“Excuse me, I’ll be right back.”Tulip was not a trained investigator and might be wrong about this, but he would find out soon enough when he confronted the man.
Why was he standing there spying on him?
Alex set aside his table linen and rose.
Tulip gasped.“What are you going to do to him?”
“Just have a friendly conversation,” Alex assured her, his thoughts no longer on their wedding plans but on finding out this gentleman’s purpose.
The fellow had darted out of sight by the time Alex walked out of the hotel to confront him.
He glanced up and down the street, then halted at one of the hotel windows and peered inside the tea room where Tulip was seated.She gestured that the man had run across the street and disappeared into the park.
Alex nodded and walked back inside.
The steward bustled over to him as he resumed his seat.“Your Grace, is there a problem?”
“No, just thought I saw someone I knew.”He settled his account and escorted Tulip to his waiting carriage.
“Tulip, are you certain he was not looking at you?”he asked, assisting her into his conveyance.
“Quite certain.”She leaned back against the soft leather squabs.“I could have sworn he was looking straight at you, as though he knew you.Was he a Davenport relation, perhaps?At first glance, there appeared to be a slight resemblance.”
Alex grunted, and then took a moment to question his driver.“Trent, did you notice anyone peering into the tea room from the street?”
“No, Your Grace.My apologies, but I was instructed to drive the carriage to the mews and wait until summoned by one of the hotel stewards.”
“Yes, of course.”He climbed in and settled in the seat opposite Tulip.“So, you think the man was a relation of mine?”
“There was definitely a resemblance between the two of you, although he was not nearly as tall or handsome as you.”
He laughed.“If he is one of my Havers cousins, I’m sure he’ll come around soon to beg money out of me.”
“He had better make it quick, for we’ll be off to Somerset within a matter of days.Your Grace, there is something important we have yet to discuss.”
“Go ahead,” he said with a nod as the carriage got underway.But he knew what it was, for her expression gave her away.
The bedchamber.
Their sleeping arrangements.
In truth, he hadn’t known quite how to raise the topic with her.
It did not seem proper to chat about such a thing over tea and biscuits in a public tea room.
Since she was now determined to raise it, he listened.
Her face turned crimson and she cleared her throat.“Are we to…well, the sleeping…you see?”
“Are you trying to ask me if we are to share a bed?”He certainly wanted to, but that was a lot to demand of Tulip considering how their betrothal had come about.“The choice is entirely up to you.”
“It is?”Her eyes widened, obviously not expecting his answer.
“Yes.”
It would not take them long to arrive on Chipping Way, so he was not going to delay in resolving the matter.“I hope that we will.I understand that it is not common for dukes and duchesses to share quarters.Also, a two-day betrothal and then rushing into marriage is not ideal circumstances, is it?”
“No, not ideal,” she said with a wince.“Poor Aunt Sophie.”
