Lady Louisa thought on the solicitor's words as she walked quietly back down the path with Bess and towards home. She couldn’t help but feel a deep rock in the pit of her stomach.
Of course, she knew her brother would marry one day, start a family of his own, and in essence have a life of his own. She had never thought to be separated from him by a whole ocean. They had been so close as children and up until his time in the regulars.
She had wished so dearly for that relationship to restart after his return. When Colton struggled so with readjusting into society with his injuries, she feared she had lost him altogether.
A newfound hope had grown with his love for Abigail. With her, Colton was able to be a bit of himself again. Lady Louisa had seen the change over their time spent together. She was sure she would again have that close friend and brother she had grown up with.
Now, they were gone, and quite possibly permanently. It made Lady Louisa feel so utterly alone in the world. A part of her always knew something like this would happen. First, it was her best friend Isabella. Now it seemed that Colton was out of her life too.
Though Lady Louisa and Isabella still wrote and kept in touch, things were different now. After all, she had a growing family to take care of.
Now her brother had gone so far away from her that even written correspondence wasn’t a very reliable tool.
She had accepted the fact that she was not one to find a match of her own. She didn’t have the looks or personality to stand out in the eyes of any suitor of the ton. She had never minded that, believing that she would always have her family around her.
That no longer seemed as sure a possibility as she once thought. What would she do if she found herself without family? Naturally, her mother wouldn’t be around forever. Isabella would be happy to take her in, but would she ask that burden of a friend?
Life seemed to be getting increasingly dreary with every step she took. So lost in her thoughts, Lady Louisa didn’t hear the sound of a carriage coming. It was only when Bess grabbed her arm and yanked her to the side that she was awakened from her thoughts.
A basket gig with a single rider was coming down the lane. Lady Louisa looked up in time to see the rider, and her heart sank even farther. It was clear he was also coming to a stop.
“We have to stop meeting like this, Miss Bess,” the Duke said, parking his gig on the side of the road and coming down to greet the two ladies.
First Bess, at Lady Louisa’s side, looked very confused having never met the man in the first place, let alone along a roadside. Luckily Lady Louisa had the sense to intercede before anything could be said on the matter.
“Your Grace, I must confess that last week when we met on the road, I was a bit frazzled and may not have given you accurate information,” Lady Louisa said, doing her best to hide her embarrassment over the fact.
“I’m not sure I understand,” the Duke said with a furrow of his black brows as he looked between the two ladies.
“Well, it’s very hard to explain,” Lady Louisa said with a nervous laugh. “I was just so flustered; I might not have actually given you my name. I am visiting my aunt, but when you made assumptions about my status I didn’t want to be rude and correct them, so I gave you my lady’s maid’s Christian name,” Lady Louisa did her best to explain as she motioned over to Bess next to her.
He looked between the two for the briefest of moments. Lady Louisa would have rather buried herself in the ground right there at the edge of the road than to have to explain her silly action to the man.
“That does make some sense then,” he finally said, rubbing his hand along his chin as he thought it over.
Lady Louisa looked up at him in utter surprise at his words. She was caught in the deep green of his eyes.
“When I came to call on Lady Hendrickson, she mentioned a niece visiting. I couldn’t believe that both the lady of the house and one of the household could have a visiting relative at the same time.”
“You must beg my pardon, Your Grace,” Lady Louisa said. “I didn’t mean to confuse you. I was just startled at our last meeting."
“Well, it is as much my fault as yours. In fact, you must allow me to beg your pardon again for last we met on this road. It was a rakish thing for me to do, running you out of the lane.”
“Perhaps I might make it up to you by offering you and Miss Bess,” he said motioning to Lady Louisa’s company, “a ride for the remainder trip home.”
“That is very kind, Your Grace. Normally I would respectfully decline, but since we are coming on late in the day, it might be nice to hurry our way home.”
Both ladies climbed into the back of the basket and seated themselves while the Duke took his place at the reins again. It was a small gig and had scarcely enough room for the three to avoid touching each other in such close quarters.
The Duke was sure, however, to make the ride as slow and smooth as possible on a dirt road. While they started their journey, Lady Louisa wondered how her aunt and cousin would feel about her arrival in the Duke’s gig. It was not what they would want, and went against her promise to help them.
On the other hand, the man had considered her a servant at first. Plainly her cousin would see no threat in her. If anything, Lady Louisa could use the opportunity to gain stronger ties between the Duke and Mentheith House, thereby increasing her cousin’s chances.
“My aunt told me that you have spent many years abroad?” Lady Louisa asked.
“Yes,” he responded as he kept his hands steady on the reins. “For the most part, I was in the Indies.”
“It must have been very exotic,” Lady Louisa commented as she studied his still bronzed stature.
“I have to say I did enjoy it greatly. I rather thought of it as home. I’ve only returned upon my Uncle’s request. I dare say he didn’t love the land as much as I did and was insistent we both return.”
“How very unfortunate for you, though. Do you plan to return to the Indies?”
“I suppose it would all depend?”
“Depend on what, Your Grace?” Lady Louisa asked, not understanding.
“Well, surely you know why my uncle convinced me to return. I suspect the whole county has talked over the matter. I am in want of a wife, apparently. I would assume it is because my own parents were only five years past my current age when they departed from this world. It has caused my uncle to pressure me into producing an heir.”
“Oh, I see.” Lady Louisa said, trying not to blush at the intimate conversation. Though if the whole county knew this fact, perhaps it wasn’t that intimate at all.
“So, it will depend on my wife and her willingness to travel to the Indies or be left behind, I suppose.”
“You don’t seem too happy about it, Your Grace. Though I am not an expert on the matter, only knowing what I have seen of the season in London, most find their years of courtship and searching for a match very exciting.”
“No, I must confess I am not thrilled on the matter at all,” the Duke agreed. “It’s a very wasteful use of time if you ask me. If I were to meet a match in life, I would not be opposed to it, but I don't currently find myself in need of a female companion. Now I feel as if I am the one being hunted than on the hunt myself.”
“Well, I cannot deny the truth of that statement, Your Grace,” Lady Louisa agreed. “You are a single, able-bodied, high-titled gentleman. I expect you will get more than your fair share of mothers inflicting their daughters upon you.”
“And what of you, Lady Louisa?” the Duke asked, turning to face her head on as they started to clear the woods.
“Should I expect your mother shoving you my way? Should I prepare now for your impending hunt?”
“No, not at all!” Lady Louisa responded quickly.
She saw his shocked look. Though of course, he wouldn’t expect her to agree with his teasing, obviously a fast and loud denial wasn’t what he had in mind either.
“I only mean, Your Grace,” Lady Louisa quickly corrected. “That I am sure you have many fine choices already before you. It wouldn’t even be worth throwing my number in the hat. Plus, my mother has chosen to stay behind in London, so I am without a matriarch to encourage me to do so.”
“Well there is always Lady Hendrickson,” the Duke responded as he turned back to the road, satisfied with her explanation. “I believe she is primed and ready for the task.”
“With two single daughters of her own, I suspect my aunt will have ample choices to steer you into her grasp,” Lady Louisa said back in teasing fashion.
“Rightly so. Perhaps though,” the Duke asked as a thought came to his mind. “Perhaps I could turn to you for rescue when the lioness seems too much? After all, you have proclaimed no interest in me. If you were willing, I would be most grateful if I could take refuge behind you from time to time?” Rowland said with a sideways wink.
Lady Louisa seemed to consider this for a moment. She wasn’t sure how happy her aunt would be if the Duke turned to her for a confiding friendship during his time looking for a wife. That being said, it was also a more significant connection to be used for her cousins. Perhaps she could use her influence on the Duke to direct him in the right path.
Her head seemed to rattle with the wheels of the gig as she let these thoughts turn in her mind. It was so difficult to build plots for connections when it was not in her nature at all. She truly was not the matchmaker at heart, finding these games all too much for her taste.
None the less, she would do whatever seemed right to see to her aunt's happiness. If she were to influence the Duke toward them, her aunt might then forgive the rift in the family and let bygones be bygones.
“I didn’t mean to embarrass you or impose,” the Duke said after a few moments passed without Lady Louisa answering.
“No, not at all. I would be happy to help, Your Grace, in any way possible. I must admit my mother was rather hopeful that I find a gentleman who would be interested in me. I would be happy to allow you to, how did you say it? Take refuge behind me in order to protect you from the Matriarchs if you don't mind me writing to my mother and telling her that I have had conversations with the Duke of Rowland.”
"Well, it seems to be the perfect situation for the both of us then," Rowland said, much satisfied with his new acquaintance.