“Let’s hope she hasn’t got a litter on board yet.” She sat down opposite him with a smaller plate of food. “You haven’t been down here since you were a lad, Your Grace.”
“I know, I was just thinking that I should do it more often. What is it about illicit midnight snacks that make them taste so good?” he said, popping a bit of crumbly cheese in his mouth. The sharp salty taste was delicious with a bit of the sweet plum cake.
“I’m sure I don’t know, Your Grace, but Mr. Creighton will be shocked when I tell him, and if Mr. Le Bow should learn of it, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Le Bow?”
“The chef, Your Grace. He will be very French about it.”
Robert shrugged and took a deep draught of the ale. “She should keep the rats down for you anyway.” He polished off the rest of the cheese and plum cake and drained the tankard. “Thank you, Mrs. Holloway, I’ll bid you goodnight, or should I say good morning? I’ll expect a report on young madam there and how she is earning her keep.” He rose and bowed to his housekeeper.
“You want me to rouse Mr. Bridges for you, Your Grace?”
“No, I’ll manage. I’m feeling very independent tonight, Mrs. Holloway. Tell Bridges not to wake me before ten at the earliest.”
“Right you are, Your Grace.”
He gave Emerald another scratch round her ears and under her chin and made his way up to bed, feeling a little better about the evening than he had before, his resolve to pursue Miss Watson firmer than ever.
Chapter Five
Sarah was sittingin the parlor sifting through the cards, gifts, and bouquets of flowers delivered that morning from her bevy of admirers. She noted that there was nothing from the duke. Not surprising after her performance last night. He would never speak to her again, of course. Her temper had got the better of her.
The gall of the man, to spend a week pursuing another woman (also possessed of a large fortune), and only when his suit clearly didn’t prosper to attempt to lure me into making an idiot of myself over him. Again...
Daphne looked up from a note and exclaimed, “This one is from Viscount Moorcroft. It is very pretty; he likens your eyes to pansies.”
Sarah snorted.
“Don’t snort, my dear, it’s not ladylike,” said Daphne absently, reaching for another note. “Oh, here is a lovely one. It’s a bit of Keats and accompanies a lovely bouquet of rosebuds. Shall I read it to you?”
Sarah was about to decline the treat when the door opened and Latham, the butler, announced, “His Grace, the Duke of Troubridge.”
Daphne dropped the note and rose, flustered, touching her hair and smoothing her cambric gown. Sarah rose more slowly, her heart doing an odd thump in her breast. Had he come toscold her for her unseemly behavior last night? But then his speech had been quite shocking, so why should she apologize?
In the next moment, the duke entered the room, dressed stylishly in a maroon-colored coat that fit his admirable figure to perfection, pale eggshell-colored breeches, and top boots. His cravat was tied with style, and his shirt points were starched perfectly. His hair was arranged with casual elegance. In short, he was beautifully turned out. Which just emphasized how undeniably handsome he was.Drat the man, why does he have to be so attractive? Papa would say I am being horribly shallow!She dropped into a curtsy with Daphne.
“Your Grace!” Daphne rose and held out her hand, quite pink with pleasure. “You honor us. Latham, fetch refreshments, please.”
“Please don’t trouble yourself, Lady Holbrook. I called in the hopes that I could entice you ladies to visit the museum with me. There is an exhibition of Greek and Roman statuary that I thought might be of interest to Miss Watson.” At his words, her heart turned over with a palpable thud and all her bad temper drained out her toes.
He took her hand as he spoke and kissed it with the lightest of touches. It was a formal, old-fashioned gesture, and it sent a quiver up her arm that landed in her belly. She could feel herself blushing.
Sarah swallowed. It was really so unfair of him to be so charming.Before she could find her tongue to reply, Daphne said, “How delightful! Of course we would love to go, wouldn’t we Sarah?”
“I’m not dressed for an outing!” protested Sarah.
“I’m sure His Grace will be happy to wait while you change, dear. I’ll order that tea, shall I, Your Grace?”
Daphne waved Sarah away and she left reluctantly. She ought to refuse after last night. She was mortified withembarrassment when she recalled all the horrible things she had said to the duke, and now he was being perfectly civil and offering her a treat.How did he know I have been dying to see the exhibition?
She flew upstairs and rang for her maid, Esme. She selected her new walking dress in green poplin with a high collar, a fawn-colored pelisse with green ribbons, fashionable high poke bonnet, kid boots, and gloves in matching green.
She was dressed in record time and returned to the parlor where she found Daphne offering His Grace a second biscuit. The duke looked up as she entered, and his eyes, a devastating blue, appeared to register approval. Setting down his cup, he rose immediately, and Daphne bustled out to fetch her pelisse and bonnet, which had miraculously appeared downstairs while Sarah was dressing.
Quickly arriving at Montague House, they purchased a program for the exhibition and made their way to the new exhibit’s hall.
They had gone only a few steps into the hall when Daphne said, “I don’t know how it is, but I am a little fatigued. I’ll just take a seat on one of the couches in the middle of the hall and let the duke show you around, Sarah.” She smiled at the duke, taking a seat and waving them off.
