Miss Bannerman and The Duke Read online

  “Hard to credit that they come from the same family, let alone are twins. Miss Amelia Bannerman is the loveliest creature, her sister an antidote.”

  “I think she’s touched in the attic. Imagine looking like she does and also being a simpleton.”

  Rose stiffened. There could be no doubt at all to whom they were referring. How dare they discuss her in this way? She stiffened, her eyes flashing. They would not get away with this insult.

  Chapter Two

  To her astonishment, a dark featured gentleman appeared at her side. “Miss Rose, would you do me the honour of joining me in the next set?”

  Who was he?

  She recognised him and her hands clenched. The Duke’s sudden appearance flustered her and she was unable to do more than shake her head. The power of speech temporarily deserted her. He smiled. “I heard what those idiots were saying. How better than to prove them wrong than by dancing with me?”

  Her voice returned. “I cannot see how that will improve the situation.”

  “I never dance, my dear. For me to honour you in this way will guarantee you a successful season.”

  “One dance will make me a success?”

  “Naturally. If I think you a suitable partner then so will the rest of the ton.”

  “I thank you, your Grace, but I have no wish to be considered suitable. Pray excuse me…”

  His eyes narrowed and the grip on the arm tightened. “You forget yourself, Miss Bannerman. I’ve invited you to dance and you will not refuse me.”

  Scarcely able to believe her ears, Rose stared at him. He was surely jesting? His expression made it plain he was not. How could she have thought this man so special when he was little more than an arrogant aristocrat? She would not dance with him. He had no right to dragoon her into something she had no wish to do just because he believed himself to be important.

  She could not create a scene by openly struggling. She hung back but he continued to march her towards the dance floor. What could she do? People were already smiling behind her back.

  Other couples were milling about, forming squares to begin the next dance and his hold relaxed. He must believe she’d submitted to his demands. Before he could stop her she removed her arm from his. “Thank you, your Grace, but I do not dance either. Please excuse me; I am certain you will find another young lady eager to accompany such an illustrious gentleman as yourself.”

  She was facing social ruin, but she didn’t care. No well brought up young lady abandoned their partner so rudely. Her childish dreams were shattered, the man she had thought the epitome of gallantry was no different from any other man. He was shallow and conceited, stuffed full of his own importance; determined to have his way regardless of her feelings. One dance with him would not miraculously turn her from an ugly duckling into a swan.

  Leaving him adrift on the edge of the ballroom, his humiliation noted by everyone, she quickly threaded her way through the throng and into the hall. There must be somewhere she could hide until she the ball was over?

  Perry felt the eyes of several tabbies boring into him. Forcing down his fury, he shrugged and smiled vaguely in their direction. “How unfortunate! Miss Bannerman did say she could not dance just yet—I had not realized how urgent the matter was. I shall wait for her to return and then we shall dance.”

  He strolled away, nodding and smiling as appropriate, but his eyes were scanning the crowds searching for the missing girl.

  How dare she make him look a fool?

  He had not wished to dance with her and had stepped in to save her from total humiliation. She repaid his gallant gesture by abandoning him. When he found her she would regret her foolhardy action.

  He shouldered his way through the press on the edge of the ballroom. An acquaintance hailed him. He ignored him.

  Where was the dratted girl?

  Downstairs there were retiring rooms. She might well be there. An unfortunate footman blocked his passage. He glared and the young man stepped aside so smartly his wig tipped over one eye. Perry strode on determined to find his quarry.

  The hall was all but deserted. After ten o’clock no one was admitted through these hallowed doors.

  Where could she hide?

  There were columns a plenty but none big enough for her to remain out of sight and read her book in peace. Perhaps she could claim she had a headache and spend the remainder of the evening in the ladies’ retiring chamber? These rooms should be easy enough to find as there would be a constant stream of young ladies in and out.

  They were on the ground floor. She slipped through the press and ran downstairs. She was in sight of her objective when, to her horror, the Duke materialised in front of her. He did not look at all pleased to see her; in fact, he looked furious. She stopped so suddenly her toes were crushed in her dance slippers. Not daring to meet his fulminating stare she dropped her eyes and clutched her reticule protectively to her chest.

  What could she say to avert this disaster?

  Her breathing steadied as a simple solution occurred to her. She dipped in a deep curtsy. “Are you very angry with me, sir? I tried to tell you: I do not like to dance and especially not in this ensemble. I am already a laughing stock; stumbling around the dance floor would only add to my unhappiness. I do most humbly beg your pardon if I have caused you any embarrassment.”

  A well-remembered hand, strangely without the regulation white glove, gently raised her. “No, Miss Bannerman, it is I who must apologise. I thought to help by my intervention; I can see now that I misunderstood your situation.”

  His kindness almost changed her mind about his arrogance. She had treated him shabbily. She was pretending to be something she was not and did not feel comfortable doing it. Scalding heat spread from her toes to her ears and she couldn’t bear to look at him.

  “You are distressed, my dear, I shall wait for you in the vestibule. Supper is about to be served, if I take you in that should serve to restore your reputation. Will you not look at me, Miss Bannerman?”

  Slowly she met his gaze and saw nothing but sympathy there. “I should not have run away but I am not comfortable in crowds, your Grace, and would much prefer to remain at home and read a book.” She glanced down at her hideous gown. “My mama selected this; one might have thought she wished to make my evening a disaster.”

  His brow creased for a second. Had she revealed too much of her real persona by her casual comment? Then his lips curved in the sweetest smile and for some reason she almost lost her balance. “It is not a happy choice, my dear, I should have realized someone of your sensitivity would never appear in such a garment willingly.”

  Good grief! He was agreeing she looked appalling; surely a man of his breeding would realize his role was to reassure, not compound the problem? She would not spend another moment in his company; he was everything she most disliked in a gentleman. So full of his own importance he thought he could say what he liked and it would give no offence. Her original opinion was correct

  “I’m sorry but I do not feel well enough to eat. I’m going to remain in here until it’s time to leave.” She should have thanked him for his kind offer, but the words remained unsaid. She whisked past him and into the retiring room before he could comment.

  Several young ladies looked up from their toilette at her sudden entrance. She clapped her hands over her mouth as if about to cast up her accounts. She raced into the smaller chamber, hoping they would think no more of her strange behaviour than that she had an attack of biliousness.

  Rose remained where she was until she heard the door open and shut several times. She had been correct in her assumption: the original three occupants had returned to the activities. This was only one of several chambers set aside for the use of ladies during the long, tedious evening. A bevy of maids drifted in and out, offering their services to stitch torn hems and re-pin elaborate coiffeurs.

  “Is there anything I can do to assist you, miss?”

  “I am not feeling at all the thing. Is
there anywhere I can sit quietly until my carriage arrives?”

  The maid smiled sympathetically. “Indeed there is. If you would care to come with me, I shall take you there. We often have young ladies needing to lie down; you will be nice and peaceful in there.”

  Rose followed the girl through a communicating door and found herself in a large chamber in which there were several uncomfortable looking chaise longues and half a dozen upright chairs. Presumably the hostesses did not wish anyone to linger here from choice.

  “Would it be possible to take a message to my sister, Miss Amelia Bannerman? I do not wish her to worry about my absence from the ballroom.”

  “I shall send a footman directly, miss. Is there anything you would like? I could fetch you a cool drink.”

  “Thank you, I need nothing except solitude.”

  The girl curtsied and left. The room was decidedly chilly as the meagre fire was not enough to warm the room. She should have asked for her cloak. She was going to be half-dead with cold by the end of the evening. Picking up one of the chairs, she carried it closer to the fire. At least there were sufficient candles to read without difficulty.

  Rose was engrossed in her book when the maid appeared. “Here, Miss Bannerman, I’ve brought your cloak.” The girl held up the item and then her cheery smile, and careful diction, slipped. “Mercy me, this ain’t the right one. I beg your pardon, I’ll fetch…”

  “No, this is my sister’s. We are twins, you know, and share everything. It will do very well. I shall exchange it for my own later. Thank you so much thinking of me. I shall be extremely comfortable now.” She held out a silver coin which was accepted gratefully.

  Thank goodness she’d had the forethought to bring some money with her.

  Enveloped in the warm folds of Millie’s cloak she settled down to read her novel. The title was—Pride and Prejudice—and was quite the best book she had ever encountered. There was something vaguely familiar about the characters, as if she had actually met them somewhere. No doubt this author based her characters on real people which was why they seemed known to her.

  Perry couldn’t remain lurking in this corridor as it would draw more unwanted attention. He would promenade with his niece as promised and then retreat to his club. On reaching the ballroom he could not find his sister, but his eye was caught by another young lady laughing gaily as she was twirled around the floor. If he was not mistaken, the girl was Miss Amelia Bannerman. Now she was more to his liking and not so maladroit as her twin. The fact that his rebuff had been unintentional and her sister’s behaviour was caused by her timidity and lack of confidence, somehow made it worse. To be deliberately insulted would have been a novel experience. His lips twitched. Indeed, he could not remember ever meeting a person, male or female, who had had the courage to do so.

  He strolled toward Miss Amelia. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. “Good heavens! You are the last person I expected to see here, your Grace. David told me you never come to Almack’s.”

  Perry smiled, his annoyance forgotten. Her sparkling wit enchanted him and he was attracted by her beauty. He bowed formally and she curtsied. “This is the supper dance, Miss Bannerman. Would you do me the honour?”

  She stepped in so her next remark would not be overheard by those all agog nearby. “Sir, you do not have to dance with me if you do not wish to. I have stood up for every one and would be perfectly content to sit this one out.”

  If he did not know better he would have thought she was not teasing him but in earnest. With a flourish he placed her hand on his arm. “Come, I shall endure for your sake.”

  The intricacies of the dance, the constant to-ing and fro-ing left little time for conversation and he heartily regretted his rash decision long before the music wailed to a halt. As he was leading his delightful partner into the supper room he came face-to-face with his sister. Her expression was comical.

  “Lady Foster, allow me to introduce you to Miss Amelia Bannerman. Miss Bannerman, this is my sister.” The two ladies curtsied, but neither seemed inclined to prolong the conversation. “We are going in to supper, Laura. Do you care to join us?”

  Before Laura could answer, his companion giggled delightfully. “I’ve been told the food is horrible. I shall not eat any of it, but I should be happy to sit with you, Lady Foster.”

  “Thank you, Miss Bannerman, but I am returning to the ballroom.”

  Something had seriously upset his normally even-tempered sibling. He was in for a bear garden jaw the next morning that was certain. A footman was waiting politely to speak to one of them. He raised his eyebrow.

  “I beg your pardon, your Grace, but I have a message for Miss Bannerman.”

  Perry knew what this would be. He watched his partner’s face turn from sunny to concerned. “I must go at once, your Grace; my sister is unwell. I am so sorry to abandon you. You are far better going to your club if you wish to enjoy your supper.”

  For the third time in one evening he was left to his own devices, but this time he was smiling. Had he finally found the woman he could bring himself to marry? Not only was Amelia Bannerman beautiful, she was witty and sweet-natured. He would break the habit of a lifetime and call tomorrow in order to further his acquaintance.

  Rose hid in the corner of the carriage hoping to divert her mother’s torrent of disapproval by pretending to be asleep. The ploy failed. Mama was not deceived.

  “Rosamond, your behaviour tonight was disgraceful. Not only did you destroy your own reputation, you have possibly ruined your sister’s chance of marrying the Duke of Essex.”

  Millie patted her mother’s hands. “Please, Mama, don’t upset yourself so, Rose has ruined nothing. Lord Bentley singled me out, that is enough to ensure I have a brilliant season.”

  “If you put it like that, my love, then I am somewhat mollified. But this does not excuse your sister’s appalling behaviour in front of the most important ladies of the ton.”

  “If I had been obliged to wear that hideous gown I would have hidden in the retiring room as well. The idea was unfair of you, Mama. One might have thought you did not wish Rose to enjoy herself.”

  “What an unkind thing to say to your mama, Amelia. I am deeply shocked by your suggestion. Did I not allow Rose to have lavender as she requested?”

  “You did, but insisted on so many flounces and bows, I looked ridiculous. I wanted a simple gown, with my figure and height it would have been ideal.”

  “Rosamond, I shall take no criticism from you. You are in disgrace. You will not accompany your sister on any further outings until you have redeemed yourself.”

  Glad the darkness hid her smile of delight, Rose settled back. “Very well, Mama. I deserve to be confined to the house. I shall endeavour to behave myself if ever you relent and allow me to come out with you again.” She hoped her words sounded suitably contrite.

  Should she sniff, blow her nose a little?

  No, that would be doing it too brown.

  She dozed. Being excused the torture of overcrowded, stuffy ballrooms for the foreseeable future was a reward she had not anticipated. The embarrassment of being dressed like a guy tonight had been worthwhile.

  Such a shame the man she’d carried in her heart all these years had proved to be nothing like the fantasy gentleman of her dreams. His image floated before her eyes. Yes, he was tall, had a striking countenance and filled his clothes to perfection, but this did not make up for his shortcomings. He was overbearing, dictatorial and stuffed full of pride.

  An almost irresistible desire to giggle bubbled up. If there was one man in the country entitled to think highly of himself then surely he was the one. Maybe she was being too hard on him; twice he had come to her rescue. He was certainly a kind man when it suited him. This showed another facet of his character, but reconciling the two sides was all but impossible.

  She kept her silence until safely in the apartment she shared with her sister. “Millie, what did Mama mean? In what way could I have ruined your chances wi
th the Duke?” She heard with growing incredulity what had taken place after her retreat. For him to have danced was indeed a revelation. “Did you like him, Millie?”

  “I’m not sure, Rose. He’s a charming gentleman and he listened to every word I said. But I must own to being puzzled by his reaction for I’m not famous for my wit, unlike you. I find him too formidable. He’s not someone I could ever be comfortable with.”

  “I should think not. You need a quite different sort of gentleman. You must not worry about it, dearest; I doubt very much you will be obliged to spend time with him again.”

  “And you have what you wanted, Rose, for in future you may remain at home. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed myself. I danced every dance and several of the gentlemen have promised to call tomorrow.”

  “Is there any particular one you especially wish to see?”

  “No one; I had hoped to find my true love tonight. I’m certain I should know him at once—our eyes would meet and that would be enough. But I shall not despair; tonight was my first appearance. I have dozens more invitations and I am bound to meet him before the end of the season, don’t you think?”

  Rose lost all desire to laugh. She had behaved deplorably, thinking only of herself. Had she not already decided the family needed her to replace the missing fortune? How could she do this if she was to remain at home? How could she persuade her mother to relent?

  Soon the rhythmic breathing on the far side of the huge bed indicated her sister was asleep. Easing back the covers, Rose slipped out and snatched up her thick dressing gown. The fire was still alight; at least their lack of funds had not reduced them to freezing cold bed chambers as yet.

  She curled up in her favourite chair. An hour later, she was chilled to the marrow but had come up with a solution. She would convince Mama to allow her to attend the smaller gatherings: the musical evenings and soirees. This was the sort of event where she was likely to meet a gentleman who would suit her requirements.