He’d never heard that response before. Naturally, a lady must always be asked if she wished to make a gentleman’s acquaintance, but the question was a mere formality. Lady Thalia had answered as if she were truly being consulted.
The duchess’s lips twitched as if she thought the same thing. “My lady, allow me to present the Duke of Kendal. Kendal, Lady Thalia Trevor.”
Ah, one of Somerset’s children. The coloring made more sense now. Except for her eldest brother, Hawksworth, perhaps they all had it. Her eyes, however, were a different color blue from that of her sisters whom he’d met in Town last autumn. But what was she doing here? Kendal had heard the old duke kept his unmarried daughters locked up in Somerset castle. Had the man died? Not that it would be a loss, but surely Kendal would have heard about such an event.
She sank gracefully into a curtsey. “Your Grace.”
He took the hand she offered. “My lady, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
Her purchases, which the maid was now carrying, gave him an opportunity to suggest a way to spend more time with her. “I would be happy to escort you to the rest of the booths and help carry your packages.”
She gave her maid a guilty look. “I have bought too much.”
“Not at all, my lady.” The maid came as close to glaring at him as a servant could. “If we can find one of the footmen, I’m sure he’d be happy to take these to the coach.”
“What a good idea.” Lady Thalia glanced at the duchess. “Is it possible to find a footman?”
The duchess raised one arm and waggled her fingers. A moment later, two footmen ran up.
“Please take Lady Thalia’s packets to one of my coaches and mark them so that we know which ones are hers.” The duchess turned to her cousin and companion. “Aurora, you are responsible for seeing they are moved to the Duchess of Melbrough’s coaches before we leave.”
“I shall ensure it is done.” She took out a notebook and scribbled in it.
“There, it is all settled.” The duchess smiled serenely. “I shall leave you two young people to enjoy the fair.”
CHAPTER 2
“THANK YOU, YOUR GRACE.” Thalia was grateful the duchess had settled the problem of the purchases so easily. She had never had the opportunity to visit a fair, and she truly did wish to visit the rest of the stands.
“Think nothing of it, my dear.” Her Grace had a satisfied smile on her face. “As I am certain your aunt told you, your contributions to the market will be appreciated.” The duchess turned to Kendal. “I will count on you to bring Lady Thalia back to the inn in time for tea.”
“Upon my word.” He inclined his head, and one dark curl fell forward.
Thalia wanted to brush it back, but he did it. Somehow she felt cheated. Just the thought caused heat to rush to her cheeks, and she tried to fight it down.
She had always thought her eldest brother, the Marquis of Hawksworth, was the most handsome gentleman she had ever met. Her brothers-in-law were very handsome as well. But the Duke of Kendal was even more beautiful. Could one call a man beautiful? Perhaps not. More handsome? Kendal had the same dark hair as her brother. His shoulders and height were similar, but his eyes were a lovely gray that changed from dark to light, depending on how he looked at her. And he had been gazing at her a lot. Could he be the one she was searching for? She had seen her sisters and brothers with their spouses, and she wanted a love match more than anything.
Giving herself an inner shake, Thalia took herself to task.
He held out his arm. “Shall we go?”
For a moment, she did not know what to do. The only arms she had held were her brothers’. Yet when she placed her fingers on his arm, it felt right, as if she had been waiting for this. “Yes. There are so many more booths to visit.”
His grin brought out a dimple in his left cheek, and she felt the heat rise in her face again. As they ambled to a nearby stand, he matched his steps to hers. “How does this fair compare to the others you have visited?”
“I have not been to any others.” After listening to her married sisters talk about what other young ladies were allowed to do, Thalia did not want Kendal to know how ignorant she was, but there was no point in hiding it. “My older sisters were in Bath last year, but my younger brothers, sister and I remained at Roseland, one of my father’s properties near there. The year before that we were at my uncle Melbrough’s main estate in Wiltshire. To the best of my knowledge, neither area had fairs, and I have not been allowed to go to town on market day.”
“Never?” His head tilted, and a line formed between his brows.
“No.” She saw a man selling bolts of fabric. “May we look at the cloth?”
“Of course.” He smiled. “I am yours to command.”
