Page 44 of Distracting the Duke

She huffed. “I was put upon most disagreeably by my relations. And our ward.”

“There must be some way of making this more enjoyable for you. I shall put my mind to it and devise some entertainments.”

“Please, don’t put yourself out.”

Her footsteps hesitated when she saw two gentlemen standing at the foot of the stairs, observing her with considerable interest.

Both of them were dark-haired and dark-eyed, but all resemblance ended there. One was so tall and broad he looked like a giant—immensely strong and handsome. He looked serious and down-to-earth, like a country squire but much better dressed. The other man was thinner and a bit shorter, with a lively and cheerful expression, and she was sure she’d seen him before.

“Snetty, Ned, you’re here,” Ulvercombe greeted them. “Splendid! Have you met Lady Tinniswood?”

“Not officially,” said the shorter gentleman, grinning broadly. “But obviously, I’ve heard a good deal about her. Delighted, my lady.”

Obviously he’d heard a good deal about her?

That sounded ominous.

Then she realized he was the man at Ulvercombe’s ball who’d been singing the praises of less beautiful, more intelligent wives, and she gave her hand to him with pleasure. The other gentleman, who was introduced to her as Edmund Talbot, Earl of Stranraer, seized her hand in a robust grip, which made her wonder for a fleeting instant if he was thinking of tossing her up onto his shoulder and carrying her in for tea.

There was a moment’s awkward tussle while it was established who should escort her in, which the duke won. Clara smiled to herself. It could be rather fun having three eligible gentlemen in the house…for both Ellie and herself.

Ulvercombe politely opened the door to usher them into a large room where the rest of the Weston party, looking slightly ill at ease, was already seated around a large rosewood table laden with tea things. The carpet being mainly blue, Clara hid a smile as she imagined her relatives as a frightened group of castaways on a desert island.

Everyone stood, and the proper introductions were made. Ellie looked overwhelmed to have the attention of not just one, but three gentlemen, for Snettisham and Lord Stranraer were easily as attentive as the duke toward her. It was quite clear she found their polite questioning terrifying.

Come on Ellie, Clara thought, they’re only men, flesh and blood just as you are, and their place in heaven will be no higher than yours.

“Has anyone visited the beach yet?” inquired Snettisham of the room in general.

“They’ve only just arrived, Snetty,” admonished Ulvercombe. “We’ll go at the earliest opportunity. Tell me, Miss Soper, are you fond of boats?”

Her eyes went wide. “I c-can’t say, Your Grace. I’ve only ever been on a private lake. Never a river. And certainly not the sea.”

“Perhaps you might like to see the crabbing boats go out, or any of the other vessels passing these shores,” he suggested.

Ulvercombe was being perfectly charming. Hopefully he would soon put Ellie at ease.

“If you think I’ll enjoy it, then no doubt I will,” Ellie replied, inclining her head.

“And you, Lady Tinniswood?” asked the duke. “Are you interested in such things? Or shall I have to persuade you?”

“I’m always open to new experiences,” Clara said stoutly.

“Are you, indeed?” He raised a knowing eyebrow.

A sip of tea went down the wrong way, and she had to seize a napkin and cough and splutter behind it, furious at the heating of her cheeks.

Damn the man! Was he determined to embarrass her? Why did he have to twist her words into something improper? She scowled at him over the top of the napkin.

Snettisham said, as though completely oblivious to the undercurrent, “There’s a very good lookout point with a mounted spyglass on the roof. Lets you see almost all the way to Norway. Or is it Holland? I forget which.”

“That sounds quite marvelous,” said Sarah. “But would we have to go very far across the roof to get to it, as at Kessington?”

“You would,” the duke replied. “But don’t concern yourselves, ladies. I have a number of telescopes I shall be happy to lend you for the duration. You may point them at boats, birds, or belfries, from wherever you like. My steward, Garfield, can fetch them from the gun room.”

“Guns? We’ll be using guns?” asked Philip, suddenly interested.

The duke smiled. “Yes, there is a wide range of guns. If you wish, we could deprive my gamekeepers of their sport and shoot a few rabbits or wood pigeons for the pot. It’s too early yet for other game. Maybe the ladies would like to shoot, as well?”