Was the lady from here? She turned just enough for him to see that her brows and eyelashes were darker than her hair. One did not see that often in England. It was more common in Germany and Holland. Yet she was obviously English.
The lady and her maid concluded the purchase and went to another booth, where the lady found something else she needed and something else she could give to another. This time, as if she knew he was watching her, she glanced in his direction. Their eyes met for a mere second. It was long enough for him to see they were almost turquoise, the color of the sea in the Greek Islands. Then she blushed and dropped her gaze.
Kendal was entranced.
Attending the house party held by the Duchess of Hull, he’d met many ladies from the surrounding area, but he had never seen her before. She definitely appeared old enough to be out. As she was a lady, her father must be an earl or above. He could swear that the duchess had told him all the ladies from around that area of Yorkshire had attended the ball she’d given . . . That was it. Since crossing the river Humber, he had been in Lincolnshire. Hull’s estate was not far, but one would require a barge to go to the ball, and back if the guest did not spend the night at the estate. Was that why she had not attended?
Kendal kept up with her, stopping at booths and buying things he had no real use for. He supposed he’d find someone to whom to give the stuff. She moved like she was floating on air instead of walking on dirt and grass. He had no idea what he’d say once he got near enough. Or how he would find an excuse to speak to a lady to whom he had not been introduced. He caught her eyes several more times, and each time she glanced away and blushed charmingly. Bit by bit, he worked his way to the same booth she was at.
“What an interesting fan.” The lady held it up for her maid to see. “The art is lovely.”
“My son brought it back from Paris, my lady,” the middle-aged woman said.
“Oh, my.” The lady’s eyes widened. Soon he would have to give her a name. He could not keep calling her “the lady” or “she” in his mind. “I have never seen anything from Paris.”
The tone of her voice was low and extremely pleasing.
Kendal tried to focus on the frippery. It could have come from Paris. More likely that than from around here, since it would have been a source of pride in the area and would have been claimed as being from here. “A fine piece.”
Her eyes flew to his and just as quickly turned aside. Damn. What an oaf he was. Naturally, she would have been instructed not to speak to men she didn’t know.
“Forgive me.” He bowed, but that was ill-advised as well. Where had his manners gone?
“Lady Thalia, there you are.” The Duchess of Hull bustled up. “We have wondered—we have been curious as to how you are enjoying the fair.”
“Vastly, Your Grace.”
Lady Thalia, named after one of the Three Graces. The name suited her.
She glanced at her purchases. “I shall require a separate coach to carry everything back.”
“I would say your day has been extremely productive.”
The duchess looked at him, and he bowed. When in doubt, always bow. “Your Grace.”
She peered at him for a bit, then shook her head, as if she didn’t know how he’d come to be there. Granted, he had not traveled with the rest of the group. Her husband had wanted to talk to him, but the duchess knew he would come. At least he thought she did. “Lady Thalia,” she finally said, “may I present the Duke of Kendal?”
Her rosy lips formed a perfect “O.” This time she peered at him without any of her previous bashfulness. “Yes, if you please.”
He’d never heard that response before. Naturally, a lady must always be asked if she wished to make a gentleman’s acquaintance, but the question was a mere formality. Lady Thalia had answered as if she were truly being consulted.
The duchess’s lips twitched as if she thought the same thing. “My lady, allow me to present the Duke of Kendal. Kendal, Lady Thalia Trevor.”
Ah, one of Somerset’s children. The coloring made more sense now. Except for her eldest brother, Hawksworth, perhaps they all had it. Her eyes, however, were a different color blue from that of her sisters whom he’d met in Town last autumn. But what was she doing here? Kendal had heard the old duke kept his unmarried daughters locked up in Somerset castle. Had the man died? Not that it would be a loss, but surely Kendal would have heard about such an event.
She sank gracefully into a curtsey. “Your Grace.”
He took the hand she offered. “My lady, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
Her purchases, which the maid was now carrying, gave him an opportunity to suggest a way to spend more time with her. “I would be happy to escort you to the rest of the booths and help carry your packages.”
She gave her maid a guilty look. “I have bought too much.”
“Not at all, my lady.” The maid came as close to glaring at him as a servant could. “If we can find one of the footmen, I’m sure he’d be happy to take these to the coach.”
“What a good idea.” Lady Thalia glanced at the duchess. “Is it possible to find a footman?”
The duchess raised one arm and waggled her fingers. A moment later, two footmen ran up.
“Please take Lady Thalia’s packets to one of my coaches and mark them so that we know which ones are hers.” The duchess turned to her cousin and companion. “Aurora, you are responsible for seeing they are moved to the Duchess of Melbrough’s coaches before we leave.”
“I shall ensure it is done.” She took out a notebook and scribbled in it.
“There, it is all settled.” The duchess smiled serenely. “I shall leave you two young people to enjoy the fair.”
Chapter 2
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Thalia was grateful the duchess had settled the problem of the purchases so easily. She had never had the opportunity to visit a fair, and she truly did wish to visit the rest of the stands.
“Think nothing of it, my dear.” Her Grace had a satisfied smile on her face. “As I am certain your aunt told you, your contributions to the market will be appreciated.” The duchess turned to Kendal. “I will count on you to bring Lady Thalia back to the inn in time for tea.”
“Upon my word.” He inclined his head, and one dark curl fell forward.
Thalia wanted to brush it back, but he did it. Somehow she felt cheated. Just the thought caused heat to rush to her cheeks, and she tried to fight it down.
She had always thought her eldest brother, the Marquis of Hawksworth, was the most handsome gentleman she had ever met. Her brothers-in-law were very handsome as well. But the Duke of Kendal was even more beautiful. Could one call a man beautiful? Perhaps not. More handsome? Kendal had the same dark hair as her brother. His shoulders and height were similar, but his eyes were a lovely gray that changed from dark to light, depending on how he looked at her. And he had been gazing at her a lot. Could he be the one she was searching for? She had seen her sisters and brothers with their spouses, and she wanted a love match more than anything.
Giving herself an inner shake, Thalia took herself to task.
I have only just met him. I do not have much time, but I do not have to make a decision today.
He held out his arm. “Shall we go?”
For a moment, she did not know what to do. The only arms she had held were her brothers’. Yet when she placed her fingers on his arm, it felt right, as if she had been waiting for this. “Yes. There are so many more booths to visit.”
His grin brought out a dimple in his left cheek, and she felt the heat rise in her face again. As they ambled to a nearby stand, he matched his steps to hers. “How does this fair compare to the others you have visited?”
“I have not been to any others.” After listening to her married sisters talk about what other young ladies were allowed to do, Thalia did not want Kendal to know how ignorant she was, but there was no point in hiding it. “My older sisters were in Bath last year, but my younger brothers, sister a
nd I remained at Roseland, one of my father’s properties near there. The year before that we were at my uncle Melbrough’s main estate in Wiltshire. To the best of my knowledge, neither area had fairs, and I have not been allowed to go to town on market day.”
“Never?” His head tilted, and a line formed between his brows.
“No.” She saw a man selling bolts of fabric. “May we look at the cloth?”
“Of course.” He smiled. “I am yours to command.”
She had never had anyone to command before. Or was it a term of speech? She had been so little in company, and her sisters teased her about taking people so literally. “Thank you.”
“It is my pleasure.” His tone was serious as if he meant it.
The merchant obviously traveled to many places. His wares included several types of silk in varying colors, but what caught her attention was a fine, stiff netting. “What is this? I have never seen anything like it before?”
He unwound part of one bolt. “Milady, it is called tulle, because it comes from the French village of Tulle.”
Tiny sequins were sewn into the material. “It is beautiful.” Mama had given her a great deal of money to spend, but did Thalia have enough? The merchant was also tempting her with some lovely muslins and silks. “How much is it?”
He named a sum, but what did she know about a reasonable price? “Mannering?”
“It is a fair price, my lady.” The maid also seemed to be interested in the tulle. “If you’ll choose what you like, I’ll see if we have the funds for it.”
“If not,” Kendal said, “I shall loan you the amount. I had the opportunity to see this made into an evening gown when I was in Paris, and it was magnificent. You will not regret the purchase.”
Thalia bit her lip. She really did want the fabric, but . . . “I am sure I should not accept such a sum from a gentleman.”
“I promise you, it is strictly a loan, and I shall expect prompt repayment.” His gray eyes smiled, but his tone was firm.
Well, if it was a loan, she could repay him almost immediately. When they went to the inn for tea, some of her family would be there. She could ask her brother, if need be. “Thank you. I shall accept your kind offer.”
Gazing at her, his lips formed a slow smile that made little shivers run through her. “Think nothing of it. If you were at a regular shop, you’d be able to put it on account. This is simply another method of doing that.”
She had never put anything on account, but apparently that was a normal practice when shopping. She matched his smile with one of her own. “What an interesting way of putting it.”
Kendal turned out to be very interested in all the different fabrics, and more than happy to engage in discussing the merits of one over the other. By the time they were finished, she had bought several bolts, most of them paid for by him.
Handing the merchant several gold coins, Kendal said, “These will need to be taken to the White Horse and given to one of the servants working for either the Duchess of Hull or the Duchess of Melbrough.” He glanced at Thalia. “Even I cannot carry all of this.”
There were a good many bolts. “No, of course not.”
The man’s eyes widened. “Yes, my lord.”
Talia started to open her mouth, but Kendal took her arm. “Shall we visit the next booth?”
He steered her away from the fabric stand rather quickly and expertly. Her brothers would have dragged her away. “Why did you do that? I was going to tell him it was not the right way to address you.”
He cocked a brow. “That’s exactly the reason. Not everyone needs to know who I am.”
She did not understand. “But many people seem to know my title of lady. Do they not know yours?”
“Some know yours because they have heard your maid call you my lady, but others do it as a sign of respect. Mere misses will be flattered, and they run no risk of insulting a lady of rank.”
“Oh.” She had not thought of it in that way. “It never would have occurred to me.”
“No.” His well-shaped lips pressed together, but the ends tipped up. “I do not suppose you have been anywhere that you have not been known.”
He was correct. She had not been. But how lowering that he knew it.
A woman greeted them at the next stand. “My lord, my lady, how may I help you?”
The next hour or so went on as the previous ones had. Thalia conferred with her maid, and now Kendal, concerning her purchases. “I would like to buy something for the babies. I know they are all very young, but someone here must have toys for babies.”
The duke, who was taller than her by at least a foot, scanned the rest of the booths. “Come with me. I see someone with wooden wares. He might have toys for children.”
When they reached the stand, he was proved right. “The rattles would do well for my sisters’ children. They are only a few months old. But my sister-in-law Meg’s little boy is almost a year.”
“Perhaps these blocks, my lady,” the man said.
The squares had brightly colored animals on two sides, numbers on one side, and letters on the fourth side. “I think he would enjoy those.”
The clock stuck the hour as they finished her final purchase. Kendal held his arm out again. “I must say, I have never had so much enjoyment from shopping.” Then he grinned and his dimple showed again. “I am quite sure the church will have enough for its roof.”
If he had been one of her brothers she would have hit him. Raising her chin, she sniffed. “I do not like being teased when I can do nothing in retaliation.”
Instead of begging her pardon, the blasted man burst out laughing, and she decided to pinch him.
“Ouch!” Kendal gave her an aggrieved look. “That hurt.”
“It was meant to.” Her mother might scold Thalia for pinching a gentleman she had just met, but he had not behaved much like a gentleman with his teasing, and she would not be sorry for it. “When a lady has as many brothers as I do, Your Grace, she knows how retaliate.” She gave him the superior look she gave her younger brothers. “I do not take teasing lightly.”
“Apparently,” Kendal muttered. “Remind me not to get in your black books.”
“I shall.” The words were out before she thought that she might be taking his words too literally again. “If you truly do want me to remind you.”
His eyes seemed to smile at her as he rubbed his arm near the cuff of his jacket. “I am completely serious.”
They reached the inn, and Kendal opened the door for Lady Thalia and her maid, then followed the ladies in to a small hall. “I am Kendal. We are looking for the parlor reserved for the Duchesses of Hull and Melbrough.”
The man bowed. “This way, Your Grace.”
Kendal had been serious about never having so much fun shopping. And it amazed and impressed him that Lady Thalia had put so much thought into each item she bought. Was that the product of never having the freedom to shop on her own before? Or was it simply her nature?
He thought of his older sisters’ shopping expeditions, and how quickly they lost interest in much of what they’d bought. Come to think of it, except for birthdays and Christmas, they had rarely purchased gifts for others.
Yet, Lady Thalia had seemed to have a mental list of people who might like a present. Including those who could well afford whatever they wanted, such as her sisters and mother. Was she the person Berwick had meant Kendal to meet?
His mentor had been against Kendal’s first marriage, one that had been arranged by his father when he’d been just a year or two old. Since his wife’s death, he’d been almost afraid to consider marrying again. But perhaps it was time to start thinking of what he wanted in a wife he chose himself.
At the first floor, the landlord escorted them to a door, opened it and stood aside. Kendal stepped inside with Lady Thalia, expecting to see two or possibly three ladies. Instead he found six ladies and three gentleman, all of whom he knew from Town, plus four children. With the exception of the Duchess o
f Hull and her companion, all of the other people were related to Lady Thalia in one form or another, the Duchess of Melbrough being her aunt.
“Kendal.” The Duke of Bolton, a brother-in-law, was holding a tiny child who could not be more than two months old. “Find a seat. The ale is excellent.”
The Marquis of Hawksworth, Lady Thalia’s eldest brother, held the hand of a small child trying to walk, and the Marquis of Markville, another brother-in-law, took another small baby from his wife.
Lady Thalia slid him a look. “I was going to introduce you, but you seem to know everyone.”
“Yes. I have known them all for some time.” Still, despite knowing the gentlemen and their wives, he had not expected to see them here.
“Yesterday was the first time I was able to meet Markville.” Thalia’s perfect pink lips formed a line. “My father allows only Bolton and my sister Laia to visit. Bolton is a very nice man and devoted to my sister. I am glad they were able to marry.”
A story hid behind that remark, Kendal was sure. “I have heard that your father and Hawksworth do not get on.”
“I am not sure there are many people my father likes or who like him.” They were the first harsh words he’d heard from her, but she was right. It must be difficult to have a father like Somerset.
A middle-aged lady with the same silvery tresses as Lady Thalia and her sisters rose and came toward him. “Kendal, I am Catherine Somerset. I am pleased you could join us.” She looked at her daughter. “Thalia, you should make him known to your aunt and sisters.”
“I think he knows Laia and Euphrosyne,” Thalia said.
She cast him a questioning look, and he nodded.
“Do you know my aunt Melbrough as well?”
“Yes.” He smiled. “I have had that pleasure.”
“In that case,” Thalia’s mother said, “come join us for tea.”
What they considered tea looked more like a full meal. Platters filled with meats, cheeses, fruits, and bread were spread out on the table. His stomach growled, and next to him, Lady Thalia chuckled. “It is not nice to make fun of hungry gentlemen.” She glanced at Hawksworth, then back to Kendal. “But we make fun of my brother for his appetite all the time.”
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