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“Ah, yes. I adore my Daffy, but one must hide from her at times,” he agreed.
“It is my birthday today. She has been fussing over me without giving me leave to breathe,” Felicia further advised him.
He shook his head. “A fusser … is my Daff.”
“She wants me to go out with her this morning, but I am determined to stay here,” Felicia confided.
He sighed heavily and gave up whatever it was he was doing, and Felicia beamed at her victory as he asked, “Why?”
“Because I am hopeful … well, I think perhaps …”
“You are waiting for the duke to pay you a call,” he finished, tapping his nose as though to emphasize that nothing got past him.
She clapped her hands. “You are a knowing one, aren’t you?”
“In this case, one would have to be blind,” he answered with a warm smile. “Fond of him?”
“Yes,” she said solemnly.
“Well, I believe he is here now,” Freddy said quietly as he got to his feet.
The duke stood in the doorway, and Freddy said, “I shall leave you two for a moment, as I have just remembered that I need speak with my lady.”
So saying, Freddy was gone.
* * *
Lady Daphne heard her brother’s voice as he parted with Freddy and closed the study door at his back. She hurried forward, towards the study, but Freddy took her hands, pulled her to him, and said, “No, my dear, leave them be for a moment.”
“Them?”
“Yes, Feli
cia came into the study while I was trying to get some paperwork attended to.”
“You mean she was in there with you? Whatever for?”
“Hiding from you.” He chuckled.
“But why?”
“Didn’t want to go out. Wanted to wait for the duke,” he answered her.
“Yes, but we weren’t expecting Glen.” Evidently puzzled by this, Daffy frowned.
“No, but he is here,” he said patiently.
“Yes, but what is going on?”
“Don’t you know, dearest? You are usually more knowing than you appear to be right at this moment.” He held her hand and pulled her along. “Come on, then, I fancy we should prepare some champagne.”
“What? At ten in the morning?”
“Precisely!”
* * *
Inside the study, the duke stared at a vision in green velvet. She sat on the winged chair, with her dusky curls tied high and bouncing long to frame her piquant face. Her green eyes glowed with wonder as she waited for him to speak. Her cherry lips beckoned as they always did. She was everything he had ever wanted.
