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Finally, she managed to swallow down her pulsing emotions. “I... I’ve no objection, Your Grace. Only…”
“Only you’ve no interest in remaining on duty or serving the rest of the ball.” The Dowager smiled in understanding. “It is not unreasonable, darling. Why don’t you ring up Bradstone and one of the other maids, then go wait in my son’s study?”
“If you wish, Your Grace.” She dipped her head in agreement, though she’d far rather have made her excuses and quit the grounds entirely.
“There’s a dear. We’ll be along soon enough and get everything arranged in a proper fashion.” The Dowager patted her hand affectionately.
Nora nodded and gave her employer a nod of thanks, then turned away toward the back stairs, moving as quickly as she was able without breaking into an undignified run.
She was not particularly interested in revisiting the Duke’s study. Still, anywhere else was better than risking another encounter with her past.
CHAPTERSIX
Nora had vanished. His mother was doing rounds of the ballroom, chatting with various members of theton, radiating satisfaction. And he…
He was enduring the good-natured teasing of his friends. They’d been quick enough to offer congratulations and equally quick to start with jibes and jests—to say nothing of their increasingly crude insinuations—as soon as both maid and mother were out of earshot.
He tried to keep his good humor as David jostled him again, grinning over his newly filled wine glass. “A fine-looking girl and a good time all in one package, eh? You did say years ago that was your idea of the perfect woman.”
Ralph joined in from the other side. “And speaking of that... I thought you weren’t planning on attaching yourself to anyone. Or is that just a way of placating the chit and keeping her quiet?”
“Nothing of the sort. She’s a spirited girl, for all she’s in my mother’s employ more than mine.” He shrugged. “She’s a fine woman underneath the prim maid’s outfit.”
“Oh, and irritating your mother has nothing to do with it?” Samuel sauntered up with a bottle in hand and proceeded to top off everyone’s glasses.
“Does she look at all distressed?” Arthur gestured and drank a third of his glass. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think she’d rather me marry a maid than a lady. For all she said she’d see me in the scandal sheets, I didn’t think she’d be this invested in the lesson.”
“Well, perhaps she’s looking to save the money you’re paying the girl.” Ralph leered, a rough chuckle escaping him. “Well, I do assume you’re paying her well for her ‘extra’ services.”
“Are you then?” Samuel smirked. “I’d not mind sharing if the price tag is right.”
Irritation flashed through him, cutting hot, sharp and unexpected through the glow of the wine. “She is not a hired escort, and I will thank you not to speak of her in that manner. Servant she may be, but she’s an honest woman and with as much or more integrity as any lady of Society.”
Ralph blinked at him. “You can’t mean you’re actually planning to marry the girl?”
He paused for a moment, taken aback by the sharpness of the question.
Was he considering marrying the girl? He hadn’t thought of it with any seriousness before now. And in truth, he’d only proposed to Nora on a whim to irritate his mother. But his mother seemed pleased, for all that Nora wasn’t.
And as for the idea of actually marrying the girl... well, had he not been in pursuit of Nora’s attentions for a month? Perhaps a proper courtship would succeed where seduction and flirtation had not.
And had he not been thinking that the girl was a good match, spirited and pretty and with an entertaining wit as well? A good companion for a moment or two of private amusement might do as well for a partner of a more permanent sort.
“Arthur?” Ralph shook him out of his thoughts. “Where is your head, man?”
“On the girl. And as to your question... now that I think on it, perhaps I shall take her as my wife. She’s the looks, the wits, and the spirit to make a good Duchess, with a little polish.”
“You cannot be serious.” Ralph jerked back as if his shoulder had turned red-hot. “A servant? Really?”
“Why not?” He shrugged. “In fact, I think I shall go speak to my mother and Nora and settle the matter now.”
“Now?”
Arthur considered the matter a moment longer. “Now.” He set his wine glass on the table and went in search of his mother.
It took longer than he liked to say his farewells, but eventually, he had excused himself to all the necessary individuals. His mother had obligingly pointed him in the direction of his study when he’d asked for Nora’s whereabouts.
There was some irony to that, he had to admit, that this discussion should occur in the same place he’d first noticed that his mother’s mouse of a maid was no mouse at all.
