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“Your places?” The duke turned from the sideboard. “Holding up the wall? Looking decorative? Vexing Mr. Coburn?”
“Eating you out of house and home,” said one.
“Growing out of our livery at a rate of knots,” added another.
“Brawling like wild animals,” chimed one more; they all creased themselves laughing at this.
“And to think I drew you here from far and wide”—the duke glowered—“only to have you take advantage of my good will.”
“That’s us, Alph—Your Grace. Taking advantage, we are.” The second ginger was as cheeky as the first.
“From far and wide?” Felicity stirred her tea.
All the footmen made to answer, but Mr. Coburn prevailed. “His Grace is ever on the prowl—on the alert, to those who are in need of gainful employment. At the ducal seat, it is preferable that the lads have the opportunity to benefit from the duke’s presence, that they may settle into themselves until such time as they are prepared to venture forth.”
“That is quite extraordinary.” Felicity was moved by this generosity of spirit, this evidence of nurture and care. “And how are you discovered?” A plate hit the table with a thump before Felicity, laden with enough eggs to feed an army and four pieces of bread loaded with butter and jam. “Your Grace, I cannot eat all this.”
“I’ll finish what you do not.”
“Your Grace,” Felicity repeated, “I have only the manners my mother managed to convey, which she herself had to intuit on many levels, as not one born to the gentry—”
“I know,” the duke said.
“You know what?”
The duke’s cheeks reddened as though put to the blush, which was patently ridiculous. “That your mother was, eh, not born to the purple, so to speak.”
“Mr. Bates at work, again? He should seek employment in Bow Street.”
“He is kept well occupied by the needs of this estate.”
“As I was saying, one does not eat from another’s plate.” Felicity poured herself more tea and held up the pot. At his nod, she refilled his cup. “I am keen to ride your lands, as you promised.”
“Ah. Yes. Today will suit.”
“I had intended to remind you at the meal last evening, but you did not join us.”
“I was detained.” He cleared his throat and looked away. “On the land. Farthest boundary. Miles away.”
“I experienced something of your lands yesterday, on my hack.” Felicity ate some delicious eggs. “How in the world did you get about? For I doubt a horse would make its way safely over most of the underbrush, and I would scold you soundly had you attempted such.”
“Scold me, would you?” The duke leaned toward her. “Soundly?”
“And another thing,” she said, longing to touch his face and see if was it as warm as it had felt two nights previous, “I came across an animal near Edenbrook. I am supposing it was a very large dog, black as night—”
“Ma’am, forgive me, if I may interrupt.” Coburn drew her attention from the inexplicably sniggering footmen. “You have received post.” He set a silver salver at her elbow.
Would it be bad manners to read it before all? She had not broken her fast in company for years, and her mother had received little post.Bedamned with rules, she thought.Rules have done little for me.The first note was from Aherne: the horses were safely hidden, and he and Bailey had taken it upon themselves to use their second hiding place, the western paddock that lay even farther away from the house than the holiday field. Her heart could rest easy in that regard, at least.
She opened the second missive; it was from Cousin Cecil.
There was no salutation.
How surprised I was to hear from you, cousin.
Of course, the word of your ruination has spread far and wide.
La! That you would think to write to me.
