“Did you have a nice evening at Lord Grimslee’s last night? Miss Webster has been most…quiet.”
Marcus pulled at his too-tight cravat. “It was delightful.”
She curved an eyebrow, just like her father used to. “Hmm.” Then twirled her skirts. “Will I see you tomorrow before you leave?”
“For certain.” He’d given permission for Dinah to stay with her friend Lucy for a night, which had seemed to involve her packing for a fortnight. “Where is Miss Webster? Sorting your clothes?”
“Gone walking.”
“What!” He swung back to the window. “It’s bitter out today. And there are perilous drifts of snow.”
“She said she might head up into the fells.”
Marcus strode to the desk and slung the folders down. “Which fells?”
“Erm…east-ish?”
“That bench on Wansfell overlooking town, no doubt.” And he tramped past his ward and into the hall. “Greatcoat,” he ordered. “Boots and scarf. Dinah, until tomorrow.”
She turned and smiled limpidly. “Yes, Cousin Marcus.”
Muttering to himself, he shoved on his outerwear.
Just wait until he caught up with that Miss Charlotte Webster.
“DINAH?”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Do you know where the duke is going?”
From the schoolroom window, Charlotte watched with increasing trepidation as the figure of Marcus stomped off in an easterly direction, fists clenched and greatcoat flapping.
“He seemed a little…upset, Miss Webster.” Dinah joined her to peer out the window also. “Said he was going walking in the fells.”
“What! It’s bitter out today. And there are perilous drifts of snow.”
“I know, Miss.” Dinah sighed deeply. “He appeared most… What was the word you taught me. Perturbed? Yes, perturbed. He also said not to expect him back till late.”
Charlotte slung Miss Appleton’s book to the desk. “Which fells?”
“Er… With a bench overlooking town.”
“Wansfell, no doubt. I’d best follow and ensure he’s safe.”
“A fine idea, Miss Webster. I shall sit here and read until the coach is ready to take me to Lucy’s.”
“Yes. Mr Goldsmith’sGrammar of Geography.”
Her rosebud lips pursed. “Oh.” Nose scrunched. “But I’m still working on my appraisal ofPride and Prejudiceand how to include more romance. And an epilogue.”
Charlotte raised a brow but the girl batted those ridiculously long lashes and there was no time for debate. “I shall see you on the morrow, then. We will have a fine Christmas together. Mrs Mossop is baking for a feast of five hundred.”
“Cousin Marcus might still stay.”
Charlotte forced her lips to curve and kneeled by the young girl, clutching her small hand. “It… It is possible but we must not be disappointed if he leaves. It has to be his choice.”
“I suppose,” Dinah replied, before a fierce hug was exchanged.
