“Your nursemaid is quiet,” the duke said to Fee.
“Very,” she agreed.
“She’s regretting having displayed her penchant for rudeness in your presence.”
Fee giggled. “Penchant.”
“Penchant,”the duke adopted Hera’s accent, “means a strong tendency.” He returned to his own. “Am I correct, Mrs. Montrose?”
“Your definition is correct,” she replied with a quick glance over her shoulder. “Although I object to the character.”
“Mrs. Montrose is never rude,” Fee supplied loyally.
“Without fault, is she?” the duke asked.
“No oneis without fault,” Hera replied.
The duke pulled up beside her. “Certainly not you, she leaves unspoken. And yet, the temptation lingers. Well, Mrs. Montrose. Indulge yourself. My faults, if you please. You’ve been longing to make them plain since the moment we met.”
She glanced askance and met his laughing eyes. Was heflirting?
“Arrogant will do,” she said primly. “And entitled.”
“Now, the rules of fair play dictate I must be given a chance to answer the charge.”
She lifted a brow. “Canyou?”
“Well, to the second, of course I’m entitled, I’m the very definition of the word. You can hardly blame me for that.”
“And the first?”
He cleared his throat. “Perhaps I had better list my assets, instead.”
“Fee already did.”
“I did?” Fee asked.
“Acres of daises, in season,” she replied. “And one,wholemountain.”
He laughed. “That, of course, but I was referring to assets of character.”
She moved her gaze askance. “What sterling qualities do you deign to possess?”
“I’m loyal. I’m generous. I’m known as someone who can solve any problem no matter what the obstacle...”
She glanced heavenward and then shook her head.
“...I’ve also been known to be frank. A quality you, too, possess.”
“One can be too frank,” she said wryly. “I suppose you’re now about to tell me that whatever you do, you do extraordinarily?”
“Certainly.” He flashed an even-toothed grin.
They’d nearly caught up to Delmare and the groom at the point where the pathway narrowed. The duke slowed, allowing her to slide in between Delmare and himself.
While Heradidride, she’d done so infrequently in the past few years. And, although the mare the duke’s groom had chosen for her was beautiful, biddable, and calm, she was conscious of the desire to show herself to her best advantage.
Why,though?
