Loving a Fearless Duchess

by Abigail Agar

  Edward took one last look to see if Miss James was still where they found her. She was. Satisfied, he followed Nash.

  “Good evening, Lady Balfour, Lady Penelope, Lord Stanton.” Nash bowed, and the ladies curtsied. Henry stared. “We had difficulty finding you in this crush of people.”

  Cecilia opened her mouth to speak, but Henry beat her to it.

  “We? Who is we,” he demanded.

  “Oh, Edward, there you are,” Cecilia said. “I thought we lost you amongst all these people. Did you have trouble finding us?”

  “Yes, actually, I did. The Duke showed me a spot where we were able to see the whole ballroom. That’s how we found you.”

  Henry’s face was getting red. “Don’t tell me you two are best friends now. You only met a few days ago. So help me; if you think I’ll stand for two against one, you’re wrong. My father will stop this charade before it goes on much further,” Henry said, much louder than was proper.

  Edward grimaced, “Tell me, Henry. Why are you here?”

  Henry looked from Penelope to Nash. “I’ll leave, but remember what I said. Break it off before I have Edward, you, and your mother thrown out. I wonder what you will do all day when you aren’t under my father’s roof any longer. Chambermaid, perhaps?”

  Nash looked at Henry, his teeth grinding, his jaw moving. “Tell me, Henry, are you looking for a wife? I would have thought you wouldn’t believe gatherings like this fun.”

  Henry, still red-faced, tried to calm himself enough to answer. His control was tenuous. “No. I won’t take a wife for years to come. I’m here to watch over Cecilia and Penelope.”

  Edward’s head snapped up, and he looked into Henry’s eyes. His voice was ice, “No need, Henry. I am here, and it is my responsibility. Since you aren’t looking for a wife, and I am watching over my family, you are relieved of any obligation you may have felt, and you might as well go.”

  Henry narrowed his eyes at Edward. “Are you dismissing me?”

  Edward grimaced, “Tell me, Henry. Why are you here?”

  Henry opened his mouth to say something and thought better of it. Instead, he said, “Well, as you said, Edward, I believe I will say good evening now and go.”

  He left, taking any of the pleasure of the evening with him.

  All four looked at one another. Cecilia said, “I’m not getting a good feeling about this. Why is he coming to the balls? He’s making me nervous. He has an end game. I just know it.”

  Edward moved to be next to his mother and put his hand on her shoulder. “You are most likely right, Mother. We must be extra diligent.”

  Penelope looked at Nash. “What should we do?”

  Nash schooled his demeanour, looking relaxed and amused. “Your cousin likes to go around making trouble wherever he goes. Think nothing of it.”

  Nash changed the subject. “My Lady, shall we brave the overcrowded dance floor?”

  Penelope laughed. “Yes, let’s give it a try.”

  ***

  Kitty pulled Isobel to an alcove on the far side of the ballroom. She looked left, then right before she spoke.

  “What was it with Lord Finch? We all danced with him at the first ball. He seems interested in Penelope instead of one of us. He is good looking and has boatloads of money. Why is he interested in her? It’s not my imagination, is it?”

  Isobel lifted her fan so no one could see her talking, “I don’t get it either. There are at least another five girls besides us with the looks and figures to attract the man. He seems oblivious to us all.

  “Have you met Lady Ann Graves?”

  Kitty nodded.

  “She said she had a good dance with him, and he asked her to dance again later. She followed him around with her eyes and saw him introduced to us. That’s why she came to me. She wanted to know what happened. As soon as he was introduced to Penelope, she never saw him again. She tried walking by him a few times to catch his eye, but it didn’t work. He never went back for that second dance.”

  “And she’s beautiful and witty. Most of the men in this ballroom have an interest in her,”Kitty said.

  Isabel asked, “Have you seen anyone try to get him to notice them?”

  Kitty shook her head. “It seems to be a waste of time. I don’t get it. I thought she’d be the last girl this season to find a man.”

  Chapter 8

  Cecilia and Edward watched Nash and Penelope attempt to find room on the dance floor. Lady Thompson had done it again. Someone should tell that woman that more people did not enhance a ball.

  Edward turned to his mother, “What did Henry say was his reason for coming here tonight?”

  Cecilia closed her eyes and blew out a deep breath before answering, “He said he was looking out for our well-being. He said he wanted to make sure men like the Duke didn’t prey on Penelope. He said he was sure Nash wasn’t interested in Penelope. Nash must have an ulterior motive. He thought Nash was using Penelope to get to him.”

  Edward was surprised by that. “But why?”

  She looked him in the eyes. Cecilia knew he could figure it out if he tried hard enough. “The dog.”

  Edward’s shoulders dropped, and he looked at his boots. He said, “Nash knows why she has that scar, and he knows Henry killed his dog. Henry’s going to convince Avery to demand Penelope break it off with Nash.”

  “Oh, Edward. No,” Cecilia groaned. “This is her chance for happiness with someone who doesn’t care about her scar. This is her chance. They are well matched. He seems happy with her too.” Cecilia turned to Edward. “Henry’s going to ruin it. What can we do?”

  Edward took one of her hands in his. He looked at her and gave her a small smile. “Let’s see what happens. If what we think will happen comes to pass, we’ll figure something out. I refuse to roll over on this one. We will fight it the best we can.

  “Don’t worry, Mother. Uncle won’t throw you out in the cold. He wouldn’t do that to you.”

  Penelope and Nash came back from the dance floor laughing. He was shaking his head. “You’re right Lady Balfour. Someone needs to tell our hostess about the perils of an overcrowded dance floor.”

  ***

  The season was now in full swing. Four or five nights per week there was a ton event, be it a ball, the theatre, or a musical. Young ladies and gentlemen began to pair off or if not pair off, they had narrowed the field to a few.

  Dinah had found a nice gentleman who was shy but intelligent and who enjoyed the same interests as her. Penelope liked Dinah’s gentleman Jerome very much and encouraged the match. Nash suggested the four of them walk to Gunther’s one day.

  The walk to Gunther’s was pleasant, and the weather cooperated. The six-block walk brought them through a section of town that boasted one townhouse after another attached so there were no gardens. They were rather thin and tall.

  Nash looked up to the roof. “They all seem to be five floors with some sort of garden or vegetation on the roof. I imagine there are only two rooms on each floor and quite a few stairs.”

  Dinah looked up and shaded her eyes with her hand, “Why do you suppose they built the townhouses this way?”

  Jerome said, “These are new. The builder can fit more of them on a block, and they are less expensive, but in a nice area of town. I heard they all sold quickly. I would love to see the inside of one.”

  Nash nodded, “Sounds right. They are well done and nice to look at. Seems a solid venture all the way around.”

  The couples reached Gunther’s shortly after. They ordered their ices and sat at a table near the window. Gunther’s was busy. Whenever the weather was fine, business was brisk.

  Two of Nash’s friends from school came in and ended up sitting with them. They told the tale of Nash’s escapades in school, causing Penelope, Dinah, and Jerome to laugh until tears ran down their faces. Nash wasn’t quite as amused. The group left the schoolboys behind, spilling onto the sidewalk in laughter when Jerome did an awful imitation of Nash stuck in a tree.r />
  “I think it’s time to give Nash a break, shall we?” Nash said in a voice that could only be described as whiny.

  That sent his three companions into laughter once again.

  Penelope put her hand on Nash’s arm. “I’m sorry, Your Grace. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”

  Nash took her hand and curled it around his arm. “I’m glad you are having fun, even if it is at my expense.”

  Penelope looked up into his face, “It’s not at your expense. I look at it as getting to know you better.”

  Jerome snorted. “Yeah, and look what we know about you now.”

  Another eruption of laughter ensued.

  Nash, Penelope, Dinah, and Jerome were having a rare visit for tea when Nash asked if anyone had been to Vauxhall.

  “Oh, no, I haven’t,” Penelope said. She looked excited by the prospect.

  Dinah shook her head. “I haven’t had many opportunities to get out. My year of mourning just ended. I’m curious about it. What’s it like?”

  Jerome answered her question. “There are gardens that I haven’t been to during daylight and walking paths. In the evening, there are boxes of seats where you can watch fireworks. Vendors come by and offer flatbread and chocolate. It’s very festive. On a mild night without rain, it’s crowded and festive.”

  Nash continued, “There aren’t a lot of sconces. The darker it is, the better to see the fireworks display. It doesn’t last very long at all, but I think it’s worth it.

  “It’s dark, and it’s busy. We would need to hold hands. I won’t allow you to get lost in the dark. Shall we go?”

  Penelope nodded. Jerome looked at Dinah, and she also nodded.

  The trip to Gunther’s was during the day, but the trip to Vauxhall was in the evening. Edward felt it necessary to join them, and they were happy to have him around.

  They took Nash’s carriage to the edge of the gardens. The carriage was parked, and they were all handed down. It was a short but dark walk to the boxes. Once settled, Edward decided to take a short walk before the fireworks began. Couples and families were milling around, walking aimlessly. When the fireworks began, they would stop and look at the sky.

  Out of the crowd, directly in front of them, Penelope saw Henry walking towards them. She placed her hand on Nash’s arm. He looked at her and saw she was staring straight ahead. He followed her gaze, and he groaned.

  “Good evening, Penelope,” Henry said. “Are you out unescorted? I’ll have to tell my father about this.”

  “No need, Henry,” Edward said. “I am her escort. What is it that you want?”

  “I came out for a lovely evening, just like you. I don’t need to report my activities to you, and I certainly don’t have to explain what is none of your business.”

  “Well, you’ve said your hellos. Good evening Henry,” Edward said and turned his back on Henry.

  “But we’ve barely chatted. And you know I don’t like to be dismissed.”

  Nash rose from his seat and came around to the front of the box where Henry stood. “Goodbye Henry,” he said as he took Henry by the elbow and walked him away from his group.

  “Take the hint, Henry. We don’t want to talk with you. Leave,” Nash said through gritted teeth.

  Henry gave a little laugh. It sounded like a girl’s giggle. He spoke loudly, “Oh, but I want to talk with you, Finch. If you stay with Penelope, you will be the reason she, Edward, and Cecilia are out on the street. That’s not an idle threat.”

  “Oh, but I think it is,” Nash said. He stepped closer and got close to Henry’s face. Henry took a step back.

  “Tell me, Henry. Why is it you want to see us broken up? You are first cousins, so I hope you don’t harbour inappropriate feelings towards her.”

  Again, Henry spoke loudly. “Not at all, Finch. My feelings about Penelope have to do with her deformed face. I don’t want to look at her ugly face ever again. There’s nothing I want to see more than Penelope out of my life forever. She deserves to be washing dishes in the hot, busy kitchen of a Lord who throws a lot of dinner parties.

  “And you? I haven’t forgotten that day you came over and accused me of killing your dog. I’ve waited a long time to get my revenge on you. And here I am. Breaking up a relationship you care about. The more difficult this breakup is, the more I will enjoy the experience. See, Finch? I have my reasons.”

  Nash kept his cool. How, he did not know. “Go home, Henry. There’s nothing here for you. Vauxhall is for happy people who have friends. You don’t belong here. Go home.”

  Nash turned and walked out of the darkness to the relative light of the sconces. He found his box and sat.

  Edward turned to him, “What happened?”

  Nash shook his head almost imperceptibly. “Nothing. He spouted nonsense; I told him to go home.”

  Edward nodded. He leaned forward and in a low voice said, “Say, Nash, I meant to ask you earlier. Dinner at White’s tomorrow?”

  “Love to.”

  Nash turned to the seats behind him. “Should be anytime now. You never know exactly when they’ll start the show.”

  Jerome smiled. “We are doing fine. It doesn’t really matter what time the show starts.

  Nash grinned.

  ***

  Vauxhall was perfect. There were so many people around; Henry could have talked loudly all night, making Nash and Penelope squirm.

  So now, they knew why he wanted them split up, at least part of it. Good. Who else would court Penelope with the ugly scar running down her face? No one. She’d be living at the Somerset estate as a spinster before long and wouldn’t be a threat to anyone except the cat whose tail was too close to Penelope’s rocking chair.

  And Nash. He thought he could come after him. He couldn’t. There was no proof about his dog, and Nash knew that. Once he and Penelope were broken up, there was nothing he could say about the Stantons. He wouldn’t be able to ruin his father’s reputation or put out stories about Henry.

  He’d find another lady, get married, and go on with his life of investments and university friends. He wouldn’t bother with them.

  ***

  Nash knocked on the roof signaling the driver to start the carriage. He turned to Penelope, “Well? How did you like it?”

  She gave him her dazzling smile. “I loved it. I’ve never seen anything like it before. Have you Dinah?”

  Dinah turned in her seat. Penelope noticed she was holding Jerome’s hand. “It was fascinating. How do they do that? And all the different colours. It was beautiful.”

  Jerome snickered. “So, you liked it?”

  That brought a wave of laughter through the carriage.

  The carriage dropped off Jerome, then Dinah, then went to the Stanton townhouse.

  Penelope begged fatigue, so she and Nash said their goodnights, and he was gone.

  Edward looked at her in the foyer as she approached the stairs.

  “Is it the real thing between you and Nash?” he said.

  She nodded. “Yes, it is. I daresay he would say the same thing if you asked him.”

  Edward gave a small, tired smile. “Congrats, little sis. I think I like him as much as you.”

  She smiled. “I think you’re right.”

  ***

  Nash sent the missive to Avery at his townhouse. He didn’t want to go over there and run into Henry, or worse, have to meet Avery with Henry there.

  It had gone on long enough. Henry followed them then harassed them at every turn. It had to stop. Henry couldn’t be reasoned with, and this fell on Avery to fix.

  Nash heard back. Avery would meet him at Nash’s townhouse Thursday evening at nine o’clock. Not ever wanting to miss a social occasion, he probably thought he could meet and go straight to the Bennett ball. Made sense. He’d do the same.

  When Avery came, he instructed his carriage driver to hide across the street and down a few blocks. He didn’t want Henry alerted to his whereabouts any more than Nash did.

&nb
sp; They met in the library, both dressed in their finery. Nash poured two whiskies. He asked Avery to sit and sat across from him, handing Avery his drink.

  “Finch,” Avery said.

  “Stanton,” Nash said raising his glass. They both drank.

  “Well, this is your party. What can I do for you?” Avery said.

  “It’s Henry. I have had several run-ins with him the past few weeks. They have been in public, and he has said things I don’t want to hear and you would not want your friends to hear.”

  “Go on,” Avery said.

  Nash took a long slow breath. “Last night, I, Penelope, Edward and two friends of ours went to Vauxhall. It was crowded, and yet he didn’t feel the need to lower his voice.

  “He started by telling Penelope and me that he would break us up, that you would throw her, Edward, and Cecilia out on the street, and that Penelope would end up a chambermaid.

  “I asked him to step aside to finish our conversation in a less travelled area. I asked him why he wanted to break us up.I told him to stop bothering us.”

  Nash shrugged as Avery looked into his drink and didn’t move for a long time. “And you say he said those things in public?”

  “Yes,” Nash answered.

  “With no provocation from you?”

  Nash scowled. “Of course not.”

  “I’ll talk to the boy,” Avery said.

  Nash slumped. “And what, may I ask, are you planning to say?”

  Avery grimaced. “I’ll leave that between my son and me.”

  Nash grimaced. “Fair enough. Except for the parts where he threatens Penelope and me. Tell me, Avery. Does he really believe he can throw Cecilia, Edward, and Penelope out on the street?”

  Avery scoffed. “That’s ridiculous. I would make arrangements for her and her children to live a quiet life in the country.”

  Nash raised his eyebrows, “You’re joking.”

  Avery shook his head, “No, I’m serious. Dead serious. And yes, I can move them, but not on the street. There are no chamber pots in Penelope’s future.”

  “What about Henry and his actions? Are you concerned about them? Are you concerned about the things he speaks of in public? Are you concerned he threatens Penelope and me in public?