Page 10 of Distracting the Duke

Ignoring the sudden clamminess of her hands and the frissons of fear that tingled up and down her spine, she said to Ellie, “Very well, you must follow Mr. and Mrs. Weston downstairs. I don’t mind going. I am curious to see inside, and we don’t want to disappoint the duke. Your Grace,” she called out, “I’ll join you, but you must excuse the others, I’m afraid. The ladies aren’t used to such dizzying heights.”

He bowed politely, but she could sense his disappointment. He’d hoped to be confined with Ellie, no doubt, to impress her and to say things he couldn’t possibly say within the hearing of her family. Clara almost felt sorry for him as she headed toward the camera obscura. Instead of sweet, innocent Eleanora Soper, he was about to be enclosed with her overprotective, bluestocking guardian. The chances of a clash of opinions were extremely high.

Oddly, that made her smile in anticipation.

The duke stood aside for her. “Mind your head. Before we close the door and shut off the light, let me show you how this works. Here’s a handle, by which I may turn the apparatus about to see different vistas. The whole device sits on an arrangement of gears, so it runs smoothly. If ever I tire of it as a camera obscura, I might convert it into an astronomical observatory.”

She looked at the structure consideringly. “Indeed. I can see it being an excellent bolt hole. When you wish to escape your family in the future, you can simply say you’ll be up in your observatory and don’t wish to be disturbed.”

He looked amused, but shook his head. “When I have a family, Lady Tinniswood, I’ll want to spend as much time with them as possible. I’ll bring all my children up here, be they boys or girls, to teach them the art of astronomy.”

“A girl being taught astronomy? How very novel.” Not that she believed him for a minute.

“Don’t express opinions that are not your own,” he scolded with a chuckle. “I know you totally approve of the idea. Now, I must close the door, as complete darkness is required.”

She tensed as the door clicked to. She mustn’t be afraid. She just needed to focus on the sound of the duke’s voice and the sensation of his presence in the absolute darkness.

He wasn’t Simon. There was nothing to worry about.

“Pay attention, now, so you can report back to Miss Soper. I do hope that in time she’ll be able to overcome her fear of heights. Anyway, we open this little shutter like so. Now, look behind you.”

Biting down the threatening panic, Clara turned around and gazed at the mist-edged image that hovered upside down on the opposite wall.

She inhaled in wonder. The chimney tops and balustrade were clear to see. Due to the direction the pinhole was facing, she could also see the distant lake with its rim of willow trees, and even the sunlight glinting off the ripples created by diving ducks and moorhens.

“Remarkable!” she said, briefly distracted from her old fears.

She edged around the wall so her shadow wouldn’t interfere with the image and examined it more closely. “I’m amazed by the detail.”

“I am glad you’re impressed. Shall I turn the machine about so we can see another view?”

“Yes please,” she said, despite the distress that was returning—her chest tightening and her breath coming quicker. This was all fascinating, but she wanted to be outside again rather badly.

With a grinding, clanking sound the walls lurched around her. She groped the wall behind her in alarm for something to hold on to, but the machine stabilized almost immediately, and a different vista flickered into focus.

Once she’d adjusted for the fact that it was upside down, she exclaimed in delight at the sight of a herd of fallow deer grazing in the rough beyond the gardens. A congregation of white doves, recently released from their cote, fluttered and swooped overhead. The sight was so delightful it almost made her forget her growing distress at being in such a tiny, dark space.

Thankfully, the duke said, “Well, we’d best get back. I’m glad you’re pleased with my camera.”

“Yes, indeed. But as you say, we should get back.”

He opened the shutter to allow a proper shaft of light into the chamber, then reached for the doorknob. As he turned it, there was an ominous clunk from outside and the sound of something falling upon the leads of the roof. He rattled at the knob…to no effect.

“Deuce take it,” he said. “I fear, Lady Tinniswood, we are forced to stay inside here until we’re missed. We may as well try another view.”

The skin of her scalp prickled. She reached for the knob and tried it, but already her hand was sweating and just slid around without gripping. “Please try again,” she begged. “I can’t remain in here.”

“I’m afraid it’s no use. The knob has fallen off on the other side. Don’t worry. The house is crawling with servants, and we’re sure to be missed.”

His words fell on deaf ears. Her heart pounded painfully as the panic exploded within her. “Let me out! Oh, please, Simon, let me out! I can’t bear it! I can’t breathe, I’m going to suffocate. You must let me out!”

Two hands grasped her shoulders, and a calm voice said, “You can breathe, Clara, you can breathe. Here, put your face by the opening and draw in a deep breath, right down into your stomach. Don’t you feel the breeze on your face? You can breathe.”

“No!” Terrified, she fought against the hands that held her, determined to fling herself against the door until it gave way. She couldn’t bear to be shut in again. She would surely die!

Her body was rocked backward and forward, making her head wobble. Someone was gently shaking her.

“I’m not Simon,” a deep male voice insisted. “You’re in no danger. Breathe in again and count to eight and hold it, then out again, slowly, slowly. There’s plenty of air to be had, I promise.”