“You?” she said before she could think and stop herself.

The man looked taken aback. “Do I... know you... young lady?” he finally responded, looking her up and down as though desperately attempting to find something he found familiar about her.

Antoinette blushed. “Well, no. Not exactly. I just... I saw you speaking with my father the other day and have been curious as to who you are.”

“Antoinette!” her mother whispered harshly.

“My apologies,” she said with a hasty curtsy as she followed her mother out of the room.

Once behind closed doors, her mother let out an exasperated sigh. “Antoinette, this is exactly what I am referring to. You cannot speak in that manner to men with whom you've had no formal introduction.”

“I am sorry mother, but I could not help myself. I have wondered about that man since I first met him and father was so very secretive about him,” Antoinette replied.

“You must... Simply please remember that you are a lady,” her mother said with another sigh. She reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her daughter's ear. “I know it is hard for you, but you are learning, and doing so well. Please, continue to make an effort.”

Antoinette nodded.

Heading back out, they saw Lord Byrd speaking with this strange gentleman. Antoinette once again noted that his clothes seemed a little cheaper than those worn by the men her family usually entertained. Yet he was, as he had been that day, impeccably groomed, and standing with his head high, like only a real gentleman could.

Her father looked up as the women walked towards the men. “Dinah, Antoinette, I would like you to meet Mr. Perry,” Lord Byrd began. “Mr. Perry, this is my wife and daughter.”

Mr. Perry bowed. “Very pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“Antoinette, as we had agreed you will have a few suitors to see before we can conclude who is the best option. Mr. Perry is one such suitor, and we would like for you to spend the afternoon with him,” her father explained.

Antoinette was not quite sure what to make of this arrangement. This man certainly did not meet her parents' usual lofty expectations, but her father had chosen him as an option and her mother was smiling and nodding, so he couldn't be a poor choice. Nevertheless... “Mr.” Perry? That was a far cry from a Duke!

Antoinette curtsied and smiled. “It would be my pleasure.”

Sitting with Mr. Perry in the garden, they sipped tea, neither of them were sure of what to say. Although there was silence, Antoinette did not mind it so much. He was the sort of brooding, unassuming young man she read about in her romance novels. Of course, the brooding, unassuming young man was usually a Prince of sorts, but still...

Their eyes locked and she glanced away, a little ashamed of how harshly she was judging him. He was a human being, after all! But didn't the conventions of courtship dictate she ought to judge him? It was the right, and normal, thing to do. But it felt so wrong to her when she caught herself doing it...

“I know I am not what you are familiar with,” Mr. Perry began with a slightly nervous tone to his voice.

Antoinette shook her head. “Not at all... I mean, you are nothing like the sort of men I am familiar with. But everyone deserves a chance.”

“Is that so?” Mr. Perry laughed nervously. “I bet you're asking yourself why your father chose a simple, plain young man as one of your suitors?”

Antoinette nodded. “Actually yes, I am,” she admitted.

“I have done some business with him in the past which has been successful. I am an international trader, you see. Spices, ivory, steel, anything Britain needs and has. As of late my deals have not been so successful, but I am building up, thanks to your father's investments,” Mr. Perry explained.

“That sounds... interesting...” Antoinette said.

“What are you really thinking?” Mr. Perry asked.

“Why would you decide to start courting when you are doing poorly, when you could have married so well, and so easily, when business was going well?” she asked.

Mr. Perry chuckled a little bit and blushed. “Well... I guess I am too busy when I am doing well, and too poor when I have the time.”

“And what made you think I would be interested in a man who is too busy half the time and too poor the rest?” Antoinette asked with a smile, to show she was only teasing.

“I did not, I am just seeing how lucky I am,” he replied.

“How lucky do you think you are? Or do you think that marrying an investor's daughter might sweeten him to forget your debts?” she asked.

He shook his head. “I saw you at the wedding the other day. You looked quite lovely and danced with so many. But... they were so well-dressed, so elegant. I felt it would be an insult to you to dance with me, in front of so many others, after you had been dancing with such high-status men.”

Antoinette shook her head back, “Not at all. It is always a pleasure to dance with a man. I feel one can learn much of a man from what he says, how he dances, and what he likes.”

“Is that so? You could read me like an open book?” Mr. Perry laughed. “I am doomed!”

Antoinette laughed back. “Do not worry so much. What I have read so far, I like.”

They locked eyes from across the table. Although he was a little quiet, a little young, a little nervous, and definitely no Duke, Antoinette couldn't help but feel there was something more to Mr. Perry. She had not noticed it before—indeed, she had not looked into his eyes before—but there was an intensity, a passion there, which she could not quite make sense of. Not yet.

“I would very much like to see you again,” Mr. Perry said with a polite smile.

“I would like that very much as well,” she said. “And I am not just being polite.”

Mr. Perry blushed again and, breaking the eye contact, had a sip of his tea.

She could not stop thinking of Mr. Perry all night, and through to the next morning, even as she prepared for Duke Godwin's visit. There was something about Mr. Perry that was just... interesting. She would not say it made her heart flutter, or made her giddy. But it definitely made her want to know more about him, and see more of him. And it also definitely interfered with her sleep.

She could barely close her eyes without wondering what it meant to have someone on your mind so much, yet to be so sure you did not love them. If it meant anything at all...

* * *

If her afternoon with Mr. Perry had raised even the smallest of doubts, Lucy's letter on the morning of the visit immediately quelled them.

“My Dearest Antoinette,

I am overcome with joy that you have such a fine suitor! Although a man of status is not to my tastes, nor reasonably within my prospects, I understand how thrilling it must be to live a real life romance, just like the ones in our books! And do tell me everything that happens, I will not tell a soul about any misbehaviours you engage in.

Yours in jest,

L.F.”

In jest indeed! Antoinette had half a mind to write back to Lucy, telling her off for suggesting that Antoinette would be so irresponsible as to engage in “misbehaviours.” But she knew her friend only meant it as a joke, and could not think of how to respond in a way which would not lead to further joking and teasing.

But Lucy was absolutely right. Duke Alexander Godwin was an amazing opportunity for her, and not one she should take lightly. Someone like Mr. Perry may be interesting, but she ought not waste time on him if she wanted to marry a Duke and live out her fairytale romance.

With renewed confidence, Antoinette carefully selected the best accessories for her new dress and dressed herself. She knew she would not see Duke Godwin until the afternoon, so she put on a light shawl to protect her dress, and decided to leave the final touches of her makeup and jewellery until the very last minute.

Then, she attempted to busy herself reading. Or sewing. Or singing.

But nothing worked. He was far too much on her mind. Instead, she decided it would be best for her to walk in the garden. At least that way she would expend some energy, and perhaps be more focused and better behaved when time came for her time with Duke Godwin.

Everything had to be perfect, herself included.

Re-entering the house, she looked at the clock. The walk had whiled away some time, and there were two hours to finish getting dressed. Although she was meticulous in her work, and created a true work of art on her body with her jewellery and makeup, when she was ready there was yet an hour more of waiting to pass. She sighed and sat by her window, watching the lane outside where the odd carriage rolled by on its way to the village or back.

Antoinette felt goosebumps rise on her skin when she heard the knock at the door. Why could she not calm her excitable nature? She was sure that a walk in the garden would ease her, but after only a couple of hours indoors she was already full of energy.

She took a deep breath and fought to retain her composure as she walked downstairs. Duke Godwin and her father were standing and talking in front of the fireplace, but both heads turned when she walked in. Her father smiled proudly, and yet she could see a faint hint of sadness in his eyes too, upon seeing his daughter dressed as a full lady. Duke Godwin's eyebrows raised and he drew a sharp breath upon seeing her much more finely and carefully dressed up, in much lighter, tighter, more fashionable clothes than at the wedding.

“I did not know Antoinette had a more elegant twin,” Duke Godwin joked.

Antoinette was not sure whether to be flattered that he had noticed her efforts, or insulted that he considered her usual attire less elegant. Did that mean he considered her inelegant? She dismissed the thought and curtsied. “Good afternoon, Duke Godwin. I am ready.”

“Excellent,” Duke Godwin replied. “Shall we go?”

“Go?” Antoinette asked.

“I thought your father would have mentioned. We are touring a local market. They have all manner of wonderful handmade trinkets and delectable goods, and they are sure to be producing some Christmas fare by now,” he explained.

“That is a little unorthodox,” Antoinette replied, glancing at her father.

“You will be escorted,” her father replied, in a tone which suggested that he trusted and valued the Duke enough to give him this option.

“Besides, I simply cannot stand to be cooped up indoors all day,” Duke Godwin said. “Indoors is where all the formalities take place. The letters, the meetings... The outdoors is the complete opposite, and a fantastic opportunity to replenish my mental faculties in preparation for the next day.”

Antoinette felt her heart leap a little again. A kindred spirit! Could this man be any more perfect? “I too prefer to be outside,” she replied.

Duke Godwin raised an eyebrow. “Not very ladylike, is it? Should you not want to be indoors, with the children, tending the hearth?” For a moment Antoinette wondered whether he was teasing her again. But his voice and expression said he was definitely quite serious.

“With all due respect, Your Grace, I would prefer to be outdoors, with the children, perhaps gathering flowers or shopping,” Antoinette explained.

“Oh, I should hope you would keep yourself too busy for such frivolities,” he replied.

“Then why invite me to the market at all?” Antoinette asked.

“Because I wish to go,” Duke Godwin said.

At first Antoinette was irked. But she knew she needed to make an effort. Reminding herself that he was of a different world to hers, and would think and act differently, she simply smiled and nodded before they said their goodbyes and departed for the market.

Duke Godwin was the polar opposite of Mr. Perry, who, along with her frustration at the Duke, slowly left her mind over the course of the afternoon. He was just so busy, and loud, and proud. Naturally, to a woman so full of life as Antoinette both of them seemed a little shy and reserved. However only Mr. Perry seemed too shy, whereas Duke Godwin's shyness was simply endearing.

Antoinette enjoyed their walk amidst the market stalls, where hints of Christmas had already begun to appear amidst the Autumnal fare.

“It is always so lovely when the first mistletoe and nativities are brought out, is it not?” she asked Duke Godwin.

Duke Godwin nodded in agreement. “Indeed it is. It tells me that the season is truly beginning.” He suddenly stopped in front of a stall. Antoinette stopped also and looked at the wares. It was top to bottom displaying nothing but beautiful purses. “Come now, let's get into the Christmas spirit,” Duke Godwin insisted. “Pick a bag, any you like, and it shall be my gift to you for today.”

Antoinette was not quite sure what to do. On the one hand, she had never been offered anything by anyone but her own family before. But, on the other hand, she knew that Duke Godwin was a very wealthy man, and suspected that it would be insulting to turn down a gift from him.

“I suppose I could do with a new purse,” she said, forcing herself to select just the one from the stall. They were all so beautiful! So well made! Each one its own work of art, each one worth owning.

But Duke Godwin could see her eyes wandering up and down. “Nonsense. Pick as many as you like. The Good Lord knows I can afford the whole stall.”

Antoinette blushed. “Well, in that case...”

She could not finish. Her eyes widened and she let out a shriek as she spotted an out of control coach, the horse foamed at the mouth and charged down the road, barely missing the next stall over. It barreled straight towards them.