Page 124 of Courting the Wrong Duke

Rosalind seemed on the verge of answering when rapid footsteps sounded in the corridor.

They sprang apart.

Or rather, William attempted to. Rosalind’s fingers remained tangled with his for one startled heartbeat before she seemed to realize she was still holding him and released him abruptly.

Nelly appeared in the open doorway.

The maid was breathing hard, her face flushed from haste, and every trace of William’s amusement vanished at the sight of her.

“My lady.”

Rosalind turned fully toward her. “Nelly?”

The maid glanced at William.

Whatever she had come to say, she plainly had not expected to find him there.

Rosalind must have seen something in her expression, because she took a step forward. “What is it?”

Nelly swallowed. “My lady, I need to speak with you.”

Rosalind’s brow furrowed. “You can speak freely.”

Another glance toward William.

This time there could be no mistaking the reluctance in it.

Nelly looked back at her mistress. “Now, my lady.”

The urgency in those three words changed the air in the gallery.

William felt Rosalind go still beside him.

Only moments earlier, she had been standing with her hand in his, telling him that perhaps they finally possessed a lead.

Now her maid looked as though whatever she had learned could not wait another minute.

Rosalind turned her head toward William.

Their eyes met.

And William knew, before either woman said another word, that something had changed.

Chapter 18

For a moment, Rosalind could only stare at Nelly.

The urgency in her maid’s expression was impossible to miss, but so was the quick glance she cast toward William.

Rosalind understood.

Whatever Nelly had learned, she did not wish to say it in front of him.

“We were just going into the gardens,” Rosalind said. “Come with us. We can speak there.”

She held Nelly’s gaze a moment longer, hoping the maid understood what she could not politely say aloud.

Not here.