Lucy nodded. She’d nearly run him over, after she’d stormed out of the duke’s study.
“The duke sent me to deliver this.” He held out a small, blue, velvet pouch.
Lucy took it, puzzled. “What is it?”
“Marbles, Miss.”
“Marbles!” She opened the pouch and spilled the contents onto her palm.
“The duke instructed me to deliver them to you personally. He said you’d know what to do with them.”
“Yes! How inordinately thoughtful of him.” Lucy said, surprised by this unpredictable man.
“If it isn’t too forward of me to ask, Miss.” He lowered his voice. “What are you going to do with them? One cannot help but be curious. It is rather out of the common to observe the duke dedicating an entire three hours searching for marbles.”
“Oh, did he?” Lucy’s eyes sparkled.
Mr Brown groaned. “He ransacked the entire study with singular determination. He refused any help. He eventually found them in his lowest drawer of his desk. Under a pile of documents.”
“How marvellous! What do you think they were doing there?” Lucy lowered her voice. “Do you think he secretly plays with marbles, Mr Brown?”
“If so, I have not yet caught him doing so.”
“I need them for Jem.”
Mr. Brown nodded. “The lamp boy’s little brother.”
Lucy gave him an approving smile. “I’m impressed that you know who he is.”
“The entire household knows who he is, Miss Bell. He, together with his brother Jimmy, ate every crumb of Mrs Springer’s chicken pot pie.”
“I hope they enjoyed every bite. That is rather nice of him, don’t you think, that he is giving Jem his marbles? But it isn’t just about Jem and Jimmy. I need to talk to him. It is proving to be rather difficult to get a hold of him in company here.”
“He is a very busy man, Miss Bell.”
“Mr Brown?” Lucy chewed on her lip.
“Yes, Miss Bell?”
“How does one talk to His Grace about business matters?”
“Business matters? Well. People usually make an appointment with me. And then, if it is important enough, they get invited to discuss the matter with His Grace.”
“I see. Well, the matter I need to discuss with His Grace is of utmost importance. Therefore, Mr Brown, could you kindly make an appointment for me with His Highness—His Graceness—I mean, His Grace?”
“Certainly,Miss Bell. I will need my appointment book for this, however. His Graceness—I mean His Grace—is a very busy man, and his schedule is usually full.” He furrowed his brow. “But I think I should be able to squeeze you in between the agricultural meeting and the water development meeting with the steward this afternoon. I shall let you know, Miss Bell.”
“Mr Brown, you are gold.”
He blushed.
Mr Brown did indeedsqueezeher between the agricultural meeting and the water development meeting.
She sailed into the study, full of energy.
“Miss Bell! What now?” She saw the quick tensing of the duke’s shoulders before his usual mask fell over his face.
“I have come todiscuss some very important business matters,” Lucy announced airily, to cover the somersaulting in her stomach. She stuck her nose in the air and sat down in the chair Mr Brown indicated.
