The Wild Duchess/The Willful Duchess (The Duchess Club Book 1) (16 page)

“The flowers. They were left without a card and…” Scarlett shook her head slowly in amazement. “He was very brave to call.”

“Chesterton is hoping he is.”

“You were very brave, just then. Lady Durham is—I think she could scare a horse out of its hide.”

“She’s a viper without teeth.”

Scarlett smiled. “Those looked like fangs to me. Perhaps you’re too tall and couldn’t see them from your vantage point.”

“Perhaps,” he conceded with a smile. “I hadn’t considered the disadvantages of my height.”

“Understandable. You’re so accustomed to it.”

“Scarlett, that night in the theatre was—”

“Please, let’s speak of something else. This is a public place as you said to Ivy and I think far too public for…certain topics, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes, of course.” He surveyed the room as if weighing his options. “Would you like to look at the exhibits? The sculpture hall is over there. Perhaps it interests you?”

“Yes, thank you.”

They walked together toward the sculpture hall. “You handled Lady Durham with a good deal of strength, Miss Blackwell. I hope your sister’s distress passes quickly.”

“She feels all of it for me, so deeply, that I almost don’t have to worry about how bruising anyone’s words are. I just have to worry about Starr.”

“Has there been a great deal of…ugly incidents?”

“No. Lady Durham alone accounts for much of my misery and as you said, she is a lot of air and hissing. She resents my friendship with Chesterton.”

“I’ve made it worse.”

Scarlett smiled. “Between your championing of me in the park with Lady Carlyle and today’s great defense, I would say that you have definitely made things—more interesting for the gossips. But I don’t mind. None of it matters, does it? What people say? If it has no truth behind it, they can prattle on until the end of time.”

“You are an astonishing person. So many live their lives to anything and everything to avoid one single word from people like Lady Durham. Yet you are…fearless.”

“I’m not fearless. I’m stubborn. There is a terrible difference between the two but they do resemble each other from a distance.” Scarlett slowed as they entered the sculptural hall, her cheeks growing flushed and pink. “Speaking of seeing things from a distance…”

Talon looked out to see what had caught her attention and immediately realized his mistake. Classical statues recovered from the Mediterranean sounded lofty and appropriate in the museum’s guide but standing there looking across a room full of naked marble figures; many larger than life and lacking even a nod to a fig leaf made him groan at the misstep.

He stepped in front of her to alleviate the view. “Shall we try to find a few paintings of landscapes, Miss Blackwell?”

“Yes. Landscapes. How I long to see greenery at this moment!”

He walked her out as quickly as he could. “That did not go as planned, Miss Blackwell.”

“Nothing ever does.” Scarlett sighed. “It’s starting to feel as if there is a grand conspiracy to get me into trouble in your company, Your Grace. I am grateful for your interventions but I only wish…”

“Yes?”

“That you were less handsome while doing so.”

Talon smiled. “I shall do my best to be less appealing in the future.”

“Can you do that? Have you some control over this power of yours?”

“With that expression on your face, I’m beginning to worry. What would you suggest?”

“Well, I probably can’t ask you to smudge your nose with soot in this company. Perhaps a mismatched waistcoat? Or a less successful cravat?”

His horror was impossible to disguise. “I would rather ride into the next ball on top of a donkey.”

Scarlett laughed. “You share your firm attachment to fashion with my father. If he’d been born in another age, he’d have given Beau Brummel stiff competition, Your Grace.”

“Do I?” Talon grew more thoughtful. “Do you mind me asking why your parents do not accompany you out into society more often?”

“My mother’s been somewhat unwell and my father is uncomfortable away from her at such times. He adores her so completely and she him.” Scarlett smiled wistfully. “Starr and I long ago decided that it was perfect that there should be two of us as well. We are never lonely, you see? Not that we were ever neglected! The opposite, in fact. I cannot imagine being more loved. Father spoils us in ridiculous measures and we’ve never failed to enjoy it, but we know that Mother has his heart in her keeping and who would wish it otherwise?”

“I’m sorry to hear of her illness…if…” Some vague phrase of sympathy evaporated from his mind’s grasp and Talon stopped. The habit of evasion was deeply ingrained but he shook it off at the look in her eyes. Scarlett Blackwell deserved more than a hollow speech about something he knew nothing about. “Miss Blackwell. I think I might be envious of you.”

“Envious? How is that possible?”

“You speak of love as easily as others speak of the weather.”

“Do I? I don’t think I said anything extraordinary.”

“No? My point is made then,” he said firmly. “Your father is formidable but when I hear you speak of his motives, it is hard to fault him for disliking me so intensely.”

“Father doesn’t dislike you. Not yet.”

“He most certainly does. The man is not subtle in his speech.”

“Wait. Father has spoken to you? About…me?”

“I came to call yesterday while you were out. I was anxious to see you again. Frankly, I was concerned that I’ve been far less than gentlemanly in our encounters—one way or the other—and I didn’t want a silence to grow between us.”

“He said nothing at dinner! What do you mean he isn’t subtle in his speech?”

Talon smiled. “He was on the balcony the night I danced with you at Pellham’s. The night I…expressed a distaste for a broader education for women.”

“Oh, no! He’d have taken everything you said to heart—and it is Mother’s great cause and so important to her.”

“It is more than a matter of disagreeing with my stance on reforms, Miss Blackwell. I have failed to measure up.”

Scarlett shook her head slowly and began to smile. “Probably the opposite is true. It is no matter. I will speak to him and reassure him that we have made peace you and I.”

“Is that what we have achieved?” he asked softly. “I far prefer it over being at war.”

“It is all new to me, this strange battle and the…thrilling victories. I should tell you, Your Grace, that I was concerned as well. I have not ever...allowed a man such liberties. It is important to me that you not mistake the weakness of a moment for a broader judgment of my character.”

“No. I would never make that mistake, Miss Blackwell.”

“But I am breaking my own rule. I asked you not to speak of it and then I did, didn’t I?”

“It is a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.”

“No truer words…”

“Have you spoken to Chesterton?” he asked softly.

“I did not have an opportunity, Your Grace. But there is—so much time yet. I won’t squander the chance when it comes.”

“Good.” He leaned over to whisper into the shell of her ear. “I wish I could kiss you now.”

“I wish you could, too, but this time, Your Grace, I shall have to be strong. If only to protect your reputation,” she sighed. “And mine, of course.”

“Of course. It is another reason to admire you, Miss Blackwell.”

They continued on, speaking only of the paintings on the walls and the effort of the artists, but Scarlett knew that every step she took was one more down a path by his side that would change her forever.

And it is more and more clear that I don’t want the journey to ever end…

R
yder sat
on a bench near the reception hall, in no mood for museums and the crush of a strolling public. The call with the flowers had gained him almost nothing. His face had healed completely but his uncle was still icily unimpressed with his efforts to apologize to Miss Starr.

Damn it. It’s not as if I can park outside her home or just stumble into her publicly to—

Starr Blackwell walked by him with another young lady at her elbow and he nearly fell off the bench.

The planets just aligned to make me a liar!

He stood to catch them. “Miss Starr! Miss Blackwell?”

She turned and he almost regretted it at the sight of her already distressed countenance and pale face. Almost. Because it was hard to forfeit any chance, no matter how uphill it may be, to climb out of his disgrace.

“Are you unwell? Is everything all right?”

“I’m fine. We… Ivy, would you mind getting that lemon water and…bringing it to me here? I need to speak to Lord Hayle alone, if I may.”

Ivy’s eyes widened in surprise. She looked at Ryder and seemed to come to a reluctant decision to trust her friend to his temporary care. “Very well. I’ll be back in just a few minutes. A
very
few minutes. And expect to find you here. Exactly and precisely, here.”

Starr nodded. “I will be here. Will I not, Lord Hayle?”

“Absolutely and without question.”

Ivy left them to fulfill her mission and Ryder did his best to stay calm and cool-headed. “You look upset.”

“I was looking forward to a peaceful afternoon to escape the pressure and judgment of my betters but Providence had other plans.”

“Would you like to sit down?”

“Yes, thank you.” They sat down together at a respectful distance that would allow for conversation but protect her reputation.

“I hope meeting me hasn’t added to your day’s challenges.”

She gave him a shaky smile. “I don’t know yet. Are you going to start yelling terrible things about my sister? Or explain that your uncle must be suffering from senility to have danced or spoken to her in public? There is such a wide range of nightmarish things you might have left unsaid that I can barely stand the suspense.”

“I want to apologize. For all of it. Every syllable. Every…stupid, ignorant syllable I said to you that night. My uncle has explained a great deal and apparently, I have defined a new level of wrong that until now, no man had achieved.”

“Really? A new level?”

“I am a groundbreaker in social incompetence.”

She smiled. “That is quite a claim.”

“Oh, the patent applications have been filed! I’m expecting word any day now to immortalize my stupidity. I’m sure my mother will be very proud.”

She laughed and Ryder was sure that the sun had just come out in the middle of a dreary museum’s hall. “You do have competition. Rivals seeking to best you in this category.”

“I can take them all on single-handedly. I’m ready.”

“Your…nose looks much better.”

“Would you like to hit me again? I deserve it.”

She shook her head, relaxing in his company. “No, thank you. If I were to strike you twice, I’m certain my notoriety would be carved in stone.”

“Perhaps later. If you change your mind, just let me know so that I can brace myself a bit.” He let out a slow breath, relief at the turn in the day so tangible he was sure he could taste it or measure it as the sensation rolled through his entire frame. “Thank you.”

“What have I done?”

“Allowed this. Spoken to me as if I weren’t…”

“A groundbreaker in social incompetence?” she supplied softly.

“Yes, exactly that. I had hoped you might one day forgive me. Today gives me encouragement to dream that it’s truly possible.”

“Then I’m glad. Something positive came out of it. A man should never limit his dreams. Nor a woman for that matter.”

“May I ask, Miss Starr, what a woman’s dreams encompass? What your dreams might encompass?”

“That is a very direct and personal inquiry to make, Lord Hayle.”

“As an idiot, there are advantages. It gives me leeway to speak without thinking. I’m sorry again.”

“No, as I tell my students, there is no wrong question. Only wrong answers.”

“Your
students
?”

“I want to be a teacher and Uncle Darius has allowed me to tutor and take on a few small classes at Bellewood last year. Bellewood is a university for women that Mother established at my late grandfather’s estate. It is open to all women clever enough or motivated enough to try, regardless of their backgrounds. It is her passion to forward women’s education and I hope to follow in her footsteps.”

“A true university? Not a finishing school? Is the…curriculum modified for ladies?”

“No, nor need it be.” Starr shook her head firmly. “The goal is to be able to provide an education equal or even superior to most men’s schooling.”

“I see.” Except he didn’t. A thousand questions sprang into his mind but he was wary of offending her. “Do many women wish for that sort of education?”

“Yes. More than you could imagine. I think if a thing is denied or forbidden, it becomes even more important to fight for it.” She sighed. “After all, if women are denied the right to vote because we are more ignorant than our male counterparts, would it not be a logical step to demonstrate that if we are given the chance, we are just as clever as men and just as capable of participating in all aspects of society and social change.”

It was all he could do to try to picture it. Women
voting? Dear God…I think she’s serious!