Ducal Encounters 02 - With the Duke's Approval (3 page)

Lady Annalise nodded. “I must seem selective, I suppose, which doesn’t paint me in a flattering light but, you see, I am in a position to please myself.”

“But surely all young ladies dream of married bliss.”

“Precisely.” She sent him a triumphant smile that implied she had no interest in matrimony. Clarence wasn’t deceived. “I fancy the count spends longer over his toilette than Miss Outwood does hers. He seems to like himself very much indeed. It’s difficult to imagine him cutting a dashing figure at Waterloo or fearlessly leading his troops against Napoleon. What if he were to get blood on his uniform?”

Clarence laughed aloud, attracting curious glances from other dancers. “What a delightful imagination you have.”

“I happen to be a very good judge of human nature,” she replied loftily.

And in this instance, she most likely was. There was something about von Hessel that didn’t sit comfortably with Clarence, although he knew nothing to his detriment. The hand holding Lady Annalise’s waist tightened without his permission. Damnation, a man would need to be a monk not to respond to the enticing minx’s lively wit.

“If Miss Outwood were to hear you, she would probably think you were jealous.”

Lady Annalise tossed her head, setting her curls dancing. “Miss Outwood is not blessed with the ability to think deeply about anything. If she were, she would not have accepted the count.”

“Hmm, perhaps not the diplomatic service for you, after all.”

“If diplomats spoke the truth instead of playing clever word games, then we would all know where we stood.”

Clarence could not recall a time when he had enjoyed a conversation more. “Ah, but who decides what is and is not true. It is perfectly true the walls of this room are painted blue. No one can dispute that.” She nodded. “But what shade of blue, Lady Annalise? I wager every person you ask would give you a different answer, absolutely convinced they spoke the truth, since they would have no reason to lie about something so unimportant.”

“Whereas, were you to ask each gentleman where he spent the previous night—”

“Lady Annalise!” Clarence tried to appear shocked, but spoiled his reaction by laughing. “I shall pretend you didn’t say that.”

“Don’t look so scandalised, my lord. I have four brothers, so am qualified to make such remarks.”

“They discuss their…er, exploits with you?”

“No, of course not. But if Portia and I are to learn anything about the ways of the world, we must piece together what scraps they accidently let slip and piece together the evidence for ourselves. They think they are being discrete, but there is little we don’t actually know about their activities.”

Clarence doubted that but thought it better not to take issue with his engaging partner.

“So you contest my assertion that Miss Outwood lacks sense?” Lady Annalise asked after a brief pause.

“Even if I were to be so bold, I believe you are about to convince me otherwise.”

“We came out together last year. I recall an especially tedious occasion upon which a lady from the royal household spent an inordinate amount of time impressing upon us all just how fortunate we were. The cream of the crop is the way she described us, rather as though we were prize-winning vegetables.”

Clarence laughed. “No one could describe you as a vegetable, Lady Annalise. That is one truth upon which I think we can safely agree.”

“I am so glad you don’t look upon me and visualise a turnip, Lord Romsey.”

His laughter intensified. “Hardly that.”

“The royal emissary asked each of us what we planned to do for the disadvantaged when we had households of our own and were in a position to be charitable. We all talked about visiting our tenants, helping them with their difficulties, the usual things. I spoke of enforcing the Act of Parliament that already exists to help climbing boys, but which is quite shockingly ignored.” Clarence flexed a brow, surprised a lady as well protected as the minx in his arms knew anything about the plight of chimney boys. More surprised still was the fact that she knew of the law that was regularly flouted. “Miss Outwood, on the other hand…well, she said she did not think she would like set foot inside any of her papa’s tenants’ cottages because they were dirty and she feared catching a disease.” She sent him a triumphant smile. “There, I rest my case.”

“Miss Outwood ought not to have said such a thing, it’s true,” Clarence replied. “But just think for a moment about how that notion came into her head? Who made the rest of you think you ought to care for your tenants?” He lowered his voice to a seductive purr. “Who made you think about the chimney boys?”

“Ah, I see what you mean. We learn from our mothers.”

“Precisely. And Mrs. Outwood is obsessed with ill-health because several members of her family have died from fevers.”

“How can you possibly…” She looked up at him and laughed. “You don’t know any such thing. You just said that to make me feel bad. Shame on you, Lord Romsey.”

“The point I’m trying to make, rather ineptly it seems, is that Miss Outwood wasn’t being selfish. She said what she honestly believed to be
the truth.”

Lady Annalise wrinkled her pert little nose. “Perhaps being a diplomat is not as easy as it appears.”

“It is not a career I would recommend to a free-thinker such as yourself.”

“Then what am I to do with myself?”

Clarence’s throaty chuckle rumbled in his throat. “What indeed?”

“What of you, Lord Romsey? What did you learn at your father’s knee?” She shook her head. “No, don’t tell me. He taught you to be diplomatic.”

“Yes, I suppose he did. I can’t remember ever imagining I would do anything else.”

“And you have spent your life living up to his expectations, at the expense of your own pleasures.”

“Good heavens, what a very peculiar thing to say.”

“You must forgive me if I am indiscreet.” She lifted one slender shoulder. “It’s a family failing.”

Clarence laughed. “Hardly that.”

“No, I suppose Zach isn’t indiscrete, but the rest of us have always been encouraged to speak our minds. Unfortunately, in my case, I sometimes forget myself when I am with a person who makes me feel I can be myself.”

“I am very glad you feel that way with me,” Clarence replied, smiling into her eyes.

“Do you ever put the pursuit of your own pleasures ahead of your duty, Lord Romsey?”

“I beg your pardon.”

“Oh dear, there I go again. Excuse me, but what I meant to say was you appear to spend all your time fixing things. Your diplomatic career, starting the Southampton Police Office, maintaining your estate.” She shook her curls. “It can’t leave you with much time to enjoy yourself.”

“I am enjoying dancing with you, Lady Annalise.”
Far too much
.

“Well then, I am very glad to have been of service.”

Clarence choked on a laugh, wondering if the chit had any idea what she had just said or appreciated the effect just holding her in his arms had on him. He was perfectly sure she did not. That was all to the good. Beautiful, lively, well-dowered, the sister to a duke, with all the advantages the connection to such a prominent family would bestow upon her husband, he was astonished she had not married during her first season. He was perfectly sure she would do so before the end of this one, in spite of her protestations to the contrary. The sharp pang of regret that realisation caused Clarence took him by surprise. He must be more tired than he thought.

“I was pleased to observe that you and Zach are on congenial terms again,” Lady Annalise said after a short pause.

“I’m unsure if I am forgiven, but we have business interests in common which kept us engaged in conversation before—”

“Before you came to my rescue. Do you and Zach plan to police the entire south coast?”

Clarence raised a brow. “Why do you ask?”

“I shall never recover from the shame if this gets out, but I do read the newspapers.”

Clarence laughed, something he seemed to be doing a very great deal of while in Lady Annalise’s company. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“Thank you. And so, you see, I know just how troubled the times are. I blame the prince. He has no business spending so lavishly and conducting his war with his wife quite so publicly. What sort of example does that set? He is not the first man to make a bad marriage, and he ought to have the good manners to suffer the consequences behind closed doors.”

“Quite,” Clarence replied, enjoying himself enormously.

“And as for all those poor men who fought valiantly for their country only to come home to no jobs and no prospects…” She shook her head. “It’s truly shocking, and I can quite understand why General Ludd has become so popular. Although, of course, I also understand why you and Zach must find a way to maintain order.”

No question about Lady Annalise’s cognitive powers, Clarence thought. “You really are a most unusual young lady,” he said. “And definitely a deep thinker.”

“Oh no, you mistake me for Portia. Now
she
really does study world affairs and shakes her head at the way things are.”

The dance came to an end, and Lady Annalise dipped a graceful curtsy.

“Thank you so much.” Clarence placed her hand on his sleeve and forged a path to the edge of the room. “That was vastly entertaining.”

She shot him a shrewd sideways look. “I hope you are not laughing at me.”

“Indeed, my lady, I would not dare.”

“Gosh, it is crowded, and very hot,” Lady Annalise said. “Portia was right about that.”

“Would you care for a turn on the terrace?” Clarence glanced down at her flimsy ball gown, a deep shimmering pink, and shook his head. “Perhaps that would not be advisable. It is freezing outside. I should hate for you to catch one of Miss Outwood’s fevers. I am already in enough trouble with your brother as it is.”

“Ah, but I have an answer to that.”

Clarence refrained from rolling his eyes. After all, he was a diplomat. He ought to be able to manage one lively and entertaining young lady without the requirement for reinforcements. He scowled. No, reinforcements were out of the question. Selfishly, he wanted Lady Annalise to himself for a little while longer. The comment she had made about making time for his own pleasures had lodged in his brain and seemed in no hurry to quit it again.

“And that answer is?”

“Come with me.”

Lady Annalise turned towards the stairs leading up from the ballroom situated on the lower ground floor. Clarence escorted her through the crowd and up the winding stairs.

“Just a moment.”

She slipped through the open door to the library and returned almost immediately with a thick, very brightly coloured shawl, draped around her shoulders.

“Frankie’s,” she said by way of explanation. “Shall we?”

Lord Romsey opened the door to the terrace and stepped back so Anna could walk through it ahead of him. Her over-heated body was hit by a blast of Siberian air, causing her to shiver and pull Frankie’s shawl more closely about her.

“We can go back inside if it’s too cold for you, Lady Annalise,” Lord Romsey said. “In fact, that would probably be wise.”

“No, I won’t hear of it. The cold is welcome after the crush of all those bodies in there.”

She tucked the fingers of the hand resting on his arm into the crook of his elbow. If he noticed, he made no objection. It wasn’t Anna’s intention to act forwardly, but her gloves were so thin as to be inconsequential, and she wanted to prevent her fingers from freezing to death.

“I agree with you about the fresh air, but there is frost under foot. Take great care. It will seep through your slippers in no time and you will incur—”

“One of Miss Outwood’s fevers,” she finished for him, smiling.

“Quite.” She could hear a reciprocal smile in Lord Romsey’s voice as he tilted his head upwards and examined the sky. “We shall have snow before morning.”

“Do you think so? Oh good, I like snow.”

“I believe you are a romantic at heart, Lady Annalise, in spite of your determination to disappoint half the
ton
by rejecting their proposals.”

She turned to look at him. “What makes you imagine I have received any proposals?”

Rich laugher vibrated through his body. And through hers, causing her to shiver for reasons that had nothing to do with the cold. “As you yourself pointed out, many of the young bucks turned loose on the
ton
are not the brightest sparks in the tinder box. But even Roker has fallen for your charms.” He patted the hand resting on his arm. “I rest my case.”

“Why…why does my—” Anna swallowed and took a moment to find her voice. The feel of Lord Romsey’s fingers had a most disconcerting effect upon her, making her forget what she had been about to say. Oh yes, inappropriate proposals. That was it. “I don’t feel ready for matrimony,” she said loftily.

“How very sensible of you.”

“You have something against marriage, Lord Romsey?”

“Not in the least, but I do think people tend to rush into it without proper thought.”

“Allowing their hearts to rule their heads, you mean?” She quirked a brow. “I cannot see you allowing your feelings to overcome common sense.”

“I have resisted temptation, thus far.”

“Hmm.” Anna wasn’t sure what he meant by that and changed the subject. “Why does my liking winter weather make me a romantic, in your opinion?”

“Snow is devilishly inconvenient. It’s pretty enough when it falls, I’ll grant you, but once it’s on the ground, it is a very different story. Horses can’t get about, lots of accidents occur, and life generally grinds to a halt.”

“It shames me that I have never thought of it in that light. How very spoiled you must think me.”

He didn’t deny it. “We are just about the only people foolish enough to venture out of doors,” he said instead, causing Anna to notice for the first time they were indeed alone.

“I happen to think we are very sensible,” Anne replied, sending him a sparkling smile that he probably couldn’t see in the dim lighting on the terrace. “Besides, you are a diplomat, and everyone knows diplomats must be very clever.”

“You appear determined to pay me compliments I have no right to expect. Nevertheless, I thank you for them.”