“Not winning her because she’s not mine,” Dietrich said, but he walked out the door with his heart lighter than it had been in quite some time. She didn’t know everything, but perhaps there was a small element of truth in what she said.
He walked back to the duke’s estate and made his way to the stables. He’d left John in charge while he was gone, and he should check in with him to make sure everything was going well.
But first, he stopped to say hi to Turnip and scratch his nose.
Petting the animals was his favorite part of the job.
They were the reason why he wanted to be the stable master in the first place. He had no real love for managing people, but if it meant he got to spend time with the animals and earn a higher salary, he would take it.
When he found John, he simply said, “It looks great here,” clapping him on the shoulder.
The older man shrugged. “We didn’t have too much to do while you were gone,” he said. “Feel better?” John looked at him with a knowing expression, and Dietrich found himself turning red.
“I’m fine,” he said.
“Your absence wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain person coming back, would it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Dietrich said.
John let out a grunt. “I’m sure you don’t. Just remember that you are a valuable member of the duke’s household, and there’s no need to disappear.”
Dietrich raised an eyebrow. “You sound like my mother,” he said.
John grinned. “Maybe I should meet her one of these days.”
“Or maybe not,” Dietrich said.
John was close to his mother’s age. He didn’t need him meeting her…except the idea of his mother finding happiness again actually sounded like a good thing.
So maybe it wouldn’t be all that bad if his mother and John met.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Dietrich said after a moment.
John grinned. “Really?” he asked.
“If you’re not gonna do anything stupid,” Dietrich said with a pointed look.
John would be good to his mother, even if the thought of his mother having romance in her life made him want to vomit.
“I think you would like her,” he admitted. “You’re both very...stubborn. If anything, the two of you both enjoy telling me what to do.”
Even though Dietrich was the stable master, John had a way of giving life advice that was too good to ignore.
John gestured with his head toward the stable door.
“The duke wanted to see you when you got back,” he said. “Better run. I’ll manage the evening feeding.”
Dietrich’s stomach churned, but he knew he had to answer the call and face his employer. The sooner, the better—as long as he could avoid seeing Ella in the process.
He wasn’t sure he wanted to see her.
All he could think about was the fact that she had kissed him…and he’d walked away from her. She deserved better than that, but he couldn’t be the one to give it to her.
So he would avoid seeing her for as long as he could, and hope that he could get away with it.
He made his way to the duke’s study, passing the now-familiar portrait on the wall and ignoring it. He rapped on the door, and when the duke said, “Come in,” he opened it quietly and entered.
“Ah, Dietrich,” the duke said, standing up from his desk. “I’m glad you’re back. I just wanted to check in and make sure everything was all right with your mother.”
