“Temple, you are worrying over nothing.”
She tipped her chin up. “My good name isnotnothing.”
He sighed. “I realize it is precious to you, and I will do all in my power to have it remain so. Even if my brother does not believe us, he does have a smidgeon of sense and knows to keep his mouth shut. I would not worry about him.”
“Easy for you to say. But this possibility firms my resolve to leave here as soon as possible.”
“Not before the snow lets up,” he insisted.
“As it just did,” she pointed out.
“But it has now resumed,” he pointed out in return.
But this got him thinking about what he would do if Ailis’s good namewastarnished. The blame for her downfall would fall squarely on him, would it not?
He shook his head, not wanting to give thought to the consequences. Surely she would be gone before any of his family or their party arrived.
And if not?
Despite his Silver Duke reputation, he could never abandon Ailis to ruination.
Her good name was priceless to her.
Would he mind all that much giving up his freedom to marry her?
Chapter Seven
Jonas had nowspent that last four nights sleeping on the sofa in his study, a fact that engendered great consternation in his loyal staff, since it meant their sleeping accommodations were finer than his own, at present. But he dared not move into any of the guest bedchambers because they were not far enough away from Ailis, who was proving to be more of a temptation than he ever expected.
The pretty spinster should not have made any significant impact on his life. Yet here she was, ensconced in his ducal bedchamber and making him yearn to keep her there far longer than the course of this snowfall.
For this reason, he dared not have her remain once the skies cleared and the roads safely reopened. He needed to take her home. She was already in a fret over the Christmas charity ball as she had fallen behind in the preparations.
“Your Grace,” Grimes said, silently crossing the study to draw aside the velvet drapes and allow sunshine to flood into the room. “The snow has stopped and the sun is shining.”
Jonas blinked to accustom his eyes to the morning light that seemed brighter than usual because of the sun’s reflection off the snow. “I can see that, Grimes. Botheration, it’s blinding.”
“But is it not a relief? I was beginning to fear the snow would never stop falling.”
“Yes, it is positively marvelous,” he replied, his voice laden with sarcasm as he groaned to a sitting position and stretched his stiff back.
Lord, he missed his own bed.
He would miss not finding Ailis curled up in it even more.
After taking another moment to stretch, he strode to the window and peered out. The sky was the most vivid blue he had seen since last spring, unmarred by a single cloud. However, with the weather now clearing, he could also see the snow was hard packed. The blanket of white on the ground was itself covered in a sheen of ice that glistened under the sun. Icicles had coated the tree branches so that they shimmered like crystal prisms and created a magical effect.
Ailis would love this. He wondered whether she was awake and looking out onto this view. It was as though his estate had been transported into the realm of the Winter Queen of local lore.
Everything was covered in gleaming ice.
“Will you be taking Miss Temple home today, Your Grace?” Grimes asked, regaining Jonas’s attention.
“No.” The word slipped from his lips without a thought, for he was not ready to send her back yet. Not that he would ever keep her against her will, nor did he wish to have her with him a moment longer than was necessary. But was it not wise to give her another day or two of rest in order to ensure her shoulder properly healed? “Everything is covered in ice and nothing is melting. The roads must still be treacherous. Common sense requires she remain with us until we are certain they are safe to travel.”
Grimes nodded. “Shall I have your shaving gear brought down here?”
“No. I’ll see to the horses first, and then ready myself for the day in the East Room.” He was getting used to staring atthose butterflies and flowers on the wallpaper while he groomed himself. “Let Mrs. Fitch know I will take my breakfast with Miss Temple afterward.”
