Page 59 of The Duke’s Hidden Duchess

“I thought you might prefer to object after reading her answer.”

Selina slid a folded note across the cloth.

He opened it.

Duchess,

I will assist you, though I reserve the right to call the scheme imprudent after it succeeds.

Mrs Ottley has accepted my invitation for tomorrow and, unless the habits of the past month have altered, Mr Rowland will come with her. Lady Carbery will be with me. She has an excellent memory, a sound reputation and, more importantly, the discretion to know when repetition is useful and when silence is better.

The garden arrangement can be managed.

Marwood.

Nathaniel read it twice.

“She is enjoying herself.”

“A little.”

“She has concealed it better than usual.”

“I asked her to.”

That brought the corner of his mouth up.

Nathaniel folded the note. “Where am I?”

“Within sight and comfortably out of hearing.”

“No.”

Selina raised her brows.

“No,” he repeated. “I am aware that I shall probably arrive at yes, but I should like the dignity of resisting for another moment.”

Selina waited.

“I dislike the entire arrangement,” he continued. “I dislike allowing Rowland near you. I dislike the fact that he must believe himself beyond interruption if he is to become careless. And I particularly dislike being assigned to stand upon a lawn while my wife encourages a blackmailer to threaten her.”

“I know.”

That was all she said.

Nathaniel looked at her. Some of the resistance went out of him.

“You will not be alone.”

“No. Lady Marwood and Lady Carbery will be close. There will be two hundred people on the lawn. And you will be near enough to reach me if the conversation ceases to be merely a conversation.”

“How near?”

“Near enough for your peace. Far enough for mine.”

“That is not a unit of measurement.”

“It is the one available.”