The duke raised an eyebrow. “I am glad to see I am so welcome. Good afternoon, my lady.”
“You have a lot to answer for, Your Grace.”
That sent his eyebrows furrowing together like a caterpillar over his eyes that were dark beneath his hat brim. “I haven’t had time to wrong you if I haven’t been here, have I?”
All the words she meant to say ever since a lady’s maid had arrived and sent her a look of dismay came bubbling out. “You canna do something like that, will-he-nill-he! How ridiculous it was having these strangers arrive. We didn’t know who they were or what they were doing. What were you thinking? Sending servants here and there without a by-your-leave.”
“Then you didn’t like the surprise.”
“Oh, it was a surprise all right.”
“I can let them go, if you like. Is that what you wish for? You don’t want them?”
She stared at him. “I didn’t say that!”
“Is everything all right? Hello, Your Grace!” Her mother must have heard her raised voice and was heard in the background, that soft but definitive warning tone.
“Yes, Mama.” Isla forced herself to inhale deeply. She put her hands over her ribs as they expanded and then slowly shrunk back down. All the tension that had been bubbling inside of her for the past couple of days––hardly helped with the suddenbusyness of training and preparing several servants––finally was ebbing away. “All is well.”
Ronan glanced over her head to offer polite greetings to her mother before looking down at her. “I was going to invite you to go for a ride but if you would wish to shout at me some more, I can come back tomorrow.”
A flush crept up her face. “You don’t enjoy a loud scold?” She tried to jest.
“Not particularly. But I can manage a quiet scolding if something more is required. I only warn you I shan’t listen to a word of it on a busy street.” Though his words were serious, she could have sworn she saw his lip twitch. The dry humor was a bit of a surprise.
Isla decided to take it as a promising note. “I beg your pardon, Your Grace, those were hardly proper manners befitting a lady. It’s simply been overwhelming, all of these gifts. You didn’t need to… that is, we didn’t need… Well, you see,” she tried to explain herself while shifting her weight around in the doorway.
“It was a surprise,” Ronan spoke over her plainly. “You don’t appreciate surprises. That is good to know. Is the help appreciated?”
“Very much so,” she confessed. “They’re already invaluable.”
He nodded. “Then I am satisfied. And perhaps next time, I shall warn you in advance of any surprises.”
She thought of the tea house and his mention of a son. “I would appreciate that. It seems there are some surprises still to sort out.”
Now it was he who shifted uncomfortably. She watched the way he plucked his hat off. “Yes, well, I do suppose it’s time we had that discussion. I thought the ride might do us a good run, if you would care to join me?”
Then he will talk to me about it. I must know what I am getting myself into, after all. And if he’s finally ready, I cannot miss this chance.
“Isla!” Her mother was still in the hall. “Won’t you invite the duke in? You cannot leave him on the doorstep like so!”
Isla gave him a grateful smile as she called back to her mother, not wanting to leave Ronan’s side now with the promised conversation ahead of them. “Mama, he is taking me for a ride. Might I go?”
“Ach! What a lovely surprise! Yes, yes. Oh, your maid should accompany you. Where is that girl?”
Skipping past their mother was Lacey with a hand on the wall to feel her way forward. “Did I hear the duke has arrived? My future brother?”
“Brother-in-law,” Isla automatically corrected her.
“Westvale?” Lacey asked. She had reached the side table that stood in the entry, and came to a stop. All she had to do was reach out a hand to find Isla and then the door where she focused her gaze toward Ronan. “You are there. I can smell you.”
Isla grabbed her and wrapped a hand around her mouth. “Lacey, don’t say such things!”
Though she was appalled, Ronan had to cough. He turned away a second before saying, “What exactly do I smell like, Lacey?”
“Apples, of course! Where are you going on your ride? Are you going to ride a horse? I heard you always ride a horse.”
“Not always. I also have a carriage or two.” His gaze landed on Isla for a long moment. There was something going on inside his thoughts. What she wouldn’t give to know what it was. “That’s what your sister shall ride in today.”
