“And I will be good for Harriet.”
“I know.” Carina kissed her goodnight and turned down the lamp before joining the others in the main part of the nursery where they sprawled on cushions and chairs.
“Where did you get that idea?” Alex was asking. “School?”
“No,” Duncan replied. “My brother used to liven up my bedtime stories that way, sometimes with rude words but mostly just silly ones.”
“I wish I’d thought of it,” Alex said enviously.
“I’m afraid I must send you away in five minutes, Duncan,” Carina said. “The younger ones need to sleep, and you are clearly far too entertaining.”
“Everyone tells me so,” Duncan said modestly.
Lily was watching him with shining eyes. Another complication. To give the boy his due, he made no effort to hang around and show off to her charges. He merely chatted for a few more minutes, then rose to go.
“See you all tomorrow.”
Carina followed him to the door, then stepped out into the passage with him. “Duncan?” she breathed. “Tell your brother I’ll help in any way I can.”
Duncan cast her a piercing look, somewhat reminiscent of his brother’s. “Why do you say that? Don’t tell me Foster has gone and died after all?”
“Not yet, but it’s expected. There is a warrant... Talk to him? Good night.”
The boy seemed about to say something, then compressed his lips and shrugged. “Good night, Miss Jasper.”
WHEN SHE FINALLY GOTto her own room, she was so exhausted that she simply sat down on her bed and rubbed her aching forehead. Only when she heard a scratch at the door and almost called “Come in”, did she remember about Mansel.
She had been so absorbed in Durward’s new need to escape, and the terrible guilt he would endure all over again, that her other problem had slipped from her mind. And Mansel was the sort of weasel who would make the servants tell him exactly where to find her, thus beginning her ruin with backstairs gossip.
She sprang up, staring at the door as though daring it to make another sound.
It did, a second, slightly louder scratch. If she remained silent, would he go away? Or would he turn the handle and come in? Once he was inside it would be so much harder to eject him... She eyed the bell rope by the fireplace. Did she really want the servants seeing this? Misinterpreting it to the Grandisons and Sanderly? Would even Harriet believe her? No, she should remain silent...
What if it is one of the children?She could not ignore it.
Swallowing, she walked soundlessly to the door and listened intently. At last, she raised her hand and opened the door a crack, stopping it with her foot, and with her free hand ready to slam it shut.
“Carina,” breathed Durward.
Her breath sounded like a sob, though whether of laughter or pain she had no idea. She reached out, dragged him inside andclosed the door. As she leaned against it, staring at him, all her anxieties seemed to dissolve.
“How did you know which was my room?” she asked shakily.
“I guessed.”
“I was hoping Sir Hugh would not. Why is he still pursuing me when there is a houseful of high-ranking and beautiful women to annoy?”
Durward’s lips quirked into an odd little smile. “You really don’t know, do you?”
She shook her head impatiently. “I don’t even know how he got here. They don’t even know Lady Grandison or the Coles or Sanderly.”
“Apparently Emily Carlisle brought them at the last minute, since she couldn’t shake them off. Everyone relies on Lady G’s good nature. But he won’t bother you tonight. I had a word with the night porter, and he’ll keep an eye on Mansel.” He took a breath. “Look, I can’t stay here, for obvious reasons, but you know you can wedge the back of the chair under the latch? Like this.”
He swung the chair around from her desk and she moved aside to watch him.
“Thank you,” she said gratefully. So simple, yet she would never have thought of it.
He set the chair beside the door and, the practicalities dealt with, looked up and caught her gaze. “Why did you offer to help me?”
