“Do you play, dear?” His mother took Nell to the piano. “I had it tuned, but none of us play, so it unfortunately goes unused.”
“Only a little, your Grace, and very poorly.” Nell went a very interesting shade of pink. “I am much better with my harp.”
“A piano is just a sideways harp,” Nick said quietly. “I don’t doubt you could play.”
“She is splendid on the harp, Nicholas.” His mother gave him a bright smile. “Simply splendid.” She turned her attention back to Nell. “Do try for us. I hate to see the old thing so neglected.”
“Yes, your Grace,” Nell moved to sit down at the piano and folded the key cover back and out of the way before she settled her fingers on the keys.
Her playing wasn’t masterful, but it was clear she’d had quite a lot of training on her chosen instrument. He’d love to hear her play someday.
“Forgive the noise,” Nell said, bright pink, when she moved to close the piano again. “I need more practice, but our sitting room has no space for a piano with Greta.”
“Her harp,” his mother said with a smile. “Isn’t that darling?”
“You would be welcome to use ours,” Nick said after nodding to his mother. “There’s some old sheet music in the bench from when I was being hopeless at music.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose, Your Grace.” She rose and went back to stand with her mother.
And then tea was brought in, cutting Nick’s protest that it wouldn’t be an imposition off at the knees.
It was a very proper tea, conversation held precisely to the accepted modes by the two older ladies. Nick just sat back, offering his opinion when it was required of him, and tried to match the file, Nell, and their conversation in the garden.
She was protecting something or someone, and he wanted to get to the bottom of it. But there was no way to do that with snow falling outside and both of their mothers there.
Which meant that he would watch, and when she went back to the garden, he would be there to try to talk to her again.
After three hours, Duchess Graves rose and took Nell by the hand. “Come with me dear, we have some arrangements to make for your come out.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Nell cast a look back at him as she was led away, leaving him in the parlor with a suddenly extremely sharp-looking Lady Warrick.
“My lady?” The look she had turned on Nick made him think of his old governess when she was about to thwack him. “Have I done something?”
“Be careful with my girl.” She ordered, eyes sharp enough to cut. “If you are careless with her, duke or no, I’ll take care of you.”
“My lady, I have no idea what you are referring to.” Nick said carefully. “Have I done something?”
“No,” Lady Warrick settled back. “Not yet, but if you are going to talk to my Nellie in the garden at night, make certain you promise her nothing that you will not follow through on.”
“I swear it,” he said, holding up his still-bandaged hand. “I will be as good to her as she will allow.”
Lady Warrick nodded, satisfaction running in her eyes. “Good then, I assume you already know about her work for the city? Peter is a horrible gossip, though he did good work during the war.”
“He gave me the file, but it focuses mostly on the Earl.” Nick leaned forward, hoping that he was going to be told something that might help him approach Nell.
“Everything my Steven did, so did my Nellie.” Lady Warrick nodded. “I was sick with it, but the city needed them.”
Chapter Eight
Nell was—well she wasn’t bored any longer, that was certain. Except now she was confused and there was no one she could go to for answers. Nick hadn’t told her that he was a duke, but then, when would have been an appropriate time for him to tell her that?
Their conversation hadn’t ever been appropriate, and she supposed that was what he’d meant when he’d said that his life had gotten complicated. That he’d suddenly been given his father’s offices.
As much as she wanted answers, she wouldn’t demand them from his Grace. That would be unpardonably rude of her. Not to mention that he would likely rather forgo their association. She was the daughter of an Earl, and a newly elevated one at that.
If she knew anything about the nobility, it was that like ran with like, and she wouldn’t prevail on him beyond the doors that their momentary association would open for her mama.
“Alright,” Duchess Graves turned to close the door to what had to be her private sitting room and then looked directly at Nell with none of the pleasant smile that she’s had turned on her to this point. “We have quite a bit to discuss, my dear.”
