Page 17 of Distracting the Duke

“Do you not have the statuette?”

“Not yet,” he replied, tugging at the cuffs of his shirt. “Sarah, a bath would be welcome. It’s been very humid.”

“I’ll organize one for you now, but only if you put us out of our misery about the statue.”

Clara’s throat went dry. Had the duke, perhaps, changed his mind?

“Don’t worry,” said her brother with a smile. “The Pajou is now officially ours. The auction house said it can be delivered tomorrow. Obviously, they want to pack it carefully due to its great value.”

“What did we have to pretend to pay for it?” Clara asked cautiously.

“Two hundred and six guineas.”

“What?” She would have sat down in a rosebush had Sarah not caught her arm. “That much? I can’t believe it!”

“Believe it,” said her brother. “A shame our family lost it. Such a valuable piece would have greatly helped our impoverished state through the past two generations.”

“What an extremely generous gift!” exclaimed Sarah.

Clara and Philip glared at her. “It should have been ours all this time,” Philip said. “Just think how much more comfortable we would have been. We could have had a permanent home instead of moving constantly from one rented property to another, each smaller and cheaper than the last. Were it not for Clara’s allowance and yours, my love, the Weston ship would have sunk long since.”

“Don’t give Sarah the idea that you married her for her money,” Clara warned, appalled, but Sarah just laughed.

“I’m not so poor a judge of character. I knew Philip would suit me, and I can cope with his bad tempers. Now then, husband, let’s go and see about that bath for you, and I’ll take charge of the ham.”

No longer required, Clara wandered back out to the garden where she stood regarding the pea plants for several minutes.

Two hundred and six guineas! It was a fortune! She hadn’t dared hope the statuette would be worth so much. Had His Grace any inkling of the value of the piece? Of course he must.

A shiver passed over her as the sun went behind a cloud. The man must be truly enamored of Ellie to lay out such a splendid peace offering. Especially when the outcome of his suit was by no means certain.

She retrieved her basket and grabbed for a handful of pods, almost dislodging the cane they were twined around.

“I think the usual method of garnering peas is to pluck them from the stem, not pick the plants to pieces,” said a deep voice behind her.

She leaped up with a gasp of surprise.

And threw herself straight into the arms of the Duke of Ulvercombe.

Chapter Eleven

Marcus grinned as he caught Clara and set her back on her feet. “I’ve taken you unawares, Lady Tinniswood. Pray forgive me for my childishness in creeping up on you. You seemed so lost in thought I had to see how close I could get. Embarrassment brings such a delicious flush to your cheeks and a brightness to your eyes.”

He meant it. She looked very pretty.

“Don’t waste your time flirting with me,” was her crisp reply. “I’m impervious to compliments.”

Liar, he thought, but said only, “I guessed as much,” before stepping back and doffing his hat in a courtly gesture.

“To what do we owe the honor of this visit? I can’t think you rode over here for pleasure, as it seems very likely to rain.”

Some pleasures were worth getting wet for. Goading Lady Tinniswood and admiring Eleanora Soper were high on the list. “Shall I help you finish your picking before the rain arrives?” he said with a glance at the sky.

“I’m almost done, sir. And you haven’t answered my question.”

She was looking at him critically. He should have expected it. “Why are you staring at me, Lady Tinniswood? Have I a speck of dust on my cheek? Was I not shaved close enough this morning? I’m sure you’re about to tax me with some flaw in my appearance.”

She continued to gaze at him, but her expression softened. Good. She had finally remembered the generous gesture he’d just made to her family.