Page 60 of Duke in Darkness

“That is what I told him!” exclaimed Aggie. “His wounds wouldn’t be nearly healed enough to be subjected to early morning chill. Especially in London. Foolish man.”

“I am right bloody here, you two,” said Gabriel irritably, folding his arms.

“Indeed you are, Your Grace,” said Aggie contritely, a tone quite ruined by the glint in her eye. “With a dukedom, massive fortune, and a priggish butler to boot.”

Hobbs scowled. “Don’t get me started on Norris. I wouldn’t trust that poisonous little weasel as far as I could toss him from a rampart.”

Gabriel’s lips twitched. “Now, now.”

“He reminds me of that crusty old captain…now, what was his name again?” said Aggie.

“Captain Taylor,” said Hobbs with a perfectly straight face.

“Oh, you wretch!” she replied, leaning sideways to smack his hand as she giggled. “Leave my late husband out of this. He was only crusty seventy percent of the time. I’m talking relentless sucker of lemons. The one who reprimanded ensigns for dusty boots after a day’s march.”

“Captain Bunting,” said Gabriel and Hobbs at the same time, and all three laughed.

And just like that, as Aggie and Hobbs began exchanging tales of the infamous Bunting each worse than the last, the heavy weight that had been resting on his shoulders lifted further. He hadn’t even realized how much he needed this. A situation where he felt familiar, where he knew the right responses, with two people who truly knew him. A shared history and experience where he wasn’t the outsider, the stumbling, broken newcomer who did everything wrong. Even better, they didn’t breathe a word about the horrors of Bayonne, instead just anecdotes of the victories in Spain, the relentless sun so different than England, a few times they’d been absolutely fleeced by locals when purchasing fresh food and supplies, and some of the most amusing moments involving hapless ensigns.

Relaxing back in his chair, Gabriel exhaled slowly.

Yes. This was exactly what he needed.

“DAISY REALLY IS GOING to make you the most magnificent wardrobe. You’ll be the best-dressed woman in London.”

Lilian smiled at Dawn as they climbed out of the ducal carriage and made their way toward the townhouse steps. Indeed, the fittings were a pleasure, and she could hardly wait for her new gowns to arrive so she could discard her old Grandmother-approved ones. Yesterday she had behaved much like a colonel, and taken command of the house. Now she needed to look the part, like a stylish and assured grown woman, not an awkward young lady. “I can’t wait to receive the first gowns early next week. The sooner I can discard the old ones, the better. I’m feeling much more like a duchess, now,” she replied, marching up to the front door.

Only to nearly kiss the large brass knocker as the door didn’t open.

Lilian firmly suppressed a curse of frustration. She could be a calm, cool duchess. She would be a calm, cool duchess.

“Where is Norris,” snapped Dawn. “I wish to give him a sample of my slipper heel.”

“Form an orderly line,” muttered Lilian, under her breath. The blasted butler was very fortunate he reported directly to Gabriel. If he reported to her, he would be searching for new employment.

At last, the door opened wide. “Good afternoon, Your Grace.”

“Norris,” she said shortly. Oh dear. Her vow to be calm and cool had lasted approximately one minute. “Please do explain why I was left on the front steps cooling my heels when I have an experienced butler and countless footmen.”

The butler’s eyes widened, then an uncomfortably snake-like smile curled his lips. “My sincerest apologies. I was attending to the needs of His Grace and Mrs. Taylor.”

Lilian froze. “Mrs. who?”

“Taylor, madam. His Grace’s special guest, the one he invited to a private afternoon tea in his library. They’ve been talking for hours. Such merriment! Why, you can quite hear it from the hallway.”

“Thank you,” she replied briskly, as her gaze darted left to the stairs, then right to the ducal library.

She should go and refresh herself first, ensure her hair and gown were tidy before greeting visitors. And yet she wanted to march straight to the library and discover who this Mrs. Taylor was. Gabriel hadn’t mentioned his guest was a woman at breakfast. Of course, as duke, he could invite whomever he pleased, and yet…

The omission hurt.

“I’ll go and see to your armoire, ma’am,” said Dawn. “His Grace said to attend him as soon as you returned home, remember?”

“Quite,” said Lilian, giving her a grateful look, and sweeping past Norris, she crossed the entrance hall to the library.

While it went against everything she knew, Lilian didn’t knock on the door, instead just pushed it open and brazenly walked in. “Exton, I…oh, I do beg your pardon. I didn’t realize you still had company.”

Two emotions hit her at once. Utter relief that her husband wasn’t cavorting with a lover; he sat on one side of his desk, while a beautiful redheaded woman, this Mrs. Taylor, sat on the other. Even better, Hobbs sat next to her. The second…sadness. The three of them had sounded so happy. And they’d stopped talking when she walked in, as though she’d thrown a bucket of icy water over them.