Still, it felt all to her advantage.
“Join us for tea this afternoon if you feel daring enough to meet my guests.”
“Maybe tomorrow.” She did not think she would have any of his grandmother’s gowns altered in time today. Not to mention, she was too cowardly to attempt mingling with this Upper Crust set and had avoided them for the past two days now.
She intended this to be the third day of avoiding that crowd.
He cast her an affectionate smile. “All right. At your own snail’s pace.”
She thought he would now leave her, but he walked over to one of the orange trees instead and plucked an orange off one of the lower branches. He then withdrew a knife from the lip of his boot and began to peel it.
When pieces of the rind fell to the floor, Harriet bent to pick them up.
The duke stopped her. “The gardeners will collect it later. Here, have a taste of this and tell me what you think.”
Harriet had never tasted an orange before and was not certain what to expect, but it was never this sweet, juicy marvel.
Her eyes widened as she swallowed a slice. “It is delicious. I have never tasted anything so good.”
“I know.” He grinned and popped a piece into his mouth, then gave her the next piece.
Before she knew it, they had eaten the entire orange.
“Did you enjoy it?” He rubbed his thumb along her chin to wipe off a dribble of juice.
She laughed. “Immensely.”
“Good.” He dropped his hand to his side, and regarded her a long moment before speaking again. “I really need to see to my guests now.”
“Oh, yes. Please do not let me delay you. May I stay here a little while longer?”
“Stay as long as you wish.”
“I won’t linger since I have quite a bit of sewing to do. But thank you for a most enjoyable tour.”
He nodded. “I’ll look in on you later.”
He then strode off, leaving her to wander about the conservatory on her own.
Harriet did not stay long after him.
Not only did she have sewing to do, but she did not want to be seen by any of his guests yet since her hair was undone, and her hands and face were sticky from the juice squirting out whenever she bit into the orange flesh.
Feeling exhilarated by the morning’s adventure and the upcoming wager made with the duke, she took a moment to wash her hands and face in the kitchen spout, and then sprinted up the servants stairs to her bedchamber.
She entered only to find the dowager duchess and several maids already there. “Oh, I hope I did not keep you waiting, Your Grace.”
She had no idea the dowager was also an early riser.
Well, it was already mid-morning but still long before noon when most others would begin to stir.
“Not at all, my dear. You are right on time. I’ve chosen several old gowns of mine and those of Pendrake’s mother, as well. I think these will suit you quite nicely and can be more easily altered than most.”
“They are beautiful,” Harriet murmured, running her hands lightly over the delicate silks and sturdier muslins that had been finely crafted.
“The lace trim on some of them is showing age, but those are easily replaced with fresh trimmings,” the dowager remarked, turning to one of the maids. “Alice, fetch me the lace basket.”
The girl bobbed a curtsy and hurried off.
