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Chapter Ten
“Ialways did like brooding men.”
Chastity peered at her aunt through a narrowed gaze. “What does that have to do with anything?”
Her aunt shrugged as they continued their stroll along the meandering stone path of Green Park. Spring breezes gave way to burgeoning summer heat that beat down upon Chastity’s face despite her parasol, and she fought the desire to fling the thing away and turn her face to the sun. There was something to be said about the freedom to be freckled. She rather enjoyed not having to stay pale and freckle-free as a maid.
Aunt Sarah pressed a finger to her lips. “You know there was a Mr. Bradbury, I think his name was, who paid particular attention to me and he had the most mysterious and brooding air. I did find him so intriguing, and I do believe he thought the same of me.” She grinned. “Though there has never been anything brooding about me,” she added. “But there really is something about them when they are all quiet and dark-eyed like that. Makes one imagine you could have quite the time bringing them out of themselves.”
Chastity shared a look with Cassie, who walked on the other side of their aunt and had taken to wearing more jewel tones since her marriage. The emerald green gown flattered her pale features much more than the fair shades of a debutante. Her sister’s cheeks were perpetually rosy and it seemed marriage suited her. Thank goodness Cassie had chosen far better than Chastity ever had.
Demeter had her arm looped through Cassie’s, and Chastity caught sight of the little tug Demeter gave. She smiled to herself. Demeter loved her walks and always wanted them to walk as far as possible. When in the country, she could be counted on to vanish for hours, trekking over every hill in the vicinity and walking miles.
Today, however, there was no time for long walks or brisk paces that would make them breathless. She had little time away from her duties, and she needed to update her sisters on her investigation.
Or lack thereof so far, she supposed.
The fact Eleanor hadn’t accompanied them meant things had not improved at home. She never missed out on a chance to walk with them all.
“Uncle Simon was never brooding,” pointed out Cassie.
Aunt Sarah wagged a finger, the huge amethyst setting of her ring catching the light. “That is beside the point. Sometimes bold women like us need a quiet man. It balances us out.” She indicated between her and Chastity.
“You forget, Aunt, that I have had a man, and I do not need another,” Chastity reminded her.
“There is a complete difference between need and want.”
Chastity closed her eyes briefly. Want? Need? Who could tell the difference? After being kissed by Lord Kendall, she felt both—deep in her core. As though she both wanted and needed more kisses. Which was entirely ridiculous. Her aunt might enjoy brooding men, but she did not. She didn’t enjoy men at all. Give her the company of women any day and let men stay as they were—at a distance and unkissed by her.
Children’s laughter drew her attention to the edge of the lake where nannies and their charges gathered to retreat from the heat of the day under the shady canopy of the trees whilst the children waded into the edge of the cold water, their clothing tucked up around their thighs.
She recalled doing the same when she had been a child and in London; though Cassie and Eleanor had been too young to join her. Once she was older, she had been forced to watch over them from a blanket on the grass instead—yet it never bothered her. Looking after her younger sisters always brought her great pleasure.
Her throat tightened. All she wanted for them was happiness, for them to never suffer through what she had, yet somehow she had been unable to shield Eleanor from misery.
“Chastity?”
She turned and forced herself to focus on Demeter. “Pardon?”
“I asked if you were managing to maintain your role as a maid.”
She smiled thinly. “I believe so. The early mornings are utter misery, but the earl is a simple man with simple needs.”
Unless one counted needing to kiss her. Or wanting to. Or whatever it was. Nothing felt simple about that kiss.
“The housekeeper thinks me unnecessary, and I would be inclined to agree with her.”
“At least he runs a good household,” Demeter said. “There are many who are most unkind to their servants, and he does have a look to him.”
“Oh, Lord Kendall might look mean, but he is most certainly not.” She paused and scowled to herself.
Why was she defending him? His servants were loyal, well-paid and given a day off a week—far more than many households—but it hardly made him a saint. Their own servants were treated similarly after Chastity’s mother taught them the importance of treating those who work for you well.
The rewards of having loyal and caring employees were certainly worth the additional expense in Chastity’s mind. Unfortunately, John had never thought so and running his household had been entirely different to keeping things going for Anton. Of course, now that her brother was married, she did not have a say in such matters anymore, so this investigation had come at an ideal time really.
Not that she was grateful for it. Oh no. She’d rather the young man was alive and Eleanor untouched by scandal.
And she was untouched by Valentine…
