The Way to a Duke's Heart: The Truth About the Duke by Caroline Linden Page B

barreled onward. “What are you thinking? I don’t expect you to delight in his attentions if you don’t care for him, but be sensible! He is a prominent, well-connected nobleman in London! Think of the reflection on your brother and your sister, and how you endanger their standing.” Eugenie paused, her sweet round face set in uncharacteristic disapproval. “What on earth do you dislike about Lord Gresham?”
    Tessa sat in speechless surprise. Every word of condemnation was true, but she was shocked to hear it so vehemently from Eugenie. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I will do better.”
    “I hope so!” The older lady flung off her shawl and fumbled with her bonnet. Her fingers shook, another sign of how distraught she was. “He asked to call tomorrow, and I accepted with pleasure. If you do not see the value in an amiable connection with him, I do!”
    “You’re right,” said Tessa after a long hesitation.
    “I am!” Eugenie’s chin went up and she looked almost fierce for a moment, but then her expression softened into confusion. She came and sat down in a nearby chair. “What did he do to make you dislike him, dear? For he has noticed your disdain, I assure you.”
    Tessa rolled the pen between her fingers, feeling guilty and mortified. “It’s not really disdain. At first I thought he meant to torment me, for my impertinent remark in Bath—and well I would have earned it,” she added penitently. “I don’t disclaim that. But he doesn’t appear to be set upon that. I cannot for the life of me think why he’s so interested in us, two women far below his social standing and outside his usual circles.”
    “But does it matter?” For a moment Eugenie sounded almost pleading. “He helped me when I was unwell—”
    “Which was very kind of him, but he seems far more devoted than one might expect.”
    “He said he was also traveling alone . . .”
    “And the only company he could find was the pair of us?” Tessa raised her eyebrows. “Really; a wealthy, well-connected, eligible earl cannot find anyone to have at his table but two ladies he’s never met before?”
    Eugenie bit her lip. “Then what do you suspect him of?” she asked mournfully. “For I cannot think what he hopes to gain from our acquaintance if not simple pleasure . . .”
    Tessa hesitated, tapping her fingers on the tabletop. “I don’t know,” she said at last. “He didn’t mention he was leaving Bath when we did; he gave every appearance of remaining in town. Now suddenly he turns up here, in the same small town we’re visiting. It just seems . . . odd. He is so attentive, Eugenie.”
    “Yes,” agreed her companion, although with a faint air of being pleased instead of puzzled. “But you can find no absolute objection to him, I hope?”
    She sighed. Aside from her own wary suspicions and antipathy toward all handsome, glib men, no. “I had already resolved to be more tactful. I don’t wish to antagonize him, truly I don’t, and I don’t mean to ruin your pleasure in his company.”
    Eugenie beamed at her. “He’s to call tomorrow morning. I think you would find him charming, Tessa dear, as I do, if only you won’t think him the same sort as that vile man we don’t mention .” She whispered the last, as she always did when mentioning Richard Wilbur. Tessa managed a tight smile. Trust Eugenie to say it out loud, as if confirming the similarities.
    “I’m sure Lord Gresham couldn’t possibly be that odious.” No one could be, really, in her opinion. “And in the future I shall be faultlessly polite to him,” she promised.
    And she was. When Lord Gresham appeared the next day, she smiled and curtsied and made all the correct responses. Then she sat back to listen quietly and politely as Eugenie chattered his ears off. To her relief, Lord Gresham did not turn his provocative half smile upon her; in fact he hardly looked at her at all, and when he did so it was with a direct, open gaze that