“Good morning to you, Your Grace,” Esther said with a curtsy. She was struck anew by how handsome he was. It occurred to her now that she had never really seen him outdoors during the day. The sunlight made his deep blue eyes even more difficult to turn away from.
“I don’t think you’ve met my good friend, Baron Lockwood?” The Duke turned to indicate a gentleman standing a few feet behind him.
“I haven’t,” Esther said. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, My Lord.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” the Baron said. “I’m so happy to meet the young lady who has the Duke’s thoughts so consumed.”
“Charles,” the Duke said warningly, but a flush of pleasure rose to Esther’s cheeks. She hadn’t realized she had been so much on his mind. But now it seemed that he and his friend had been speaking of her.
Things must be going better than I realized.
The door opened again and Eugenia emerged. “Ah,” Lord Lockwood said. “Lady Eugenia! What a pleasure it is to see you again.”
“Good day, Lord Lockwood,” Eugenia said. Then, blushing, she turned to the Duke, perhaps realizing that she ought to have greeted him first. “Your Grace. I apologize, I—”
“No apologies,” the Duke said. “You’ve given me enough to last a lifetime, Lady Eugenia, and you have never done anything to cause me offense. Come, let’s get into the carriage and begin our outing.”
Esther and Eugenia made their way to the carriage and allowed the footman to help them in. Amelia took the seat beside them. A moment later, the gentlemen were seated across from them, and the carriage had sprung into motion, wheeling them away from Harcourt Manor and toward the park.
“The weather is lovely today,” Esther said. “Perfect for an outing in the park. It was a really splendid idea.”
“I’m glad you think so, My Lady,” the Duke said. “In truth, the idea was Lord Lockwood’s. He’s often one to come up with clever ideas. I’m lucky to have his friendship.”
“Lucky indeed,” Esther agreed. “Tell me, how did it come to pass? Such a close friendship between a Baron and a Duke does seem uncommon.”
“Yes, perhaps,” the Duke said. “But Charles’ mother and mine were cousins. And although my mother married a Duke—my father—she wasn’t the sort of lady to forget the family she came from. She visited with her cousin frequently, and Charles and I, being of an age, were often together as children.”
“I see,” Esther said. “That does make sense.”
In truth, she wasn’t sure it did. Or rather, she found it surprising. Her parents were nothing like what the Duke described. Esther’s own mother was the daughter of a Baron, but ever since she had had the good fortune to wed an Earl, she hadn’t wasted her time with anyone below her new station, including her own family.
But the Duke had always seemed different to her. He seemed not to care for the title he had been born to. And his close friendship with the Baron of Lockwood was just further evidence of that.
I really like that about him. It’s just the opposite of the way my parents are, setting so much store by everyone’s position in society. The Duke is a breath of fresh air.
The carriage pulled to a halt alongside the park, and the four companions got out and made their way along the walkway. Esther walked beside the Duke, and behind her, Eugenia and Lord Lockwood followed at a reasonable distance.
“Thank you again for joining me today, Lady Esther,” the Duke said.
“It truly is my pleasure,” Esther assured him. “I’m grateful to you, in fact, for giving me the opportunity to get out of my aunt’s Manor and away from my parents.”
“I did sense some tension between them and yourself the other day at tea,” the Duke said.
Esther laughed. “It was hardly subtle,” she said. “I’m not surprised you detected it. My parents are…rather manipulative.”
“In what way?” the Duke asked.
“In the same way most parents are, I imagine,” she said. “Now that I am being courted, they wish to control everything. Every aspect of our courtship is subject to their scrutiny.”
The Duke nodded. “That did not escape my notice,” he admitted. “And it’s a part of the reason Charles and I contrived to bring you and Lady Eugenia to the park today. We thought it might be best to get you out, away from the watchful eyes of your parents.”
“Then you read the situation very well,” Esther said admiringly. “And I very much appreciate your doing so.”
“I’m glad we can be upfront with one another about these things, Lady Esther,” the Duke said.
“What do you mean, Your Grace?” she asked.
He sighed. “The truth is that when I visited you at Harcourt Manor, your parents’ behavior made me feel…rather uncomfortable.”
