“Of course,” Hugh said. “And thank you.”
He followed the butler across the foyer. Harcourt Manor had fallen into a bit of disrepair, he couldn’t help noticing, but he didn’t like to judge. The Dowager Countess was on her own, after all—just her and Lady Eugenia. Maintaining a Manor like this would be a difficult job.
I’m sure she hopes to see Lady Eugenia married successfully so that she can have a bit more help.
The butler directed Hugh into the sitting room. Lady Esther and her parents were already seated there, but they all rose to their feet as he came in. Lady Eugenia and the Dowager Countess were nowhere to be seen.
“Good day, Your Grace,” Lord Cliffdall said. “It’s a pleasure to see you again. We’re so glad you could join us.”
“I’m so grateful to you for having me,” Hugh said. In truth, he wished he could have seen Lady Esther with only one of her parents—or better yet, with neither of them, and with her cousin serving as chaperone. But he could tell how reluctant her parents had been even to allow Lady Esther herself to attend tea today.
There’s something strange about these two.
He turned to Lady Esther. At leastshewas pleasant company. “Lady Esther,” he said. “What a pleasure it is to see you again.”
“I’m happy to see you, too,” Lady Esther said. “Thank you so much for coming, Your Grace.”
They all took their seats. Lady Esther poured a cup of tea and handed it to Hugh, who accepted it gratefully.
“So,” her mother said. “You’re the Duke of Hallowbinder, is that right?”
“That’s correct,” Hugh said. “My father was the Duke before me.”
“He’s dead, then?”
“Mother,” Lady Esther hissed. “That’s hardly an appropriate question.”
“It’s all right,” Hugh said, though in truth he was surprised by how forthright Lady Esther’s mother was being. He was unused to such direct questions. “Yes, my father died about seven years ago.”
“I’m so sorry to hear it,” Lady Esther said. “That must have been difficult.”
“It was,” Hugh said. “He and I were close. But he raised me well, with a good understanding of what my responsibilities would be when I took over as Duke. I’m very grateful for his presence in my life, and for everything he taught me.”
Lord Cliffdall nodded. “It’s very important to respect and honor one’s parents,” he said. “I’m glad to know that about you, Your Grace.”
“Yes,” Lady Cliffdall said. “And thank you, Your Grace, for being willing to open up and share your memories of him. We know that must be difficult for you to talk about.”
“To tell you the truth, it’s nice to talk about it,” Hugh said. “I have few people with whom I can remember my father.”
“Now, I find that difficult to believe,” Lady Cliffdall said. “A handsome gentleman such as yourself must be in high demand.”
“Mother,” Lady Esther said. “Just because a lady wants a dance with His Grace, that hardly means he feels comfortable opening up to her about something so personal.”
“Esther, do calm down,” Lady Cliffdall said. “I only meant to say that the Duke must surely have no shortage of people to talk to, if he wants to talk.”
Hugh thought he understood what Lady Cliffdall was doing. This wasn’t really about his father at all. She was trying to discover whether he was sought after by other members of thetonand whether there would be young ladies who were jealous to know that he had chosen Lady Esther. She wanted to make sure her daughter was being courted by a desirable man.
On one hand, it was a rational thing for a mother to wonder about. But on the other hand, it really bothered him that she was being so brazen about it.
In spite of his popularity among the ladies of thetonHugh had never formally courted someone before. But he had always imagined it would be more delicate than this. He hadn’t thought it would feel so much like an interrogation.
Lady Esther spoke up, rescuing him from her mother’s questions. “The life of a Duke must be complicated,” she said. “But I imagine you’re very well prepared. Is it difficult?”
“In some ways, it’s easier than I had imagined it would be,” Hugh said. “In other ways it’s much more difficult. I’ve known all my life what the responsibilities of my title would be, but actually living with it is different. It’s raised challenges I could never have anticipated.”
“Would it be too forward to ask what they are?” Lady Esther asked.
“To be frank, finding a lady for marriage has been hard,” he said.
