“Readings?”
“Yes, of course. We cannot have a literary event without some people reading from their favourite passages or the like.” Amelia lifted an eyebrow. “Have you prepared something?”
Charlotte’s eyes widened in surprise. “No, I have not.”
“Well, you still have time,” Amelia replied, picking out her first piece of paper, ready to write the first invitation. “Both of us ought to read aloud since we are organizing and hosting the event and, since it is still some days away, we do have a good deal of time to prepare. Even a poem or two would suffice, Charlotte, I am sure.” Seeing the slight grey to her sister’s pallor, Amelia hid a smile. Charlotte clearly did not want to read but Amelia was sure it would be required. “Now, I did have one question for you.” Lifting her gaze, she looked directly at her sister. “Ought we to invite the Beastly Duke?”
Her sister’s shoulders slumped. “Whyshould we invite him?”
“Because his estate is near to our father’s,” Amelia replied, lifting one shoulder and letting it fall. “It is not as though we expect him to attend, is it? He is a gentleman who likes to keep company with only himself and therefore, he will not be inclined to accept.”
“Then why should we bother to invite him?” Charlotte propped one elbow on the chair arm and then dropped her head to her hand. “There is no reason to send out an invitation or, indeed, to waste our time even writing it to him!”
“But we might be seen as rude if we do not.” Amelia sighed and looked down the list of those she wished to invite. “It will nottake me but a few minutes to write to him and, as I have said, he will, no doubt, refuse to attend.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes. “He is a gentleman I do not understand. Why does he spend his days in his own company when he has so many fine gentlemen and ladies about him? He has his mother residing in the house with him, I have heard, though I have also heard whispers that she cannot linger in his company for any length of time and is often away from home!”
“I do not know if that is true nor why he wishes for his own company,” Amelia replied, quietly, looking back at her sister. “I have heard that there was something that occurred with his younger brother some time ago and thereafter, though it took some time for his younger brother to recover, all was well. The Duke himself, however, has lingered in darkness and does not like to be in the company of anyone. It is as though he lingers in that dreadful moment and does not allow it to pass.” Her heart softened with a sudden sympathy though she quickly shook her head. “I do not understand him, however. He is a gentleman who seems to dislike the company of others. Which is why, Charlotte, I do not think that he will come to our literary event.”
Charlotte let out a slow breath and closed her eyes. “Very well. If you think that it would be best to invite him – even though he will not attend – then let us do so.”
Amelia smiled at her sister’s obvious reluctance. “I think that it is the best idea, my dear sister. After all, we want to make certain that we are doing all that we ought to be doing and do not bring any question of propriety to our father. He will, no doubt, have very little interest in our company and certainly will not enjoy the literary readings but all the same, we want to make certain no-one questions why this person or that person was not invited.”
With a nod, Charlotte made to rouse herself from her chair only for the door to open and Abby the maid to come back into the room, a tray in her hands.
“Here we are,” she said, that warm tone speaking of the many years that she had served Amelia and Charlotte, though she was now Amelia’s lady’s maid. “Do you wish for me to serve two cups of tea for you both?”
“Yes, please.” Amelia shot a quick, winking glance to her sister. “We will need all the sustenance we can get if we are to write each of these invitations by luncheon!”
Charlotte let out a groan but did get to her feet, ready now to help Amelia. Laughing, Amelia handed her sister a piece of paper, moved a little further down the writing table and set to work – and the very first invitation she wrote was to the Beastly Duke himself.
“You invited the Beastly Duke?”
Amelia nodded, a little surprised at her mother’s astonishment. “Yes, Mama, I did. The invitations have not gone out as yet, however. They will be sent away tomorrow.”
“I do hope you are not expecting him to accept?” Lady Stanton asked, as Amelia quickly glanced to her sister, who immediately began to shake her head. “The Beastly Duke is not inclined to spend time with anyone – least of all those who wish to discuss such things as books!”
“No, Mama, we are not expecting him to attend. Though I did think that it would be wise to invite him, just so that we did not offend him by our lack of invitation when everyone else in the vicinity received one.”
Lord Stanton harrumphed though when Amelia looked to him, he was not only smiling but nodding. “That was very considerate, my dear. Though as your mother has said, do not expect him to attend. That gentleman does not like to set foot outof his estate unless he absolutely has no other choice but to do so!”
“And why is that, Father?” Amelia asked, her interest piqued. “I have only seen the Duke of Ashbourne on one occasion before and he seemed rather ill tempered and disinclined towards company, I must say.”
“That is because he is.” Lord Stanton lifted both shoulders. “His younger brother almost drowned some years ago now and though I do remember that there were many doctors and physicians sent for, the young lad recovered very well. However, since that time, the Duke of Ashbourne has been entirely disinclined towards company. He has not shown any interest in attending any social events and though he has shown his face at some rare occasions, I do believe it is only because his mother desired to attend.” His lips quirked. “I do recall that the last time he came to a ball or some such thing, he simply stood to the back of the room, his arms crossed over his chest and his expression so furious, no-one dared approach him!”
Amelia tilted her head, finding herself a little intrigued. “How very strange. I should like to know what it is that makes him behave so.”
“I am sure many a person would, given that he is not only a Duke but also very wealthy indeed. However,” Lady Stanton continued, with a wry smile, “he seems determined not to be known and thus, we are left with many more questions than we have answers.”
Charlotte and Amelia exchanged a glance and Amelia could immediately guess what it was her sister was thinking. “I think I shall have one more invitation to send, Mama,” she murmured, seeing the gleam in Charlotte’s eyes. “You say that the Duke of Ashbourne attends occasions only when his mother desires to join? Then mayhap we should also invite Lady Ashbourne also,though I have heard she is not often at home. Mayhap that will be enough to convince the Duke of Ashbourne to show his face.”
Lady Stanton laughed, shaking her head lightly. “Are you truly so intrigued by him?”
“I confess that I am.”
“As do I,” Charlotte added, a little flush in her cheeks. “He is so very mysterious, I think, though that is quite the opposite of what I said to Amelia at the beginning of the day.”
Lord Stanton chuckled, shaking his head. “My dear girls, you will soon find that this mysterious gentleman will be nothing more than a disappointment. He will come and he will stand in this room and he will say and do nothing that will bring you any contentment. He will be the very worst of guests and you will wonder why you ever thought to invite him.”