He knew this at once but couldn’t help it. His eyes traced not only Dorothy’s smile as she talked with Lady Charlotte but also how she sat and the position of her body. She didn’t sit as primly as Lady Charlotte and Lady Frederica, for she was not as ladylike in manner as the others. At first, it had grated on him that she wouldn’t sit like the other ladies, but then he noticed how comfortable she looked.
Stephen found his lips turning up into a small smile before he realized what he was doing and attempted to flatten them again.
He reached for the picnic basket and helped Mr. Becker pass the food around as the conversation around them segued naturally into the subject of marriage. He rather thought Lady Webster thrust it in that direction for her own amusement.
“Come, come,” she said with a rather forced attempt at nonchalance. “You are all young and must be thinking of marriage soon. Lady Frederica, you, for instance, I imagine your father is most keen for you to make a good match.”
“He is, My Lady.” Lady Frederica didn’t look at anyone as she answered Lady Webster but kept her head down, her cheeks blushing deep red.
Stephen rummaged in the picnic basket, where he found two pork pies. At once, he took one and passed it to Dorothy, who stared at him in plain surprise.
“Your favorite, aren’t they?” he whispered.
“Yes.” She continued to stare at him as the conversation around them moved on.
“What about you, Your Grace?” Lady Webster addressed Stephen so loudly in fact that a fair few of the other conversations in the group faded so that they could pay attention.
“What about me, My Lady?” Stephen sat back, resting his weight on his hand as he ate the pork pie with the other.
“You must surely be looking for your Duchess by now,” Lady Webster said with an easy giggle. “Why, your father was married when he was younger than you.”
Do not remind me.
Stephen was careful to keep a smile on his face. He knew well enough that, were his father still alive, he would be outraged that Stephen wasn’t married yet.
“You’re a duke. You have to set an example, run the line with strictness and honor. Marry, produce an heir, and continue the line!”
He could practically hear the words of his father as if he was shouting in his ear now.
“Perhaps I am looking,” Stephen murmured, keeping his voice measured as he looked at Lady Webster.
“Oh, ladies, is that not a fine thing?” Lady Webster said, directing her comments to Lady Frederica and Lady Charlotte.
Lady Frederica blushed even more, and Lady Charlotte sat as primly and as elegantly as she always did.
In contrast, Dorothy rolled her eyes. Stephen bit his lip to stop himself from laughing.
“What is it you are looking for in a wife, Your Grace?” Lord Webster asked, joining in the conversation with vigor. “Perhaps we could help you find such a woman.”
“I am searching for a duchess,” Stephen said calmly, content to explain himself. “A lady of duty and propriety. It is what the position calls for, after all. Someone with poise and a kind heart, so she can take on her responsibilities with grace.”
“You said nothing of love.” Dorothy wiped the crumbs of the flaky pastry from her lips, looking at him with an amused smile.
“I beg your pardon?” He frowned at her.
What has love got to do with this?
“Are you looking for something different in your own partner, Lady Dorothy?” Lord Chilmond asked, moving to sit on Dorothy’s other side.
Stephen felt his hand tighten around what remained of his pie. He hadn’t noticed Lord Chilmond a few minutes before. Now, he was angering him greatly with his proximity to Dorothy.
“Me? Well, I am looking for a partner in crime!” Dorothy said with delight and raised her fists in a mock boxing stance.
Lord Chilmond happily held up his palms with a deep chuckle, allowing her to softly punch one of his palms as the others laughed with her.
“Someone who I love, and who loves me. Someone who will show me a world that we can explore together.” She gestured to the horizon beyond. “Someone who will agree with me that there will never be a boring day in our lives again.”
Stephen felt he had been kicked in the gut. Was that what he had described? A lady that was boring? Maybe his life was boring as a duke, but it had to be. There was rigidity and duties to attend to. It was a necessary part of life.
