A Rake, A Spinster, And An Arrangement

Chapter 4 : An Arrangement (Ep1)

Hermione's arm was looped with Ginny's as they approached the ball at Abbott Hall, Harry a step behind them. She still felt a bit in a haze, remembering the words from Lady Whistledown's latest society papers.

Instead of Hermione simply being forgotten, a bit of old news, it seemed as though Lady Whistledown had become fixated on her, obsessed with discovering some scandal, or creating one if need be. It was worrying Hermione, about what might be written next, about what truth might be found.

It made her nervous to go out about, to be seen. What if... what if someone knew? What if someone realized the truth about her? What if... What if she was found out? What if they sent for her?

It would be within their rights, after all. Hermione was no longer a child, was now considered an adult, but still... She had no freedom, not really. At the end of the day... society would make the decision on her; she must follow the natural order of the world, and if she were still to be unmarried, when the truth came out...

Harry had a rather optimistic view on things, which was unsurprising, given how they had been raised, but Hermione had to be practical. She had no other choice, given her life circumstances.

She had to find a husband, before Lady Whistledown wrote something about her that could not be taken back, that drew the wrong attention to her. She had to find someone that would allow her her freedom. She had to find someone with status and wealth. She had to find protection. And she had to do it tonight.

Before the next bit of Lady Whistledown's Society Papers came out.

"Look," said Ginny, looking up at the glittering lights above them. It truly was a bit of wonder and magic, but Hermione could not be delighted in wonder, not when she looked around, and all she saw was... nothing. No one was looking her way. No one was even interested in her. Not even slightly. At least there was no sight of Ron.

Small mercies, perhaps.

There was in attendance, however, the Duke of Wiltshire. He had been insufferable at dinner a few nights earlier in the week, and she had not had to suffer his presence ever since, as Hermione had not left the house, even to promenade, since the night at the Opera. Unfortunately, the Duke was still in residence here in London.

If he had no intention of marrying, and he had no intention of performing any of his Lordly duties, then why was he even here to begin with? Gin had insisted that he was doing something with his father's estate, and after the disastrous dinner, had urged Hermione to remember that boys tended to have their own problems, which they often considered to be the most important...

Hermione had let Ginny's words slide in one ear, then out the other. Whatever his problems were, he had land, a title, and vast amounts of money. His problems could not be so large that he treated others with such disdain and outright hatred. He was no better than anyone else.

Still... she could not look away from him, for some odd reason. His hair was tied back from his face, a first of what she had seen, and when he turned the right way, it simply looked as though his hair was cut much like Harry's, although much less messy than her brother kept his hair.

In fact, he looked almost handsome, standing there with ease, as though he was born into this, to Lord over a party... well, of course he was. He was a Duke. He was what made society, after all.

He looked around as though everyone else was a peasant. His shoulders were back, his jaw set, and his eyes... they kept thinning out as they flickered around the party.

And then, he looked towards her.

Hermione knew she had been caught staring, but she did not look away, instead lifting her chin as she looked back at him. He raised his glass towards her, in greeting, perhaps, and then took a sip. He then looked away, and Hermione saw another young debutante approach him, her mother at her side.