“Come on, Eugenia.” Aunt Tabitha went to Eugenia’s side and pulled her to her feet. Eugenia went along, casting an apologetic look over her shoulder at Esther.
Esther didn’t mind. Her only concern, as far as that went, was that Aunt Tabitha might do or say something to embarrass Eugenia. She followed the other women into the sitting room, where her father and the Duke had already taken seats.
The Duke stood again as they entered. “Oh,” he said. “Lady Eugenia. Of course, I should have anticipated that I would be seeing you here. It’s a pleasure.”
Eugenia blushed and said nothing.
Aunt Tabitha pushed her way forward. “I’d no idea you had met my daughter, Your Grace,” she said, curtsying. “She never mentioned it to me. But it’s such an honor to have you here in my home. I know Eugenia is thrilled that you’ve chosen to pay her a visit.”
The Duke did not argue with Aunt Tabitha’s interpretation of events. He smiled and nodded slightly, then turned to Esther.
“Lady Esther,” he said. “You’re looking lovely this morning.”
Esther’s mother gave a displeased huff, and Esther remembered her complaint about her hair. No doubt she believed the Duke was only being nice, that he didn’t really mean what he was saying.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Your Grace,” she said.
Everyone took their seats again as tea was brought in. Esther’s father waited until it had been poured, then addressed the Duke directly. “To what do we owe the honor of this visit, Your Grace?”
“In truth, I’m very glad you’re here, My Lord,” the Duke said. “I had thought I would be speaking with Lady Esther’s aunt this morning, but the opportunity to speak with her father serves me even better. I’ve come to ask your permission to court Lady Esther.”
It felt as if everyone in the room had inhaled at the same time. Aunt Tabitha’s face pinched with dislike. Esther’s parents’ eyebrows lifted in surprise. Esther herself was stunned—she had not expected anything like this to happen so quickly.
Only Eugenia responded with pure joy, smiling so widely at Esther that one would have thought it was she who was being courted.
When no one answered right away, the Duke spoke again. “Of course, with Esther’s consent,” he said. “Ifsheis interested inme, I would like to proceed. If not, I will take my leave with no hard feelings.”
Esther’s father found his voice. “Of course, Your Grace,” he said. “You have my permission. Shall we arrange a time for your first outing?”
“Thank you, My Lord,” the Duke said. “But, begging your pardon, I must know for certain that this is what Lady Esther wants before we proceed any further.”
“Of course it is,” Esther’s mother said.
“I’d like her to answer for herself, My Lady,” the Duke said, and while his pleasant tone didn’t change at all, Esther detected a new tension in the room.
He’s angry. He’s angry with my parents.
Rather than concerning her, she found she liked his anger. It made her feel as if the two of them were allies, as if they were on the same side in this.
“Of course, Your Grace,” she said. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to get to know you better.”
“Then why don’t we arrange something in a couple of days?” The Duke turned his attention back to Esther’s father. “Is that acceptable to you, My Lord?”
“Certainly,” Esther’s father said. “The day after tomorrow. You can come at noon and join my wife and I, and Esther, of course, for tea. The four of us will all get to know one another better.”
I’m sure that’s not what he had in mind!
A chaperone was to be expected, of course. But if Esther could have made the choice herself, she would have selected Eugenia as her chaperone, and she imagined the Duke would have said the same thing. Having tea with her parents would be unbearably tense and stuffy, and she suspected the Duke had already picked up on that fact about them.
Still, what else was to be done? It was what was being offered, and Esther knew the Duke would do well to accept.
He nodded. “That sounds lovely, My Lord,” he said. “I’ll look forward to seeing all of you then.”
“Just the three of us,” Esther’s mother interjected, with a foul look at Aunt Tabitha. “Because this concerns Esther, only our family ought to attend.”
“That’s right,” her father agreed. “My sister and Eugenia will be elsewhere.”
Aunt Tabitha looked so angry that Esther feared she might actually throw the teacup she was holding. The Duke, however, merely nodded. “Very well,” he said. “I’ll see the three of you in two days’ time.”
