Page 11 of Her Summer Duke

“I see. And at the time, who was your favorite actress?”

She could see, from the corner of her eye, that he was looking at her.

He would not be able to see her eyes, unless she turned to him, for the brim of her bonnet was much too wide. It pleased her to not look at him, but to leave him wondering what she truly thought, and whether her expression might, at any time, match her words.

“That’s quite simple, Sarah Siddons is my favorite actress, though she retired when I was merely a child, I remember her quite clearly. She was a grand tragedienne. I sincerely wish she had never retired. Her passion for her craft was pure devotion and left me spellbound and breathless. It was as if she truly became the characters who she portrayed on stage.”

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“Yes, I agree whole heartedly. Tragedy lived through her hands, her feet, and her voice. I too experienced her delightful renditions.” Percy wanted to say to her that it was his desire to leave her just as spellbound and breathless, but instead, he continued his polite conversation, “Tell me, Lady Margaret, have you ever travelled to Brighton? The Royal Pavilion is rather striking, and all of the most fashionable people have taken to spending at least part of the summer in Brighton as a result, in the hope of being invited to one of the Prince Regent’s events. I have taken a suite of rooms at the Old Ship Hotel for the next month or two, and I wondered if you would be interested in spending time there as well? I would be happy to offer you transport to Brighton, if you wish. My coach seats six quite comfortably, so the ride, though long, it being near three days from here, will not be so very tiresome.”

They stopped walking. She pivoted toward him and tilted her head back so that he could finally peer into the emerald pools of her eyes.

“As to that, Lord Percy, you will have to discuss the matter with Lady Mantrell. And of course, there is the matter of my being promised to His Grace of Saltonbury.”

Percy paused, somewhat shocked by her words – were the rumours not true?

“But… I had heard that you had… cried off… is that not true, my Lady?”

Lady Margaret’s eyes widened. “I have not done so, at this point in time.”

“But your guardian agreed to this encounter today, which I thought was a prelude for…”

Lady Margaret stopped him with the pressure of her hand on his arm.

“Tis no prelude, Lord Percy. Lady Mantrell has been aware for some time of my desire to come out to enjoy the countryside. I am sure that this is her attempt to accommodate me in my wishes, undoubtedly that, and nothing more.”

“I also would like the pleasure of accommodating your wishes, and seeing to your enjoyment, Lady Margaret. I am sure that you will love Brighton. You may, of course, wish to bring your cousin Lady Phoebe as your companion, in addition to Lady Mantrell. I am sure that they both would enjoy the seaside.”

Margaret sighed.

“The seaside? Perhaps that would be pleasant – I have not previously been to Brighton. I am sure that some time away from the places I am used to might help me to reach a conclusion with respect to my future. For the rumours have at least a grain of truth in them. I am not certain that I wish to hold true to the promise my father established with His Grace of Saltonbury. With the rate at which rumour travels, I am positive that Saltonbury may well believe that he is almost a free man.”

She smiled coquettishly. “After all, word reached your ears, Lord Percy, that the betrothal promise had perhaps faltered, and you made haste.”

Percy coughed, feeling rather flustered by her words. He wanted her, there was no doubt of it, but he had not expected this uncertainty in things.

“Indeed I did, which is quite proof of my sincerity in my endeavour. I have long admired you, Lady Margaret, yet I waited until it seemed that you might be free of commitment, before I approached you. I would not act the cad.”

“Endeavour, Lord Percy. What endeavour do you speak of?”

Her gloved hand adjusted the brim of her hat, it seemed so that she could review his facial expression more clearly.

“Why, uh, I mean to say, of course you are aware of my intentions, which I assure you are entirely honourable.”

Her face took on the appearance of an absolute mirror of perplexity, though he doubted that she truly was perplexed.

“Whatever are you saying, Lord Percy?”

“I… uh, that is to say, my dear Lady Margaret, it would be my desire that you would allow me the pleasure of courting you.”

“Courting me? Pleasure? You dare speak directly to me of courting, Lord Percy, and you, a gentleman? Need I remind you, as if you are a schoolboy learning your manners, that you must ask my guardian’s approval for such a serious matter as courting, never mind that I have not yet formally cried off from my arrangement with His Grace of Saltonbury, to whom I have been promised for some years. Indeed, I may not do so at all.”

Shocked, Percy did not know what to say – she might not…?

“I see.”

Lady Margaret smiled at him again. “I assume that I need not explain to you that it is impossible for a woman to have two parallel betrothals.”