“But you are.”
Heat rose in her cheeks as she silently chided herself for spouting off at him. But having tossed out an opinion he obviously did not like, she had to tactfully retreat from it at once. “The expenses of a debut Season are quite hefty; that is all I am suggesting. Not every family can afford to put their daughters forward for a Season, much less two. Some of these girls are under dire strain to make a good match in order to savetheir loved ones from financial ruin. It is not fair to keep them here when they could be elsewhere attracting the attention of a gentleman who will seriously court them.”
“And save them from a life of penury such as your own?”
“That is unfair…and unkind. Do you think I do not feel the frustration of my reduced circumstances every moment of every day?”
“Consider me properly rebuked, Miss Alwyn.” His groan sounded quite heartfelt for a man who was reputed to have an icy heart. “I have been thoughtless in my attitude toward you and the other young ladies. You have my sincere apology.”
She sighed. “It is all right, Your Grace.”
“No, it isn’t. I will set about correcting my behavior. Tell me, have you ever had a Season?”
She shook her head. “No, my father died shortly before I was to make my London debut.”
That eyebrow of his shot up again.
“Does this shock you?”
“Actually, no. You are obviously refined. Much more so than those peahens cluttering my house right now. Gad, they are silly creatures. And do not admonish me for saying so. We both know they are.”
“Perhaps it is you who are too severe.”
His features lightened as he broke into an unguarded smile. “You cannot resist rebuking me, can you? Point taken. But what happened to you, Miss Alwyn? Forgive me, I know I am prying.”
She decided there was no harm in telling him, since his aunt knew of her situation and would not hesitate to reveal the ugly details if ever he bothered to ask. “My father was a baronet. Sir George Alwyn, a kind man with an amiable disposition and absolutely no head for business. Hence, my present need to work to support myself.”
“Have you no other family? No siblings?”
“Not that I am aware. It was my father and me for most of my life. My mother died years ago, when I was quite young. I carry a miniature portrait of her in my locket. I do not remember her at all, and would not know what she looked like if not for this locket.” Heather always wore it hidden beneath the bodice of her gown, and now drew it out by the chain to show him. She opened the silver heart to reveal the portrait inside.
He leaned closer and took the locket in his roughened hand to study it. “Interesting. You resemble her, although she appears quite young. She has the look of a girl from another century. Perhaps it is her expression, or the style of her hair.”
“Perhaps.” She gave a wistful sigh as she closed the heart with a light snap and then tucked it back in place.
“I am sorry you lost her so young, Miss Alwyn. And your father? Did he have nothing at all to leave you?”
“He did have a little. But it all went to his distant cousin, Thomas Alwyn, a horrid toad of a man in whom my father placed too much confidence. He is a supposedly respectable landowner with a fine estate not far from ours in Yorkshire.”
“Would he not take you in?”
“Oh, he was willing.” She emitted a long, ragged breath. “The problem was, he turned out to be a littletoowilling. I had to constantly be on my guard and lock my door against him. His wife was not pleased by the interest he showed in me.”
“Ah, that comes as no surprise.” He tossed aside the blade of grass and placed his hands behind his head, resting his torso against the shade tree. He closed his eyes as the sun filtered through the leaves and shone on his face. “Did his wife arrange for you to become my aunt’s companion?”
“No, Your Grace. That would have required a little thought or kindness on her part. She detested me for trying to steal her husband. He detested me because I would not unlock my door to him. My belongings were packed and I was sent away without somuch as a shilling to my name. But that blame, I think, should fall upon my father for failing to provide for me. He was just as irresponsible as his cousin who has now inherited all of his estate.”
Despite his closed eyes, Heather knew the duke was listening to her quite attentively.
“What did you do?” he asked. “How did you make your way to London and my aunt?”
“Lady Alwyn did pay for my mail coach ticket, I will give her that.”
“To make certain she got you as far away as possible. Did she pay for your food and shelter on your journey?”
“No, she did not care if I died of starvation or exposure to the elements along the way. I expect she hoped I would. My father had a few friends in London, so the kindly coachman offered to drop me off at the home of one of them. Do you know Lord Stockwell? He is chairman of one of the London banks. A very good man with a lovely family. They took me in and secured this position for me.”
“What will you do if my aunt discharges you?”
