doing so quite deliberately so that he would see she was not about to give in to all that had been said. "Quite why any gentleman would wish to do such a thing, I cannot imagine, especially when he has caused pain and harm to a lady but, given that you have done so, I suppose that must only mean that you are not much of a gentleman!"

The shock that leapt into his face made her laugh – properly this time – though this seemed to astonish him all the more. His mouth dropped open, his eyes rounding.

"I do hope that my son has not been troubling you."

Louisa's gaze pulled from the gentleman towards a lady who came to join them, her sharp eyes going to the gentleman before returning to Louisa, a question in her expression.

The gentleman, however, cleared his throat, his mouth pulling into a flat line. "Mother, please do not interject yourself into all my conversations. It is entirely unnecessary."

The ice which the lady sent towards her son made Louisa's eyebrows lift. Whoever this was, it was clear to her that he had no great standing in her eyes and that, she considered, said a good deal about his character. When the lady returned her gaze to Louisa, she offered a brief smile and then gestured to him. "Your son was just about to apologise for injuring me. It was an accident, of course, for he did not see me here in the shadows." Her eyebrows lifted gently as she looked back to the gentleman, fully aware that, as yet, he had not apologized and relishing the opportunity to force those words from his lips. Thankfully, he did not disappoint her for he spoke quickly, inclining his head again.

"It was quite by accident, as you have said. Nonetheless, I deeply apologise for what occurred. I did not mean to injure you in the least. I was simply stepping back from society for a short time."

"Hiding, you mean."

The way that the lady spoke with such vehemence made Louisa start in surprise, a little taken aback. She could find nothing to say, only for the gentleman then to incline his head towards his mother, refusing to look at Louisa again.

"I should take my leave."

Louisa could only watch as the gentleman walked away quickly, apparently very unwilling to linger. Given what his mother had said to him and the manner in which she had said it, Louisa could understand him though she did not feel in the least bit sorry for him.

"I am truly sorry for whatever it was the Duke did that injured you."

Astonishment ricocheted up through Louisa's frame. "The Duke?"

The lady nodded and Louisa quickly dropped into a curtsy, realizing the standing of the lady before her. "Your Grace, I did not know –"

"Please." Reaching out, the lady grasped Louisa's hand and pressed it. "You need not show such deference, especially when my son has treated you so ill! I must say, however, I was rather impressed with how you spoke with him."

All the more astonished, Louisa blinked rapidly as her heart thudded. "You overheard me speaking to him?"

"I did. I did not move forward to join you until my frustration grew to such heights, I could no longer contain myself." A flickering smile crossed her face, though it held no joy. "The Duke of Yarmouth is not a name which commands respect, not any longer. Though I must say, I did not think that anyone would have the strength of character to speak to him in the way that you did. It was most refreshing." Eyeing her carefully – though Louisa simply stood there in silence, not sure what to say – the Duchess' lips curved into a smile. "Might I ask your name? I realise that we have not been formally acquainted but I should very much like to know you."

"But of course." The protest that Louisa had made previously to the Duke about the lack of acquaintance did not even ring in her mind as she curtsied properly. "Lady Louisa, Your Grace. My father is the Earl of Jedburgh." When she lifted her gaze, she caught the flicker of recognition in the Duchess' eyes. "It is very pleasant to make your acquaintance, of course."

"I knew your mother, God rest her," the Duchess answered, softly. "She and I were in London together, making our debut. She married your father and I married my dear husband. I was very sorry to hear of her passing though I understand that was a long time ago now."

Louisa nodded, a lump coming into her throat though she pushed it away quickly. "My sister, Ruth, was only a baby at a time. Now, however, she is making her debut."

"I see." The Duchess tilted her head, still studying Louisa. "Might I ask, then, where your father is?"

Heat poured into Louisa's face as she realized what the lady meant. She herself was standing alone, without a chaperone and without her father nearby. Did the Duchess think her improper? Did she believe that there was some reason for Louisa's presence here, that she might be hoping for a secret liaison with another gentleman? "My father is in the card room, I expect," she said, quickly. "I am responsible for and chaperone to my sisters. They are both dancing at present, one with Lord Proudfoot and the other with Lord Sibminster."

The Duchess frowned. "But you are of age to wed, are you not?"

A little unsure as to how to respond, for she did not know the lady well and yet could not simply refuse to answer the Duchess' probing questions, Louisa spread out her hands. "It is a responsibility that I have been given." Her hands fell back to her sides as she looked away again, finding the Duchess' examining gaze to be rather intense. "Mayhap, when they both make a good match, I might then have an opportunity."

The Duchess said nothing, though she nodded slowly as if to agree with Louisa that this might well be the case. Louisa licked her lips and kept her gaze turned away from the lady, a little confused as to what the Duchess had meant by such a question and wondering what it was that she was thinking.

"That must be a little trying for you, my dear." There was kindness in the Duchess' voice and Louisa, looking at her again, felt tears begin to build behind her eyes though she held them back with force. "I do wonder if… well, that does not matter. Your father is the Earl of Jedburgh, you say?"

"Yes, that is so." Louisa wanted to ask more, wanted to understand what it was that she meant by such questions but instead, was forced to keep them back as her two sisters were brought back to join her by the gentlemen they had been dancing with. Louisa quickly introduced them both to the Duchess and, much to her relief, both of her sisters responded with due deference just as they ought. Soon, the Duchess took her leave of them all, though not before she sent another quick look towards Louisa, a look which held a good many questions – though Louisa did not know as to what.

"There you are! I have been looking all over for you!"

All of Louisa's questions over the Duchess faded in a moment as she beamed at Lady Julia before twirling around, showing off the gown that her friend had purchased for her.

"I knew that this was your doing," she said, as Lady Julia grinned, her brown eyes twinkling. "You did not need to do so, however. You know that there is no need for me to wear a gown and prance around the room!"

"Now, now, there is no reason why you should not look your very best," Lady Julia answered, throwing a look to Rachel and to Ruth, both of whom quickly dropped their gaze, a hint of shame coming into each of their expressions. "I think that you ought to be treated just as well as your sisters and, if your father does not care to do so, then I shall."

Louisa took her friend's hand and squeezed it. "You are very kind. You cannot know of how happy it made me to know I should be wearing something so beautiful."

Lady Julia's expression softened. "It was my pleasure. My father and mother do not care how many gowns I purchase and it was a joy to be able to do so for you." She linked arms with Louisa as she, Ruth and Rachel all began to meander back towards the center of the ballroom where, no doubt, the next two gentlemen that were to dance with her sisters would soon come to find them.

"You must tell me what the Duchess of Yarmouth was doing speaking with you," Lady Julia said as Louisa shrugged lightly. "She appeared to be most intense in her conversation and in her manner! I saw you speaking with her, you see, and I did not want to interrupt so I stood to the side for a time."

"Her son not only stepped on my foot but also thrust an elbow into my side," Louisa answered, with a wry smile. "She appeared to make certain all was well. Thereafter, she asked about my father and my title and that is all that took place, really."

Lady Julia's eyes narrowed though not in an unfriendly way. "She asked about your father?"

"Well, you must admit, it must have appeared a little strange to her to see me standing in the shadows, alone! I had to explain that I am chaperone to my sisters –"

"Something which should never have been put in place."

"And that I have no time to consider matrimony for myself," Louisa continued, ignoring the remark even though she knew her friend was correct in her thinking. "She did ask about my father twice, however, as though she wanted to remember his name. I do not know why."

Lady Julia frowned, her lips pressing flat together for a moment or two. "I do not know either. I have heard that the Duchess of Yarmouth is a very kind, considerate lady. Her interest is not something that I would fear, if you understand what I mean."

Louisa nodded. "I do."

"It must be very difficult indeed to have such a son, however," Lady Julia continued, her expression twisting for a moment. "To know that the Duke is not only a scoundrel but also lacking any sort of regret for his behaviour is not only shocking but troubling too."

Recalling the exchange between the Duke and herself, Louisa let out a small, dry laugh. "He did not speak well to me, certainly. Neither did he show any sort of care or consideration. In fact, I would say that he behaved just as I might have expected him to, given all that I have heard of him." She gestured to her sisters, who were now making their way back towards the dance floor, each on the arm of a gentleman. "I have warned Ruth and Rachel to stay away from the Duke of Yarmouth and, now that I have spoken with him myself, I am all the more determined that they should do so!"

Her friend nodded. "I quite agree."

Louisa offered her a smile. "I hope that my conversation with the Duke was not only my first but will also be my last," she said, with determination. "In fact, I am telling you here and now that I will make every effort to make certain that it is so!"

Lady Julia chuckled softly. "A very fine decision, my dear friend." She patted Louisa's arm gently. "Let us hope that you succeed."