Page 54 of No Duke of Mine

“I was just helping her sort through her father’s trunks,” Sims assured him, springing away from her.

“Sims is brilliant,” she enthused, once she’d calmed herself enough to speak. “He has come up with a way for me to support myself.”

The duke glared at Sims as if he disapproved, and the valet started edging toward the door. “Explain, sir.”

Maggie stepped between the two men. “I will publish my father’s classwork as books and earn a living from the profits.”

The duke entered the room fully, looking around first, and then at the overflowing bed. He picked up a lesson book and glanced at a few pages within. “I remember these. Your father guarded them like they were gold…but some of this is in your handwriting, Maggie.”

“Not gold, but a tradable commodity for sure,” she argued, ignoring his mention of her classwork. “Unfortunately, I don’t know any publishers or how to go about finding one. Do you know of any?”

“No. Not yet. I have not had occasion to need a printer or met one socially. But it will not be difficult to find someone and make any arrangements for distribution.”

“Distribution?”

He aimed a dry smile her way. “Well, yes. What did you think you were going to do after the books were printed? Stand on the pavement outside my town house and sell them like a poor flower girl must?”

“Well, I hadn’t thought that far ahead,” Maggie answered, disliking the idea of hawking the books one at a time. But she might have to do that in the end if she were to make any money.

“Clearly, there is much to consider and discuss about your project,” he said, dropping the book back in its place and scowling. “That’s why you need me to save you from the mistake and indignity of going into trade directly.”

“I can’t impose upon your time, Your Grace,” she promised. “Perhaps Sims could help me a little?”

Algernon held her gaze longer than necessary in answer to her comment. The look said she would come to him first, Sims second.

Sims was sent from the room with a flick of the duke’s head.

“This will take all of your time,” he said, prowling the small room. Glancing into her father’s empty trunks.

“It won’t affect the performance of my duties, Your Grace,” she promised.

Algernon stopped behind her. “I think it should.”

She looked over her shoulder at him. “Why?”

His hands settled on her shoulders and squeezed. “Because this is the challenge you need in your life. A secretary is subservient to me. I’m not comfortable with that.”

“It was your suggestion,” she reminded him.

“To keep your brilliant mind from sadness over your father’s demise and from making a rash decision. There’s not enough of a challenge in my affairs to keep you happy for long. You need your own project to pursue.”

“What about your need for a secretary? You do need one.”

“Sims,” the duke bellowed.

The fellow appeared startled by his abrupt summons when he appeared. “Yes, Your Grace?”

“Tomorrow, you will assume the duties of my permanent secretary, while you advertise for a new valet to take your place by the end of the week.”

Sims glanced at her sharply, and Maggie grinned back, nodding, encouraging him to agree, not that she thought he’d refuse.

“What of Miss Black?”

“Maggie will need our help getting this lot downstairs to the morning room, which will now be for her exclusive use as she prepares her subject matter,” Algernon announced. “You can claim full credit for the inspired idea. Well done, Sims.”

The valet grinned but looked slightly embarrassed to be singled out for praise, and rushed back into the room to collect the papers from Maggie’s bed. She helped him return them to one of the empty traveling trunks and stood back.

When the bed was clear again, Algernon hefted the trunk alone and carried it from the room, complaining about the unexpected weight.