I should be happy about this. But why am I not rejoicing over the fact that he has taken notice of me?
“I…” she trailed off, seeing the sympathetic look in Lady Suzanna’s eyes. She turned to the Marquess. “Lady Suzanna is right. I need to at least make His Grace aware of my plans.”
Lord Draydon graciously inclined his head, although to Claire, it vaguely reminded her of a bird of prey sizing up its target.
“Very well, then,” he said. “I shall await you in my carriage at precisely ten o’clock tomorrow, whether you choose to go with me or not.”
She felt a delicious thrill at the way he worded his open invitation. He certainly had a way of evoking certain reactions and Claire had a feeling that he knew perfectly well what he was doing.
Besides, His Grace apparently held no feelings for her besides those of an older brother for his younger sister, so she might as well see where this courtship with Lord Draydon would lead.
Both ladies stood in the same spot as the Marquess left, seen to the door by Marley, the old butler.
“Are you…happy with him, Claire?”
Claire turned to face Lady Suzanna, who was looking at her with a soft smile.
“I know you had tender feelings for him but are you truly happy with Lord Draydon?” the duke’s sister asked her. “And I am not asking this because I intend to come between you two. I just…want you to be happy, dear heart.”
She peered closely at the older woman and found that she was apparently telling the truth. Honesty shone out from her eyes as she earnestly asked Claire if this was what she wanted, if the Marquess, indeed, made her truly happy.
“I…” Claire trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.
She wanted to be happy with the Marquess. She thought that sheshouldbe happy with him, considering she broke off her years of friendship with Lady Suzanna over him.
However, the past few weeks had shown her a side of His Grace that she had truly come to admire.
It was rather unfortunate that he did not appear to return her feelings.
On the other hand, the Marquess appeared to be pursuing her diligently, coming to call on her on a daily basis, until Claire feared that he would become as much a part of the townhouse as its furniture.
“I do not know what to feel, in all honesty,” she admitted. “But out of all the eligible bachelors I have met this Season, he is the one I feel is most suited to my tastes.”
Unlike the others, he did not disdain her for indulging in architectural design, nor did he consider it unseemly for a lady to have such interests.
Lady Suzanna smiled at her. “Well, do not feel pressured at all to make a decision right now, dear heart. I am, after all, what one would consider a failure of several Seasons but I would rather be a spinster than be bound to a man who will only make me unhappy. I hope you would remember that.”
“I will take your words to heart, Lady Suzanna,” Claire smiled gratefully at her.
“It has been a long while since I have been able to talk to you so,” the duke’s sister chuckled. “But I feel that when it comes down to it, you will make the right decision for yourself and your own happiness. I should never have tried to coerce you or warn you off in the past. You are capable of making your own decisions, dear one.”
“Thanks…I suppose.”
Lady Suzanna laughed, the sound light, airy and musical. “That was a compliment, dear one. Now, how do you suppose you wish to inform my absentee brother of your plans with Lord Draydon tomorrow?”
“I was hoping you would be able to help me in that aspect,” Claire smiled sheepishly at her. “It has been a while since I last caught a glimpse of His Grace and he seems to be immersed in so much work, I fear that I might prove to be a disturbance.”
The duke’s sister gave her an odd look before she finally said, “Well, I can inform him on your behalf, if that is what you mean to ask. He has been rather ornery lately.”
“Oh, thank goodness!” Claire sighed in relief. “I feared that I might have to ask him myself and he would be cross with me.”
“My dear, he could never be cross with you,” Lady Suzanna smiled at her mysteriously. “In any case, I still have one last errand to run before nightfall. I promise I shall ask him about it tonight and you shall have your answer tomorrow morning before breakfast, at least.”
Claire nodded and watched as Lady Suzanna hurried off again, giving her hands a warm, encouraging squeeze before she left.
There was something in the way the older woman looked at her when she said that the duke could never be cross with her.
What could she possibly mean by that?Claire thought.
