He was serious. She was speechless for a moment. He was undoubtedly the best gentleman she’d ever met.
“I don’t think anything of the sort. In fact, I quite enjoyed it.” She refused to regret her honesty. He’d told her to be more herself, after all.
The boyish smile flashed again. “So did I.”
She returned the smile, wondering what was happening.
Eight
Once Esther cleared up the misunderstanding about Alexander’s foil, she would spend the rest of the day in bed. Maybe take a hot bath and recover from an ordeal she had no recollection of.
After the delicious and intense breakfast, she’d decided to walk to Minnie’s house with Mrs. Wilson as her chaperone while Alexander would wait for her in a carriage, in case they needed to drive to the location where the foil was hidden.
She had no idea what type of reception she would receive if her absence had been noticed, and appearing with Alexander would cause more complications.
She and Mrs. Wilson walked past the statue of a swordsman in the garden. It had something familiar. Whatever the statue had triggered, it was gone before she could say ‘foil.’
Mrs. Wilson gave her a long, assessing glance as they walked along the drive to Minnie’s front door. The housekeeper’s eyebrows rose.
“Is something the matter?” Esther asked.
“Apologies, my lady, but I have to say I was worried about you after last night. I didn’t think you would be up and about this morning.”
“Why? How did I look?”
Mrs. Wilson pondered her answer. “The first time I saw you, when you snatched His Grace’s foil, you were excessively energetic, laughing like a madwoman, begging your pardon, my lady. His Grace chased you, and he isn’t slow, but he couldn’t stop you. Then you vanished, and when His Grace found you, well…in your undergarments in the garden, you looked about to die, so cold and pale you were. His Grace sent for the physician, who wasn’t as worried as I expected. He said he saw that type of malady every other day in Brighton and that you needed a tonic and to sleep. I was sceptical, but he was right.”
“How embarrassing.”
Mrs. Wilson didn’t offer any words of comfort, looking like her governess. “His Grace was worried about you. He can be strict, but he’s a caring man, as his late father was.”
“Yes, he’s very kind to me.”
Mrs. Wilson paused a few feet from the door. “Please, my lady, help him find his foil. It belonged to the late duchess. It means a lot to him.”
“The duchess practised fencing?”
“Fencing is quite popular among ladies. They can’t participate in official competitions, but many salle d’armes allow women in. His Grace started fencing with his mother. They were very close. That’s why he cares about the foil.”
She let out a long breath. As if the humiliation weren’t enough, now she learnt she’d potentially destroyed a family heirloom.
She knocked on the door without confidence.
The butler welcomed her and remained motionless for a moment. “My lady.” He held the door open for her and Mrs. Wilson.
She stepped into the hallway tentatively as if expecting to be attacked. “Is Lady Minnie up?”
“She’s having breakfast with the dowager and Her Ladyship in the dining room. Would you like to join her?”
“No. Please tell her I’m here and that I wish to see her.”
Frowning, the butler left. Voices came from the dining room, then footsteps. The set of double doors to the dining room was flung open, and Mother rushed to her.
“Darling.” After hugging her, Mother used her lorgnette and studied her. “Finally. Are you all right?”
“Er…” Esther didn’t know what to say. Mother was being too kind, considering her daughter had been missing for hours. “A headache.” Sometimes the truth was the best policy.
“Minnie told me you woke up very early and left for a walk.” Mother regarded Mrs. Wilson. “And who are you?”
