Camilla’s mouth fell open. “I’m surprised there’s anyone left to be pushed his way.” She sipped her tea. “Lord Fitzroy doesn’t seem to have the same problem.”
“That’s because Lord Fitzroy is already married to a lovely woman, and Lady Muriel practically ignores him. All her focus is on the duke.”
“I’m glad I don’t have that problem right now.”
Not that Camilla had had many offers before. Her parents had been freethinking people and were a bit more relaxed. They loved their art, but they kept it within the confines of Society so they weren’t shunned. Camilla hadn’t liked that and had taken it a step further with posing for a painting, something her family would never consider doing because it was considered far below them.
Camilla could see why. It was long hours and freezing cold. But she hadn’t expected her parents to tell her she was on her own, practically shoving her into a townhouse with her own servants and an allowance. It had taken a while for Camilla to get past the shock that she had been shunned by her own family.
At least she got to keep contact with Elisa. Her little sister was a good soul. Her older brother, Robert, wanted nothing to do with her. Camilla was hurt, but she wasn’t going to let him know it bothered her. she wasn’t going to go crawling back to her family begging for forgiveness even if she was cut off from the people she loved.
And the marriage proposals had dwindled. Not that Camilla minded. She hadn’t found any of them particularly attractive to her. They always wanted to restrain her, which wasn’t what Camilla wanted in a marriage.
“Do you have regrets about doing the painting?” Amelia was watching her closely.
Camilla sighed and nibbled on a biscuit. “No regrets. I just wish it had been left private and not shown to everyone.”
“Did you know Francis Wright was going to do that?”
“Not until moments before he had sent it to a gallery. By then, it was too late.”
Amelia raised an eyebrow. She had a few choice words about the artist, Francis Wright, who was handsome and charming and always looked a fine figure no matter what he wore. He was always good to Camilla, even after the picture fiasco. Camilla couldn’t turn him away when he was most apologetic about it. “I’m surprised you still talk to him.”
“He did apologize to me. And Francis is a friend.”
“And he’s in love with you.”
Camilla burst out laughing at that and almost choked on her biscuit. She coughed and managed to get her voice back as Amelia watched her with vague amusement. “Francis, in love with me? I don’t believe that.”
“Oh, he is. You only have to look at him when he’s looking at you.”
That gave Camilla pause. Did Francis really love her? She had only affection for her artist friend, who was a sweet man towards her. Was that because he loved her? Camilla brushed it aside. “I couldn’t marry him. We’re not really suited.”
“You’re trying to hold out for someone special, aren’t you?”
“No, of course not. I just don’t want to marry anymore.” Camilla shrugged. “I don’t have any marriage prospects, and I’m fine with that.”
“Are you?” Amelia didn’t look convinced.
Camilla didn’t feel convinced. Was she fine with being a spinster for the rest of her life? It was a quiet existence right now with a few friends who had stayed at her side despite what it could do to their reputations. But what would happen once Amelia started having a family and little time for Camilla? She would drift away and forget about her.
Camilla didn’t want to think about that. That was too far off in the distance. She should enjoy the here and now and what she did have. At least she had been left something and not left destitute.
But did that mean she was happy? Camilla stared at her tea. “I’ll have to be happy.”
She was distracted from her thoughts when the door’s little bell tinkled. Looking up, Camilla saw the Duke of Wellington and Lord Fitzroy enter the tearoom. That had Camilla sitting up. What were they doing here? As far as she was aware, they didn’t frequent this part of the city.
Then the duke looked up and their eyes locked. Camilla felt like the air had been knocked out of her. What was it about this man that had her all aflutter?
Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.
Chapter 5
Breaking the Rules
W ellington had taken his brother up on going for tea to get out of the house, primarily so he would have an excuse to not be in the house when women and their mothers called unexpectedly. Lady Muriel kept giving them false information about her son to force a courtship and match.
What he hadn’t expected was for Camilla Lacey to be at the tearoom, sitting at a table with Lady Plymouth. She stared at him, her mouth falling open. Then she blinked, her face went red, and she turned away. Camilla clearly looked flustered. Was he doing that to her?
Wellington turned to Fitzroy, who looked just as surprised that she was there. “Did you know about Miss Lacey taking tea here?” he demanded in a whisper.
“Of course I didn’t,” Fitzroy said indignantly. “I didn’t do this deliberately.”
Wellington knew he shouldn’t have anything to do with Camilla Lacey. After all the stories he had heard about her, it was perfectly clear that she wasn’t suitable for him at all. But there was a pull from her, and Wellington couldn’t drag himself away. He had to know more about her. There was no choice about it in his mind. Wellington had to get to know Camilla Lacey. “Would you direct Lady Plymouth to sit with you for the moment? I would like to talk to Miss Lacey alone.”
His brother raised his eyebrows. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? You know about her background and her reputation right now. She’s not the sort of person you should be around.” It sounded like Fitzroy had taken a dose of medicine from their mother and was singing her words.
Wellington rolled his eyes. “My reputation can take a hard hit and I’ll still be standing. I know what I’m doing.”
Fitzroy still looked unsure. But Wellington knew his little brother would cave in. He always did. And Fitzroy huffed, still not looking happy. “All right. I’ll take Lady Plymouth to another table. But expect an ‘I told you so’ later when Miss Lacey turns you down for whatever you’re proposing.”
Wellington bit back a laugh as Fitzroy went over to the table, bowed to the ladies, and then spoke to Lady Plymouth. The duchess, looking confused, rose and followed him to another table just out of earshot. Camilla stayed seated, suddenly looking uncomfortable and shifting under Wellington’s gaze. She looked like she was about to go to the gallows.
Wellington approached her table and gave her a bow with a smile. “Miss Lacey, do you mind if I sit with you?”
For a moment, he thought Camilla was going to refuse. But then she smiled and shook her head. “I don’t mind. You’re not going to pour tea on me, are you?”
“Of course not.” Wellington took the seat Lady Plymouth had been in moments before. “You think I would hurt you?”
“Like mother, like son. I honestly don’t know.” Camilla reached forward and moved the glass of water and then plucked the knife from Wellington’s side. “But I’m going to make sure that you can’t.”
Wellington could understand her concern. He raised his hands with a smile. “Don’t be so concerned, Miss Lacey. I’m not that petty.”
Camilla gave an unladylike grunt. She sat straight, hands folded in her lap. “What are you doing here, anyway? I thought you would be courting the latest girl your mother pushed your way?”
“I’ve never courted them.”
“Never?”
“Never. And why do you think I’m here?” Wellington indicated the tearoom. “My brother rescued me from an impending tea visit Mother sprung on me a short while ago with Lady Marianne Lewis.”
Marianne Lewis. Lady Muriel really was getting desperate if she had to go to the Lewis family. Wealthy, influential in Society, the Lewis family were the people you wanted to
know if you wanted to get on in life in London. But Wellington didn’t like them. The father, Viscount Lewis, was a nasty piece of work and his wife was a passive-aggressive lady who thought she was better than everyone else. How she and Lady Muriel had ended up friends was beyond Wellington.
Unfortunately, despite being beautiful, Marianne had inherited both traits from her parents. Wellington had seen it a few times, and he hadn’t liked it at all. Any other girl he might have stuck it out, but not with Marianne. He couldn’t stand the family, and Fitzroy had known that.
At least he got to have Camilla’s company.
Camilla stared at him. Then she burst out laughing.
Wellington started. He hadn’t expected that. “Why are you laughing?”
“You’re running away? You’re the Duke of Wellington.” Camilla dabbed at her eyes with a napkin. “You shouldn’t be running away like this.”
“I know. But Mother tends not to listen to me.” Wellington made a face. “Whatever I say when it comes to wives goes straight over her head.”
“Surely, you want heirs to pass the title on to.”
“Not really. I know it’s my duty, but I don’t want children. I’ve never been in love, and I want to love the mother of my children. That’s not a good environment for children to grow up in, if their parents don’t love each other.”
“You mean like your mother and father.”
“Exactly.” Wellington nodded at his brother, who was conversing with Lady Plymouth with a smile and a lot of charm. “Fitzroy will get the dukedom once I pass, or if he passes before me, his oldest son will inherit the title.”
“And the dowager duchess doesn’t want that.”
“No. She and my brother don’t get along at all.” Wellington smirked. “But I won’t give her the satisfaction of marrying her choices.”
Camilla looked like she was trying to swallow her laughter. Then she frowned at him. “So why are you talking to me? Don’t you think that would be considered scandalous for you, considering what I’ve done?”
“You may have done something that wasn’t right, but you’re still a person.” Wellington sat forward, seeing a flush spread across her cheeks again. “A person who has intrigued me, and I just can’t walk away.”
Camilla’s face went even redder, and she looked everywhere but at him. “Now you’re making me sound like a sweet in the sweet shop that you want but you can’t have.”
Wellington chuckled. “Interesting comparison, but I’ll go with that.” He leaned further forward, reaching for her hand. Camilla jumped, but she didn’t pull away. “I would like to know more about you, Camilla. I know I shouldn’t, but I would like to.”
It was going to get him into trouble, Wellington was sure of it. But the moment he had laid eyes on Camilla, he realized he didn’t care at all. The Duke of Wellington knew that he wanted to see Camilla Lacey again. She could either agree to what he desired, or she could say no and walk away.
It wouldn’t be easy to let her walk from him, but Wellington wasn’t a rogue. He would respect her for that.
Camilla was chewing at her lower lip. She looked undecided. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” she asked.
“Have tea with me, and we’ll find out.” Wellington indicated their companions. “My brother and the Duchess of Plymouth can join us, if you’re uncomfortable about being in my company alone.”
That seemed to make up her mind. Camilla squared her shoulders and nodded, looking him right in the eye. “All right. But don’t pay for my tea. I won’t have it.”
Wellington burst out laughing at her attempt to maintain control. “What sort of gentleman would I be if I let you do that?”
Chapter 6
The Dowager Duchess
W ellington couldn’t be any happier. The past month had simply flown by. Ever since Camilla agreed to see him again, Wellington felt like he was walking on clouds. Camilla was a breath of fresh air compared with stiff Society. Being around her was refreshing and Wellington enjoyed her company. She was intelligent, witty, and just a smile had Wellington’s chest tightening.
She was the perfect companion.
It was just a shame she wouldn’t be able to marry him. Wellington knew that there was no chance of the two of them becoming husband and wife, not with her reputation. But he wanted to hold on to his fantasy just a little longer.
If it were another life, and he weren’t a duke, Wellington would have asked Camilla to marry him long ago. Camilla Fitzroy had a nice ring to it.
Someone tapped at the door to his study, which opened moments later to reveal his young butler, bowing low to him. “My apologies for bothering you, Your Grace, but the dowager duchess is here. And she’s fuming.”
Wellington sighed. He wasn’t in the mood to see his mother, who had been trying to barge into his life several times over the past month. Wellington had restricted her access to his home, but she still tried. After finishing off his letters, he was to be on his way to Camilla’s house. And he wasn’t about to let Lady Muriel stop him from that.
“Tell her I’ll see her this evening, as previously arranged.” he said gruffly, going back to the letter he had been working on.
“She won’t go away, Your Grace. She…”
Then there was a sudden scuffle which made Wellington look up again. Lady Muriel had stormed into his study, barging past the butler and causing him to stumble and hit the couch to stop his fall.
She ignored the young man and advanced on her son. “What do you think you’re doing?” she screeched.
Wellington sighed and put down his pen, standing to meet the furious woman. “Good morning to you too, Mother. I trust you’re having a pleasant day.”
“No, I am not!” Lady Muriel bellowed. “I just heard over my breakfast that you’ve been gallivanting about seeing Camilla Lacey! Is this true?”
Wellington glanced over his mother’s shoulder and nodded at the butler who limped out of the room, closing the door behind him. Wellington folded his arms. “That took a while to get to you. I was half-expecting you to know within a week. A whole month to find out about my personal life? You’re slipping, Mother.”
“Is this true, Wellington?”
Wellington knew they would have been found out sooner or later. And he wasn’t in the mood for Lady Muriel’s histrionics. “I wouldn’t call it gallivanting. I’m spending time with a woman I find interesting.”
“But… but…” Lady Muriel’s face was bright red, and she was spluttering. Wellington had to bite his cheek to stop himself from laughing. “You can’t!”
“And why not?”
“Her reputation alone will bring you down, not to mention that she isn’t suitable for you even with that… situation hanging over her.” Lady Muriel shook her head. “She’s not duchess material at all.”
“And what would you know about duchess material?” That was a low blow but Wellington was past the point of caring. No one said a bad word about Camilla in his presence.
His mother’s face went from red to white. She looked like she was going to faint. Wellington had never spoken to her like that. “How dare you?” she hissed.
“How dare I?” Wellington shot back. “How dare you say such things about Miss Lacey? She’s a good person. A scandal does not make her a bad person. I happen to like her.”
“Like her?” The dowager duchess clasped at her chest and staggered to the couch, sagging onto the cushions. “You would consider her to be your duchess?”
“If she would have me, yes.”
Wellington had thought about marriage for the first time since meeting Camilla. She was the woman he wanted in her life, the mother of his children. He just knew it. Even with their match being the worst in Society. Wellington didn’t care.
Lady Muriel, on the other hand, did. Judging by the look on her face, she looked like she was about to have a fit.
“You have gone mad.” She gasped. “She’s made you mad.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.
”
“Well, she has. You need to marry a suitable girl, not her.”
Wellington snorted. “I’m not a young man you can shape into what you want. I am the Duke of Wellington. You do not tell me what to do.”
“I am trying to save you!” Lady Muriel wailed. She sounded like a little girl having a tantrum.
Wellington knew he wasn’t going to get anything done now, not with that screech ringing in his ears. “No, you’re not. You want someone you can control. I won’t have it, Mother. I would rather be married to Camilla Lacey and be shunned but happy than marry one of your choices and be utterly miserable. Don’t expect any grandchildren out of any of those unions.”
That was harsh, but Wellington was past the point of caring. He was fed up with his mother trying to force him into marriage. The one woman he wanted was the one he couldn’t marry. If that was to be the case, Wellington would rather never marry.
It took a moment for Lady Muriel to stand, attempting to look more composed. But it didn’t work. She still looked shocked and moments away from collapsing, her face pale as she scowled at her elder son.
“I am going to go home and come back later once you’ve calmed down,” she said stiffly. “You’re obviously distressed and not yourself. Hopefully when I get back, you’ll have that nonsense about marrying that woman out of your head.”
Then she swept out of the room. Wellington felt the air coming back into the room as he slumped in his chair. He had never realized that his mother could do that.
Why hadn’t he been able to do that before?
Because he hadn’t had a woman to fight for before. And Camilla Lacey was worth it.
Chapter 7
The Seeds Are Planted
C amilla was looking forward to seeing Wellington. He would be along shortly for lunch, and then they would go for a walk in the small woods that backed on to her grounds. It was private and nobody would spot them there.
Regency Romances for the Ages Page 17
