A Brooding Christmas Promise (Christmas Matches of Worth #2)

Chapter Two

“Did you hear about the Duke of Yarmouth?”

Louisa continued to sew quietly in the corner of the drawing room as her two sisters chattered mindlessly together. They had been talking about all manner of things in society though she, however, had very little interest in what was being said.

“There have always been whispers that he is nothing more than a rogue but I did not think he would behave as poorly as that!” Rachel continued, as Louisa glanced at her, before turning her attention back to her needle and embroidery thread. “Though he is a Duke, I suppose, so there will be someone within society wiling to marry him!”

“Marry him?” Ruth, the youngest of the sisters, let out a quiet laugh. “I am sure that there will be many a young lady eager to do such a thing but their mothers and fathers will be less inclined, I am sure, given what has been said. To know that he would treat that lady with such inconsideration is dreadful!”

“Though I did hear that she is now married and quite happily settled,” came the reply, as a niggle of curiosity began to grow in Louisa’s heart. “I did think it most astonishing that a Duke would think to behave in such a way, however. I thought that gentlemen with high titles were expected to behave with the greatest integrity!”

“It seems as though the Duke of Yarmouth lacks such integrity, unfortunately.” Ruth sighed and shook her head. “It is unfortunate that he is so very handsome, however. A gentleman such as that, with a high title and excellent fortune would be a wonderful match for any young lady… if he had the character to go with it.”

Unable to help herself, Louisa spoke up. “What has happened? Why is the Duke of Yarmouth now so ill considered by society?” She watched as her two sisters exchanged a glance, only for Rachel to turn her attention to her.

“Of course you would not have heard, I quite forgot that you do not join us when we attend balls and the like,” she said, in a tone which was so utterly condescending, Louisa had to squeeze one of her hands into a tight fist so as not to let angry words escape her. “The Duke of Yarmouth has not been present in society for some months, though he was always very frequent in his visits to London before that. Last evening, he was speaking with Lady Wigton and her daughter, Lady Hannah, only for Lady Hannah to tell not only him but, given that she spoke loudly, also the rest of the ton about his actions towards her dear friend, Lady Sara.”

“Lady Sara who is now Lady Huddersfield,” Ruth broke in. “So she is married and contented. Thankfully, these rumours cannot tarnish her reputation now, though I do hope hat her husband knew of it all beforehand otherwise that might be rather difficult.”

Louisa glanced from Ruth to Rachel and then back again. “What was it that the Duke did?” she asked, when her sisters did not continue speaking. “Is he something of a rascal?”

“More like a scoundrel, I would say!” Ruth clicked her tongue in obvious disapproval. “The gentleman is more than a little selfish, it seems, for he not only stole Lady Sara’s affections by promising her that they would soon marry – though he begged her to keep their connection a secret with reasons that she went on to believe – he then went in search of other young ladies when he grew tired of her! Meanwhile, Lady Sara had turned away two other gentlemen who sought out her company, believing that the Duke of Yarmouth would soon propose and she would be wed.”

“But he did not.” Louisa frowned hard as her sisters shook their heads. “Lady Sara’s heart must have been broken.”

“Not only that, but she had turned away those two other gentlemen, making the ton believe that she had no interest in matrimony.” Rachel sighed heavily. “She must have told all of this to Lady Hannah, given that they were dear friends. However, I do not think that the Duke himself ever expected news of his poor behaviour to escape to the ton for I heard that, when Lady Hannah threw those things towards him, he went very pale indeed.”

Louisa’s eyebrows lifted. “But he did not deny anything that was said?”

Both of her sisters shook their heads and Louisa closed her eyes briefly, both relieved and a little concerned. “You both must make certain to stay away from the Duke of Yarmouth. You cannot have him in your company and you certainly cannot ever have him here in the house. Do you understand me?”

Ruth let out a snort of laughter. “Why should the Duke of Yarmouth come here? He is not acquainted with any of us!”

“I am aware of that, but if he should become acquainted with you, I want you both to make certain that you do not linger in his company. It is very important indeed to protect your own reputations, especially since you are both seeking a match this Season.”

Ever since their mother had passed away at the time of Ruth’s birth, Louisa had been almost solely responsible for both of her sisters. With one older brother in line to take on the title and a father who, seemingly caring very little for his children, had thrown himself entirely into his business affairs, it had become Louisa’s responsibility to make sure that both Rachel and Ruth were ready for society. There had been a governess, of course, but her father had seemingly decided that both an older sister and a governess were not required and, therefore, had dismissed the governess once Ruth had reached the appropriate age for her come out and left the rest on Louisa’s shoulders. He had not seemed to be aware of her own need to seek out a match, had simply ignored that part of Louisa’s life and instead, had instructed her to make certain that both of her sisters found excellent husbands. She was now considered their chaperone and all of society knew of it. In the same way, her own sisters did not seem to think about Louisa’s desire for a husband, never once speaking of it or considering Louisa’s own situation. To both of them, to her father and even to society, she was viewed as a spinster, even though she was not of age to be so. It was a great and heavy burden and one that Louisa was forced to continually carry alone – and at times, it almost felt too great to endure. Even now, as they spoke of the Duke, Louisa was forced to remind herself that her role was not to do anything for herself but instead, to guide and protect her sisters.

Even when they wed, I shall have no opportunity for matrimony, she thought to herself, sadness building in her heart. I will be considered a spinster by then and what hope shall I have?

A giggle caught her attention, pulling her from her own considerations and she frowned, seeing Rachel quickly adjusting her expression so that she did not smile in even the smallest way.

“We have no intention of acquainting ourselves with the Duke of Yarmouth, I assure you.” Rachel sighed and looked away, though there still remained a glimmer in her eyes. “Though I do wish that he was not so handsome. That would make it a little easier to ignore him.”

A spark of interest flickered in Louisa’s heart but she ignored it quickly, dismissing it as only a passing thought and nothing worth her attention. She was not about to let her thoughts linger on a gentleman of ignoble character, especially when she knew him to be nothing more than a scoundrel! It would be quite different if the ton were speaking of a man because of his charitable nature or because of his kindness towards those lesser than him, but to have them speak of his selfishness, inconsideration and general arrogance meant that he was someone they had all to avoid.

“I will point him out to you, if you wish it.”

Louisa looked back at Ruth, seeing the slight flicker in her sister’s eyes. “I hardly think that will be necessary.”

“You were thinking of him, yes?”

“Yes, but not in the way that you think,” Louisa answered, feeling heat begin to burn in her face though she kept her gaze steady all the same. “I was reflecting on the fact that such a gentleman ought not to be worth even a moment of our time, even if he is the most handsome and holds the highest title in all of society, save only for the King.” With a slight clearing of her throat, she looked away from her sister. “Now, we should make certain that you are both thoroughly prepared for this evening. The new ballgowns have arrived, yes?”

“Yes, they have.” Rachel tilted her head. “Including one for you. I did not know that you had purchased one.”

Louisa blinked in surprise. “One for me?”

Her sister nodded, then frowned. “You did not purchase a ballgown, then? You seem to be rather astonished.”

“I am, simply because I did not purchase a gown,” Louisa answered, all the more confused. “I recall that we had gowns fitted for you both but I… ” She trailed off as understanding overtook her. Her eyes closed and she let out a small sigh, though a smile edged up the corners of her mouth. “Julia. Of course.”

When she opened her eyes, her two sisters were looking at each other, though Ruth, at least, smiled when she returned her gaze back to Louisa.

“Your friend is very considerate.”

“Yes,” Louisa agreed, thinking of Julia who had long been her friend and was, indeed, her closest friend. “How glad I am that she is in London with us at this time.”

“You... you are not thinking about seeking out a match for yourself also, are you?” Rachel blinked quickly, her eyes widening just a little as she turned her gaze to Louisa and then returned it to Ruth, seemingly shocked at the idea that Louisa might herself be considering her future. “You know that father has given you a responsibility for us and -”

A rush of irritation had words snapping from Louisa’s mouth in a manner which she would have never considerately spoken. The shock on Rachel’s face as she thought about Louisa seeking out her own match as well as the touch of horror in her voice – as though it would be truly horrendous if Louisa were to do so – riled her in a way that filled her with a sense of deep frustration and upset.

“You are aware, Rachel, that I am also of eligible age, are you not?”

Rachel hesitated, then looked to Ruth again though her sister merely dropped her gaze to her hands.

“Yes, I am aware but I had always considered that we were to be your sole focus.”

“And for what reason did you think that?” Louisa asked, finding herself on her feet, heat pouring from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. “Yes, father has given me this responsibility, as you have said, but it seems to me that both he and you have seemingly ignored – or forgotten – that I might have some hopes and desires for my own future! What will become of me when both Ruth and yourself find a match, Rachel? You will be happy and settled and contented, no doubt, but what of me?”

Rachel blinked quickly, then shrugged. “You will have a chance to then seek out your own match?”

It was as though something within Louisa broke, hearing her sister’s nonchalant remark, seeing the shrug of her shoulders. Her hands balled into fists, tears coming into her eyes. “I will be considered a spinster by then, Rachel! Do you not see that? Do you not think of that? Or is everything about this Season – about our life – entirely to do with you and your happiness?”

Silence flooded the room and suddenly, Louisa felt herself very ashamed of the explosion of feeling she had released upon her sisters. She saw them look at each other, saw the wide eyes and the slight paleness in Rachel’s cheeks and felt her own anger fade significantly, leaving only mortification.

“At least Julia thinks of me,” she muttered, making for the door rather than linger here with her two sisters and the tension she had now managed to create. “She is the one who purchased the ballgown for me for she knew that father had not permitted me to purchase one for myself.”

“Wait, Louisa, please!” Ruth got to her feet, hurrying towards Louisa as she continued to make her way to the door. “We did not know that father had refused you such a thing. We thought that you simply did not need or want one.”

Louisa closed her eyes and dropped her head, one hand on the door handle, the other hand now being grasped tightly by her sister. Rachel remained seated on the couch, however, not saying a single word.

“I have carried this burden for a long time, Ruth, and I ought not to have let myself speak with such inconsideration.” Louisa offered her sister a small, rueful smile, aware of the ache in her heart. “Forgive me. I – I shall go and make certain that my own gown fits me quite properly, even though I will not be considered by any gentlemen this evening.”

“Do not say that!” Ruth exclaimed, as Louisa opened the door, tugging her hand out of Ruth’s gentle grasp. “I am sure that many a gentleman would look at you, Louisa. It may be that they simply do not know that you are seeking a match!”

Louisa shook her head, tears in her eyes now which she attempted to hold back, albeit without success. “I have a duty to Rachel and to yourself,” she said, her voice nothing but a throaty whisper as she looked into her sister’s face. “That must come first. Please, forget all that I have said. It... it does not matter, not really.” Refusing to listen to her sister’s gentle protests, Louisa stepped out of the door and closed it tightly behind her, ashamed of the way she had lost her composure. She had said more than she had ever intended to say, had railed at both of her sisters without thought or consideration and now, for whatever reason, the weight of her responsibility to them sat all the heavier on her shoulders.

The new ballgown would be wonderful to wear and was very kind indeed of Julia, but it would not take away from the fact that Louisa herself had no prospect of even standing up with a gentleman at the ball this evening. She was a chaperone and one day soon, would be a spinster... and nothing, it seemed, could prevent that.