Page 76 of Courting the Wrong Duke

“I fear not.”

A faint smile returned to the duchess's lips. “Servants do have an unfortunate tendency to lose the most interesting parts of a story.”

With that, she inclined her head and followed her husband outside.

Rosalind remained standing in the open doorway, watching their carriage disappear down the street.

A woman.

Seen with her father.

On a lonely road outside London.

It might be nothing more than another foolish rumor.

Or it might be the first genuine lead she had received in days.

Either way, she intended to place it before William that very afternoon.

Behind her, Nelly appeared with Rosalind's gloves. “My lady? Lord William will be expecting you.”

Rosalind accepted them absently. “Yes.”

Her thoughts, however, were already racing ahead.

If a servant had repeated the story, then somewhere, another servant might know the rest.

***

Gunter’s tea shop stood upon one of Mayfair's busiest streets, its polished windows overlooking an endless procession of elegant carriages and fashionable ladies drifting from one appointment to the next.

Rosalind spotted William almost immediately.

He waited outside beneath the striped awning, hat in hand, speaking politely with the proprietor. The afternoon sun caught the fair strands of his hair, lending them an almost golden cast, and when he noticed her carriage drawing to a stop, a smile spread so naturally across his face that she found herself smiling in return before she had time to think better of it.

It was disconcertingly easy.

William stepped forward as the footman lowered the steps. “Lady Rosalind.”

“Lord William.”

He offered his arm. “If I may?”

She accepted it, reminding herself that the gesture formed part of their arrangement.

Nothing more.

Behind them, Nelly settled herself upon a nearby bench, entirely content to remain outside while they entered the tea shop together.

The gentle murmur of conversation, the delicate fragrance of fresh pastries, and the comforting scent of tea leaves greeted them almost at once. Sunlight filtered through lace curtains, illuminating polished wooden tables already occupied by ladies, gentlemen, and no small number of hopeful young couples.

William glanced around the busy establishment before leaning slightly nearer. “I believe we've chosen well.”

“For the cake?”

“For the audience.”

Rosalind followed his gaze around the room. Nearly every table was occupied, and more than one familiar face had already noticed their arrival.