Lady Virginia and the Dowager Countess of Deyonne prepared for their trip to Carvingham Estate. The earl and the new countess would arrive with the rest of the guests on the day of the wedding. Lady Virginia and Lady Jane sat side-by-side in the carriage as Lady Jane told them of stories of her beloved.

Ginny, while happy for her cousin, was finding it difficult to keep listening to such stories. She just wished they could talk about anything except love, but that wasn't going to happen.

"Jane, darling, Ginny looks tired. She's not a good traveler, and it's been a while since she's undertaken such a journey. Perhaps we should try and rest. We still have some time before we reach our destination," the dowager countess smiled at her niece as she spoke.

"Yes, Aunt Sophia. Poor Gin. I keep forgetting that you've been in mourning, and here I am chatting on about goodness knows what. I promise I will keep silent."

Ginny rubbed her temples. She had a headache. The last few days had been overwhelming, and her disposition didn't seem up to the challenge that a change of scenery would bring. But what else could she do? It would be churlish to decline Jane's invitation. However, poor Jane was a chatterbox at the best times, but now that she had wedding fever in her system, she spoke incessantly.

"Look, Aunt Sophia and Gin, isn't it a marvelous view?"

While unladylike to peer out of a carriage window, they couldn't help but gasp at the beauty of the house unfolded as they rode up the entrance. It was breathtaking.

"Oh my, this is fabulous, Jane. I don't think I've ever seen such a sight before," Ginny's mouth fell open.

"Wait until you see inside. It's said the duke is the richest man in England…"

"Jane, that's uncouth to speak of such things," her aunt interrupted.

"But why, Aunt Sophia? It's common knowledge, and you'll get to meet the duke's heir, the Earl of Collingford. Remember, I mentioned that he and William are the best of friends and cousins. Like brothers really. Imagine it Ginny, if you and James got married."

That was enough to bring Ginny back to reality.

"Please Jane, you must promise me there will be no matchmaking. I cannot open myself to that again."

"I'm sorry for speaking out of turn. It was childish of me."

The carriage came to a halt and each lady was escorted off the carriage.

"William will arrive tomorrow. It will be wonderful for all of us to be together. Lennox, is the duke up for visitors?" Jane asked the butler.

"Indeed, m'lady, he has insisted that you and your guests call upon him. He is in the study."

Lennox led the way to the study as Ginny was left open-mouthed at the décor of the entrance. She had never seen such opulence before. Lennox opened the door of the study to announce the visitors.

"Your Grace, Lady Jane Percival, Lady Virginia Croft, and the Dowager Countess of Deyonne."

"Your Grace, are you quite well?" Jane rushed to the elderly man who sat by the window, and she knelt beside him fixing his blanket.

"All the better for seeing you, Lady Jane. You are a sight for sore eyes. Now, young lady, come closer to me," the duke wiggled a finger at Ginny.

"Your Grace. Thank you for the invitation. Your home is beautiful." Lady Virginia was still trying to take in the opulence of the room. The ornaments and paintings and decor were a feast for the senses.

"My wife's doing. I can take none of the credit.” He paused, as he fondly remembered his late wife. He then continued the conversation. “Your father was the Earl of Deyonne. I met him once. He was a fine man."

"Thank you, Your Grace, you are very kind," Ginny stepped away as the duke motioned for the dowager countess to approach.

"Your Grace, we met many years ago. Before my marriage. I was Lady Sophia Firth."

Ginny watched as her usually calm and collected mother blushed in the presence of the duke. Was there some secret assignation? Ginny saw the way Jane was watching them.

"Did you have a love affair, Aunt Sophia?"

Ginny gasped at her cousin’s forward question, but the duke just laughed.

"Lady Jane, that is no way to speak to your aunt. Besides, I am old enough to be her father. We were all young once; you young people tend to forget that. Now go and tell Lennox to bring tea for Lady Deyonne and me. We have much catching up to do. You young girls run along now."

As soon as they were alone, the two young girls began to laugh.

"I didn't know Aunt Sophia knew the duke. No wonder he was so keen to see her. Apparently, he doesn't really like visitors. Let me show you to your room."

They ran up the ornate stairs and kept giggling as they ran along the landing. Ginny's shoe slipped off, and as she put her shoe on, she kept trying to run to catch up with Jane but found herself bumping into a man who had seemed to come from nowhere.

"Goodness gracious, what the devil are you playing? This is not some common play yard," the man said as Ginny stopped in her tracks. He was very tall, and she felt like such a young girl looking up at him.

"It was an accident," she said tersely.

He had no manners, not even asking if she was all right.

"Perhaps you shouldn't be running about and act more like a lady. What if the duke had been up here? He's an elderly man, you know." He was so haughty.

"The duke is in his study, and while I've only just met him, I think he'd have at least asked me if I was in any way injured. He is a gentleman."

"James, stop being so ghastly to my cousin. You two are supposed to become best friends seeing as you are standing for the bride and groom. Jane, please meet James Pelham, Earl of Collingford. James, this is my dearest cousin, Lady Virginia Croft or Ginny to her nearest and dearest."

"Apologies, Lady Virginia, I didn't know who you were."

"And if you did, you wouldn't have called me childish while it was what you were thinking?" Ginny turned to Jane, "I need to rest if I may."

Jane led her away, and Ginny looked back to see James standing there, watching them. She couldn't read the expression on his face, but there was something about him that annoyed her. Why did she react so harshly to the earl? Ginny felt her mouth go dry as her heart raced. What strange feelings the thought of him had given her.

When they were in the comfort of Ginny’s room, Jane asked, "Gin, what do you think of James?"

"I think he's the rudest man I have ever met. Imagine behaving like that to a guest. I cannot believe he is related to the duke."

"Don't be angry, Gin. He is quite amiable. William says he gets so tired of the mothers throwing their daughters at him. I don't think any woman has reacted to him quite the way you have. You are very flushed. I hope you are not coming down with some fever. I don't want you to miss out on the activities here. Your lady's maid should be here by now, if not, I'll send in Taylor. Goodness, you are a strange mix of colors, Gin, you've gone very pale now…" And just as she spoke, Ginny collapsed to the floor.

"Help me! James, are you still there?" Jane shouted out as James came running in, hotly followed by the under butler. James swooped Ginny up in his arms and lay her on her bed.

"I hope it wasn't anything I said," he turned to Jane.

"No, dear James. She hasn't been feeling very well. Thank you for your assistance. Here is her maid now. Dawson, Lady Virginia just collapsed. Is she prone…" Jane continued as James left.

In his shock of her banging into him, he hadn't taken in her delicate features and the way her golden blonde hair framed her face. She had glided away from him, and it was a strange sensation for a woman not to swoon before him. He knew he was considered handsome and this, coupled with the fact that he would one day inherit the richest dukedom, made him a prey to all the young, unmarried women.

He had tired of the young woman batting their eyelids at him, but Lady Virginia was different. Perhaps it was her illness that precluded her from his charms, but he had to admit, he didn't like not being found attractive. He had tried not to be condescending, but it wasn't a natural state for him.

He waited for Jane to make an appearance but then changed his mind. He didn't want to seem as if he was fishing for information. Instead, he returned to his room to do some accounts. Usually, he was fastidious in his work, but he couldn't concentrate at all. How strange. No woman had captured his attention like this before, not even Cecilia, to whom he was engaged. He didn't like being vulnerable. He needed to clear his head, and the only way was to go for a ride.