She resumed her walk to the pond, knowing they could talk while strolling.
He appeared lost in his thoughts as he strode beside her. “I have ruled them all out save for Lady Beatrice. But…there is something not quite right about her, Harry. She is hiding something from me.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded. “It is in her eyes and in her smile, you see. She looks at me, but does not seeme. She smiles at me, but it is forced.”
He paused and raked a hand through his hair. “No, not forced but…secretive. That’s a better word for it. Her smile is not one of pleasure but more of a smirk, as though she knows a secret that I do not.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes, quite. I know you think I am behaving like a boor toward those ladies, but I assure you that I am not. I have been politeness itself.”
She guffawed.
He wasn’t angry and joined her in a quiet laugh. “Do not chide me, Harry. I am doing the best I can. But it all feels so unnatural with these ladies, even Beatrice. I want to like them, truly I do.”
“What are you asking of me?”
“I am taking them on a picnic tomorrow and would like you to join us. I expect you have altered one or two suitable gowns by now. No subterfuge necessary. You shall be exactly who you are, the sister of one of my dearest friends, George Comeford. I’ll introduce you around, including to Beatrice. It is past time that I did. They must have seen this mysterious lady lingering in the shadows and been wondering about you. Hopefully, you can get more information out of her.”
Harriet had been concerned it would come down to this, that he would use her as a spy. But how could she refuse him after he and his grandmother had been so generous with her? The young lady was probably too smart to spill anything important to her, a stranger, anyway. Nor was he asking her to sneak into Beatrice’s room and rifle through her belongings.
It was just a conversation or two he was asking of her. “Will I be expected to participate in your house party activities after this?”
“And not remain cloistered in your bedchamber?”
She nodded. “Dining with you and your guests. Participating in lawn games and taking tea with all of you. Joining in the evening entertainments.”
“I hadn’t thought much about it…but yes, I suppose. Once you are introduced to everyone, would it not appear odd if you returned to hiding in your room? Others might think I am holding you captive.”
She laughed. “It is quite the loveliest prison to be held in captivity. Soft bed, silk coverlets, excellent food, maids to attend to all my needs, and the loveliest grounds filled with excellent walking paths. Who would ever want to leave?”
He grinned. “Glad you are enjoying your stay.”
“Seriously, Your Grace. You and your grandmother have been so generous with me. I do not know how I will ever repay your kindness. This is why I worry about disappointing you or ever embarrassing you. I am so ignorant about your rules since I do not go about in Society. I do not know your dances or your card games. I do not know how to make flirtatious conversation.”
“Nor do you need to know any of it,” he insisted. “My grandmother and I will teach you anything we deem important. In truth, I do not see any obvious lack in you that requires improvement. You will enchant everyone just by being yourself.”
Harriet thought that was quite an exaggeration.
He was only saying this to allay her fears.
“Then there is the matter of my gowns, Your Grace. I have altered two of them so far and can quickly finish a third. But this would only get me through one day of activities.”
“All right, I see your point,” the duke replied. “We shall deal with this problem later. Right now, all I need is for you to gather as much information as you can from Beatrice during tomorrow’s picnic excursion.”
“Do you really believe she will confide anything in me upon a few minutes of acquaintance? It would probably take several days before Beatrice and I conversed about anything more serious than the weather.”
“I beg to differ. You have an engaging way about you, Harriet. People immediately take to you and trust you.”
“Which makes it more awful that I would betray their trust,” she muttered, not eager to leap into this favor.
Yet, she felt even more awful about spurning his generosity. “All right, I will try.”
“Thank you.” He glanced toward the distant terrace. “I had better return before my guests wonder about me. Until tomorrow then.”
She watched him walk off, his stride purposeful as he marched back to his friends.
