Lord Love a Duke (16 page)

“
You are petite, dearest, as women long to be and your mother
shows to perfection. And as long as we are admiring each other, let
me add that your curls are natural and adorable whereas poor Lily
despairs and begs me to allow the hot iron to lend my hair some
affect of style. My waves are no match for your ringlets,” she
teased. “I should like to borrow some of your curl, if you
please.”

Miranda smiled while Hastings stood watch
over the opened double doors that led to the rear terrace as they
exited the manor for their berry expedition. “I shall lend you my
curls if you will part with three inches of your height. That
sounds like a fair enough trade.” Both ladies laughed in earnest as
their escorts moved closer to join them with bows and a nice show
of leg. The friends returned their greetings with two graceful and
genteel curtsies.

“Gentlemen, I apologize,” began Miranda, “as
you both have drawn the short straws and must pay me court today. I
shall endeavor to be circumspect in all things and cause you
neither alarm nor ennui.”

“Do not distress yourself that we are
suffering, Lady Miranda,” offered Dartmouth. “We happily accompany
two beautiful jewels of the crown today. I assure you we are quite
content with our situation.”

Juliet's brother, the Earl of Bristol,
snorted upon overhearing the last statement as he walked up to join
the outing. “Jewels, indeed,” he laughed. “I shall ask for your
opinion at the end of this sojourn, Dartmouth, once you have had
the company of these two harridans for a bit.”

Juliet hit her brother on the back of his
neck with her closed fan and fixed him with a scowl. “Charles, your
presence is needed in the back pasture with the rest of the goats.
Leave us to our infinitely more handsome and gratifying company, if
you please.”

Bristol's brows shot up as he rubbed his
sore neck, and the other two gentlemen laughed outright at the
barbs traded by the siblings. He took two steps toward his sister
to engage her in battle. “Ho, now, little sister! I believe you
should school your viper tongue or you will paint your character in
an unflattering light. That is no way to trap a beau.”

Juliet sighed melodramatically and stepped
in front of her brother to block him out of their foursome. “Now
who sounds like a peevish harridan, Charles? You know full well I
am not on the hunt so pray take your games and faradiddles
somewhere hence.” She paused briefly then hissed to her brother
under her breath, for his ears only. “And I will inform the Duchess
you are spoiling her daughter's marriage interviews and scaring
away her prospects. Good luck to you, my lord, if you fall into Her
Grace's ill will.” She turned away and placed her hand on the
forearm of the Earl of Dartmouth. “You are exceedingly dull today,
dear brother,” she threw over her shoulder in a voice loud enough
for all to hear. The Earl and Juliet strolled elegantly away from
her brother toward the other end of the terrace with Miranda and
Viscount Torrington following.

Bristol stepped to follow and make another
comment when he was joined by his friends, the cousins Hertford and
Aylesford. “You two could go back and forward all day,” commented
the Marquis. “We shall save the remainder of the day for you ladies
and gentlemen and remove this buzzing annoyance,” he added,
grabbing Bristol by the arm and walking him away from the group and
down onto the lawn.

“I thought it my assigned duty to keep tabs
on those two silly chits,” hissed Bristol, perturbed at being
scolded and led away as a child.

“It is, but the task can be done from afar.
If you ride too close you will spook those mares,” counseled
Hertford. “Let us join the general picnic and suffer in silent
observation.”

The trio of LOO members watched at a
distance as Miranda and Juliet charmed their gentlemen attendants.
The gentlemen were soon joined by the Duke and he followed the
gazes of his friend to see the ladies and their escorts. “What are
Dartmouth and Torrington about?” he asked as he began to glower at
the exchange of laughter and smiles among the quartet.

“It seems the Duchess has engaged those two
gentlemen to accompany your sister and mine on today's adventures
in strawberry picking. Not only am I forced to watch my sister for
some nefarious plot-making, now I must do so while tramping about
the strawberry vines, butterflies, baskets, and bonnets,” groused
Bristol, his pride still stinging a bit from his earlier exchange
with his sister.

Jonas looked over the two couples and his
eyes narrowed in deliberation. It seemed Lady Juliet was far too
content to be on the arm of the Earl of Dartmouth if her smiles and
demure looks were to be believed. For a lady who had just professed
her abhorrence of marriage, she was certainly playing the part of
an attentive miss with perfection. He crossed his arms over his
chest and glowered at the scene. He paid scant attention to the
subsequent arrival of his mother and her announcement of
instructions for the day. Thus informed, the scattered groups
descended the steps of the terrace to walk the approximate
half-mile to the strawberry fields behind the house.

Servants scurried to arrange multiple eating
areas, laying them out under the trees to the south of the
strawberry fields, while footmen proceeded to set up a large white
canopy to cover the tables that would hold the huge array of lunch
delicacies. The kitchen staff soon arrived to begin covering two
large tables with a variety of cold meats, cheeses, breads, and
cream for the berries. A light wine and lemonade would provide a
refreshing thirst quenching when required.

The guests moved into the carefully
maintained rows of strawberry plants with the ladies picking the
choicest fruits while the men dutifully held their baskets. Jonas
could hear Lady Juliet's laugh as it carried on the wind while she
obviously enjoyed her company. He barely spared a glance for his
sister, not bothering to take notice if she held an interest in the
Viscount, focusing his attention instead on her friend. His
contemplation was interrupted by the Marquis of Hertford.

“I suppose we should make an effort to aid
those ladies without help in the fields. I see Lady Margaret and
Miss Gates are going it alone.” None of his friends made a move, so
he made it for them. “I nominate Bristol and Aylesford. All in
favor,” he asked quickly, not bothering to wait for any responses
before he concluded the matter. “Motion carries. Bristol and
Aylesford will assist the friendless ladies while I go scout out
the lunch provisions.” He left the group and moved toward the
canopied area.

“Blast that Hertford! He's too quick to
volunteer others then make his hasty retreat,” grumbled Aylesford
as he grabbed the Earl of Bristol's arm and drug him into the
fields in search of their assigned maidens. The two shoved and
tried to trip each other on the way, looking more like boys than
the men their age would make them.

The Duke remained oblivious to it all as his
vision and thoughts were consumed with observation of Lady Juliet.
Nothing in her manner was forward or improper, but he did not like
the solicitous behavior of the Earl, nor the barely suppressed
interest he saw there. The man was a rake and notorious flirt.
Jonas grudgingly admitted to himself that Dartmouth did have some
scruples and was not known to dally outside the
demimonde
, but Lady Juliet was enough to
tempt any man. So deep in thought and growing irritation was he
that he failed to notice the arrival of the Countess of Ashford
when she appeared at his side.

“Dorset, I fear the dour look on your face
as you stare at your sister will do nothing to encourage the young
bucks you have so carefully invited to pursue her,” she murmured
for his ears only. Jonas started, dropping his arms and turning to
face the dowager.

“My lady, forgive me, I did not hear you
approach,” he began after making a slight bow. “You mistake me. I
am happy to see Miranda actually engaging 'the enemy,' so to
speak.”

The Countess's eyes searched his face as she
considered her next words carefully. Jonas felt himself squirming
under her stare. “Hmm. Your countenance was quite morose on my
arrival and I naturally assumed it made you uneasy to watch your
sister plotting her course to marriage. Whatever else could have
made you so glum, Your Grace?”

Jonas felt caught like a child, as when his
governess discovered his collection of worms in the schoolroom
quill box. There was no ready explanation, certainly no
reasonable
explanation, for his fixation on the two couples.
Certainly not one he was willing to admit so early in the
exploration of his new feelings. He imitated what he hoped was a
sincere smile and prevaricated. “Perhaps you are correct, my lady.
While I would like to see Miranda married and settled sooner rather
than later, watching it so closely may be more difficult than I
realized. I should occupy myself elsewhere and leave the visual
chaperoning to my mother.”

Again the Countess fixed him with a
speculative stare but did not pursue the topic further. “Well,
then. Take my basket and make yourself useful to me. I find I
should like some strawberries today after all.”

She linked her arm with the Duke's and they
strolled into the fields opposite Miranda and Lady Juliet. Despite
his declaration, Lady Ashford observed him throwing several glances
toward his sister's group. Again she considered that the Duke had
developed his own attachment at the mart, or was well on his way to
developing one. She smiled secretly to herself at the thought of an
alliance between Jonas and her own Juliet.

Juliet decided she had found a kinsman in
Reginald Legge, the Earl of Dartmouth. He was intelligent, good
humored, and wickedly wry. He was a renowned rake of the first
order but Juliet also knew he avoided all entanglements with
innocents, preferring to keep himself to widows, actresses, and
singers. Knowing he was no more interested in her than she with him
made the time they spent together uncomplicated and vastly
entertaining.

“My lord, I must thank you and Lord
Torrington for agreeing to our escort today. I know 'tis not your
usual occupation.”

“I object to your use of the word
'occupation,' Lady Juliet. I have worked tirelessly, you see, to
avoid occupation of any kind in my life,” he admonished
humorously.

Juliet wrinkled her brow and pretended to
find fault with his response. “So what term would you have me use?
Activity? Pastime? No, none of these suit.” She tapped her finger
on her bottom lip. “I know – diversion!” she pronounced
triumphantly.

The Earl threw back his head with a full
laugh. “That sounds a very sketchy
occupation
to have, my
lady. But I will own to 'diversion' as my favored nomenclature. You
will find I rarely
diverge
from my usual
diversions
, yet even they are not
so
diverting
as your company has
proven.”

“
Oh, points for
that
bon mot
, my lord,” Juliet
replied with claps of appreciation and a mock bow. “I see I am in
the company of true talent, and that must be shared. Come, let us
join Miranda and Lord Torrington so that we may all laugh
together.” She made to step nearer her friend and her companion but
was stayed by a sudden pressure from the Earl on her
arm.

“Pray hold here a moment as I fear I must
speak rather indelicately but I know you will respect, if not
appreciate, my candor,” began Dartmouth in quiet tones. He inclined
his head nearer to Juliet to keep his comments for their ears only.
“It is not widely known, but I am on a clandestine search for a
wife, hence the probable reason for my invitation to this party. I
fear I need to dissuade Her Grace from placing Lady Miranda for my
notice. I have the care of two younger sisters in possession of
more hair than wit, with too little steadying and proper behavior
to share betwixt them. I enjoy Lady Miranda's company and spirit
but feel I must err on the side of stability and steadfastness in
my choice of wife. I need someone with a strong hand and even
stronger constitution to help me fight my battles.”

Juliet's eyes widened at his plain speech
but agreed silently that she could give credit for his
truthfulness. She could not recommend Miranda as mentor to girls so
similar in disposition and age either, and Miranda had no patience
for the personality or actions of the elder of the Earl's two
sisters, Lady Philippa. Juliet decided to match the Earl's openness
and not dissemble. “My Lord, I understand your meaning and will
gently steer Miranda's mother on a different course. I have to
agree that your needs call for less enthusiasm than that which
drives my dearest friend's every thought and deed. I wish you luck
on your hunt, of which I will of course speak to no one.”

The Earl turned to face her fully, so close
that Juliet had to tilt her head up to see his face without the
obstruction of her bonnet. She found his expression somewhat
whimsical. “You cannot know how your words at breakfast earlier
deflated my hopes for this house party. In my clandestine search I
had begun to take notice of your character, your impeccable
behavior, and your intelligence. Our interactions at this party
have only strengthened my earlier impressions, with the added
benefits of your impressive musical talents and remarkable wit. You
have quite crushed me by outlining your fine reasons for not
marrying.” He smiled wryly at her startled, wide-eyed look and
brazenly drug a finger softly down her cheek. “Fear not, dear lady,
that I mean to make an offer. I am not so enamored of matrimony
myself. Unfortunately I realize that it must needs be done, for my
family's sake. I would in no way attempt to sway you from the noble
course you have laid out for yourself.”