“Good night, Miss Pembleton,” Blake said, almost taking a step towards her but catching himself in time.
“Good night, Your Grace.” Jane inclined her head towards him, hugged Cressida and Emily, and then left the room.
As she left, the group descended into idle chatter, but Blake could not help but glance at the door. He could still feel the warmth of her hand in his, and without thinking, he traced his thumb across the places her hand had touched.
ChapterSeventeen
Early Morning Perambulations
The air was cool and crisp as Jane strolled through the gardens. She had woken up early that day, and being unable to return to sleep, she had decided to venture out into the grounds.
I cannot believe the second reading of the banns was only yesterday.
The grass was dewy underfoot, and a gentle mist lay across most of the grounds. Jane felt an odd restlessness within her and decided that she would head to the aviary.
“Miss, good morning. How might I be of assistance?” the falconer asked her.
“I was wondering if you might permit me to visit some of your birds, and perhaps fly any,” Jane replied.
The falconer hesitated. “Is the Miss familiar with falconry? I do not mean to be impertinent, but the Marquess is rather protective of his birds.”
“As he should be. Fret not, good man, I am familiar with such things, and I have not a horse prepared for a proper hunt. I thought perhaps to fly a bird from block to hand, though I would need to borrow a glove and perhaps some bait.” Jane glanced around. “And I would, of course, be most glad of your assistance, and would defer to your expertise.”
“Of course, Miss. Though you will have to wait until the gentleman is done.” The falconer looked at Jane and smiled apologetically as he wrung his hands.
“Gentleman?” she asked, curious.
The falconer nodded, clearly relieved that she was not angry. “Yes, he came this morning to train with his bird. He is with her at the blocks, which are just past that building over there.”
“Really? I had not expected anyone else to be up so early.” Jane followed his gaze, and as she strained her ears, she realized she could hear the sound of a man’s soft voice.
“It would seem that you are both early risers.” The man smiled.
Jane walked in the direction the falconer had indicated and saw a familiar figure standing with a young falcon on his arm. It was, of course, the Duke of Caden.
His falcon wore no jesses and had no creance attached.
She is trained—he is simply practicing the basics with her.
Blake appeared not to have noticed Jane, and she watched him from a distance.
“Now, old girl, I know you are itching for a good hunt, but we must practice first. I need to know that you will return to fist reliably, sweet thing,” Blake murmured to the falcon, his voice soft and gentle, taking Jane by surprise.
She watched as he removed the falcon’s hood, his movements confident but gentle. There was a reverence in the way he looked at the bird, a genuine affection that Jane rarely saw when people were with their birds.
Blake gently placed the bird on the block and then walked a few steps away. The wind rustled his hair, and his blue eyes were trained on his bird, apparently oblivious to everything else in the world.
He looks more relaxed than I have ever seen him. It is not that easy grace. It is… It is something different,Jane thought to herself, trying to unpick what it was about the Duke’s movements that was so striking.
Blake placed a piece of meat in his glove and whistled, the sound short and sharp, cutting through the morning air. His falcon flew towards him, landing perfectly on his gloved fist.
A wide grin split his face, and Jane felt her stomach do an odd tumble at the sight.
“Well done, that was perfect!”
His words were full of delight, but his voice was still soft and gentle, clearly meant not to startle the creature despite his obvious excitement. Jane found herself smiling as he set the bird back on the block and repeated the exercise.
Each time he seemed more and more pleased that the bird had returned to him, more and more proud of the creature. Jane was trying to get a better look at the falcon, to work out what species it was.
