“I appreciate your willingness,” Hugh said again. “But truly, if there is anything I can do to repay you, Charles, you must let me know. I insist.”
“I’m sure I’ll think of something at some point,” Charles said, smiling. “Perhaps you’ll help me with the young lady of my choice when the time comes.”
“Of course!” Hugh said. “Any lady would be lucky to be courted by you, Charles, and I would be more than happy to help you make that happen. Is there someone you have in mind?”
“When the time comes,” Charles repeated. “The time hasn’t come yet. You certainly took long enough to court a lady. I won’t have you hurrying me just because you’re finally ready to take the next step.”
Hugh laughed. “That’s more than fair,” he said. “Very well. When the time comes, then, I shall be by your side and ready to support you in whatever way you need. You’ll have only to ask.”
Charles drained his drink in a swallow and got to his feet. “I really ought to be off,” he said. “As nice as it is to get away for a drink with you, it’s getting late, and I’m sure my dinner will be ready soon.”
Hugh nodded. “I ought to be heading home as well,” he said. “I’ll send a messenger to you with a time when I’ve arranged the outing to the park with Lady Esther and her cousin. Will that be satisfactory?”
“Of course,” Charles said. “I’ll be free to go any time this week, and I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Charles took his leave, but Hugh lingered at the bar, finishing his own drink a bit more slowly than his friend had.
I’ll be on my own with Lady Esther for the first time.
It wouldn’t be hard to persuade Charles and Lady Eugenia to walk a few yards behind them, to give them some privacy.
His heart raced at the thought of having her to himself at last. He couldn’t wait to see her again.
He thought of what Charles had said about marriage.
Perhaps it’s not so farfetched after all. If I already feel this strongly about her…maybe I’ll be asking for her hand much sooner than I had expected!
Chapter 19
Esther’s mother caught her by the wrist before she could go to the door. “Behave yourself today, Esther,” she hissed. “You’re very lucky your father and I agreed to allow you to go on this outing unsupervised.”
“I’m hardly going to be unsupervised,” Esther pointed out. “Eugenia will be there. And the Duke’s friend, the Baron of Lockwood, will be with us as well. On top of which, you’ve insisted that Amelia accompany us as an additional chaperone! Honestly, I don’t know what you’re so worried about.”
“I believe you do,” her mother said. “You know how you can be.”
“No. How can I be?”
“Willful. Self-righteous. Always thinking you know best.” Her mother shook her head. “I admit, Esther, that you have done well so far this Season. You’ve gained the attention of the Duke of Hallowbinder, and your father and I could ask for no better.”
“Thank you,” Esther said.
It’s about time you said that!
“But you’ve flirted with disaster on more than one occasion,” her mother went on. “It seems a miracle to me that the Duke is interested in you, given the approach you took to the Bolton Ball.”
Oh, you don’t know the half of it.
What would her mother say if she knew that Esther had actually spoken rudely to the Duke when they had first met? She would never let Esther out on her own again.
Esther pulled her arm out of her mother’s grasp. “You’re going to have to trust me a little bit, Mother,” she said. “If we’re to get what we’re hoping for out of this Season, you’re going to have to have some faith in my ability to charm a gentleman.”
“I know you have the ability to do that,” her mother said. “It’s your dedication that I question.”
“Well, don’t question it,” Esther said firmly. “Nothing is more important to me than Caroline’s future, and her future is tied up in the future of this family. I’ll do what needs to be done to make sure she’s provided for. Count on it.”
Esther could tell her mother wanted to say more, but she restrained herself, and Esther was deeply thankful for that small mercy. She hurried to the door and let herself out before her mother could change her mind.
The Duke was waiting in front of a carriage, and when he saw Esther emerge, a smile broke over his face. “Lady Esther,” he said. “Good morning.”