“I know, Yer Grace,” she sighed, tracing the outline of his arm. “I am yers.”
“That’s my good girl,” he said as he pulled her even closer, and they succumbed to peaceful sleep.
Chapter Eighteen
“Yer Grace,” Isla began sweetly, leaning casually against the door frame the next day after afternoon tea. “Am I interruptin’ important business?”
She had found Benedict in his study, buried under papers and correspondence.
“Ah Isla, I am unfortunately occupied. Did you need the household accounts?” He asked without looking up, engrossed in numbers and ledgers. “They are somewhere around here…”
“Nay. I need yer attention for a moment, if ye please,” she said, stepping into the room and batting her eyelashes at him. “We are leavin’ London in two days and…”
“I am aware of the passing of time, Your Grace,” he said, grabbing wax to seal an envelope and setting it to a nearby flame.
“Oliver has been well-behaved and quiet with all the business we have had in the city.”
“Yes, what are you getting at? I am in a terrible hurry to be rid of this business.”
“Well, he hasnae seen a real pantomime. Not a proper London one. In fact, he said he has never been to the theatre…”
“We took him to Hyde Park,” Benedict said dismissively.
“Yer Grace,” Isla said, a singsong tone to her voice. “The show is the talk of the ton, it will be so fun!”
Benedict finally laid down his envelope and seal, his blue eyes meeting hers across the wooden desk. Isla’s breath caught as she took in the startling, intense blue even in the dim light of the afternoon, the memories of the night before flooding her mind as her brow began to glisten with sweat.
“I fail to see the necessity of a pantomime, Isla. He is not a babe.”
“Precisely! Nay, he is a young lad who needs some joy before he is hauled back to the quiet halls of Ealdwick,” Isla countered, planting her hands on her hips as she leaned over the desk. “We should take him to the King’s Theatre.The Highland Kingis showin’, a silly thing, aye… but I ken it would delight him and the scene with the pantomime is supposed to be quite funny.”
“It would bore me to tears,” Benedict stated flatly. “I have never cared for the theater.”
“Well, think of it as another respectable social outin’ then. Aye, a chance to show thetonthat the Duchess of Ealdwick doesnae require seclusion followin’ yer dramatic defense of her,” she challenged, the corner of her mouth twitching as she winked at him.
He looked up and studied her for a long, silent moment with silent satisfaction. She could see him weighing the options, and just then, she cocked her hip to one side, giving him a wide smile.
I ken ye like these hips…
The corner of his mouth twitched to a reluctant grin, mirroring hers.
“Very well, Isla,” he conceded with a sigh. “You may arrange it for the three of us. But I shall not suffer through the performance unnecessarily. We will take a private box, surely.”
“I will see it done!” Isla said as she whisked up her skirts and set out to arrange for their theatrical debut. “Daenae worry!”
Isla went downstairs to find Mrs. Callahan in her small office.
“His Grace wants to go to the theatre? Are you telling me that pigs will soon be flying? That the oceans will freeze and we will be able to ice skate to America?”
“Not so much as that,” Isla said with a belly laugh. “I was surprised he gave in as well but give in he surely did. Can you help me get word to the theatre to secure their most luxurious private box?”
“It would be my pleasure,” Mrs. Callahan said as she rose from her chair. “You really are a breath of fresh air, Your Grace. Please forgive my informality, but you are most refreshing. For His Grace, for his son…for all of us really.”
“Thank ye, Mrs. Callahan,” Isla said with a smile. “I am glad ye came with us to London to help manage things here. I ken ye must be eager to return to Ealdwick Manor.”
“You have no idea,” the older woman said with a laugh. “Well, I shall be on with the arrangements!”
Isla wasted no time in fetching Oliver after his music lesson with his governess. His reaction was everything Isla had hoped for.
