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“Madam?”
Both Kenneth and his mother turned their heads at the interruption. His mother’s maid walked into the study and curtsied.
“His Grace has returned.” she announced.
His mother simply nodded but the maid remained in her place instead of leaving.
“Anything else?” his mother asked.
“He has returned with a party of seven, Madam,” the maid responded.
Kenneth smiled as succinctly as possible. His father’s arrival had saved him from a grueling interrogation ahead. And the fact that he was in the company of others, most certainly Dukes and Lords as well, meant that his mother was going to have to pause their conversation and go play hostess.
“All right. Go about getting things ready. I will be with you shortly,” his mother responded.
She turned to face him.
“You will have to excuse me, Son. I need to go and attend to your father,” she said as she rose to her feet, Kenneth rising with her as well.
“Yes, Mother,” he responded, with as much solemnness as he could muster.
“I’m not deterred by that sham,” his mother announced, referring to his response, causing him to chuckle. “I shall return and we will finish this conversation,” she announced in mock defiance, after noticing his reluctance to tell her the truth.
She walked toward the door as he watched. At the door, she turned and looked back at him.
“It is Lord Somerholm’s daughter, isn’t it?” she remarked, before turning back and exiting the study.
His heart stopped once more. The Duchess was on to him and none of his antics had swayed her.
He needed to have a valid explanation for when they returned to this conversation, something convincing enough to sway her.
She cannot know about Lady Rose.
Kenneth walked back to the window and begun pondering. He could easily go entertaining Lady Charlotte so as to have something to tell his mother. After all, there was bound to be drama with Lady Charlotte. It was part of the package.
No. Mother will never buy whatever story I tell her that involves Lady Charlotte.
He thought about going after any of the ladies the Duchess had mentioned, all in a bid to get her off the scent of Lady Rose. Unfortunately, nothing that came to mind was going to work.
I’m going to have to tell her or stay away from her till she forgets.
His decision made, he turned to find Leonard walking into the study at that exact moment.
“I thought I asked to be left alone for the rest of the day,” he said.
“And I intended to honor your request. However, there’s been a new development,” Leonard announced as he came to a stop a few paces away from him.
“What development?” Kenneth asked in confusion.
“A letter from Lady Rose,” Leonard responded, thrusting his hand forward and bringing the letter into view.
