‘Good morning, Your Grace,’ Tilman said.He’d never saidgraceso much in his life.‘It is Sunday.The day of rest.I suspect everyone is resting.’
The Duke of Stoneleigh’s eyes narrowed.‘You!’he finally called out.‘You can’t come into an establishment like Almacks, no matter how well you are dressed.You can’t escort a duchess there or anywhere.You are here tomanagethings, not let her do as she pleases, Mr—Mr—’
‘Tillman.I am exhausted.Shush.Please.’
‘And you are not to letanyone—is someone in there with you?’The duke tipped to the side.‘Who?’
Tillman leant against the frame, blocking the room behind him as best he could.‘Best you don’t know, Your Grace.’
The duke prodded his chest.‘I will not have shenanigans.I will not put up with a poorly managed estate.If you want to diddle the maids, you can take yourself to a place where that’s tolerated—’
‘Tillman, I know you said I wouldn’t sleep, but this is ridiculous,’ Lorelei grumbled, her voice thick with slumber.
The duke’s brow furrowed with confusion.Then his anger returned, and he slapped his hand on the door and shoved it open.Lorelei rubbed a palm across her eyes as she yawned herself awake, and raised her head.Looked to him with a smile, then across.
She sat up fast, tugging the sheet around her.
The duke looked from her to him, then back.Tillman stepped into the space between Lorelei and her father.
‘You get yourself upstairs,’ the duke bit out.‘Before anyone sees.’
Lorelei tugged the sheet a little higher, shook out her hair, and raised her chin.‘You will not tell me what to do in my own home,’ she said in a brusque tone.‘I will go upstairs in my own time.’
‘If anyone sees you—’
‘Oh, my heavens!’
They all turned to the doorway, where Cecil stood, perfectly dressed and ready for the day.‘The estate manager and the duchess sharing a room!This is beyond scandalous!’he exclaimed, his voice rising with each word as he craned his neck along the hallway, sending his shock in all directions.
‘Will youshush!’the duke whispered.‘If anyone finds out—’
‘Oh yes, if anyonewereto find out…’ Cecil’s voice went up an octave, his eyes widening with horror.‘The news would spread like wildfire!Oh, my heavens!The scandal sheets!The rumours!The talk!’
Cecil ran one of the tightest households in the county, so whenever he raised his voice, staff scurried towards it on instinct.Feet clattered and doors slammed, and while Tillman could not see them, the voices of the staff muttering and mumbling amongst themselves floated down the hall.
The duke’s nostrils flared as he turned on the butler.Cecil, hands jittering, straightened his cravat.‘Simply outrageous.Households have been ruined for less.I hope it doesn’t get out.How would the Osborne reputation ever recover?And the Stoneleigh name mixed up in it too?Whatwillpeople think?’
Whispers, giggles, chatter… they were a hard-working group, but curse them, their days were mundane.They loved to gossip, and all that tittering bubbled along the walls and down the hall now.Doors opened and closed.Feet scuffed on floorboards.The duke spun on his heel, shook his head as he curled his lips, and took a step into the room.He pointed an accusatory finger at Tillman.‘You will sign papers.You will get nothing.Not a pound.Not a penny!’He pointed to Lorelei.‘You will not relinquish your title.You will marry him without fuss, then retire to the country.’
Lorelei pulled the sheet tighter around herself, wrapping it into a makeshift robe as she stood.She rolled her shoulders, shook out her tangle of hair, and met her father’s gaze without flinching.‘And you will not meddle with my family again.’
The old man looked away.‘I’ll arrange an emergency licence,’ he grunted.‘We will never speak of this again.’
‘As you wish, Your Grace.’Lorelei dropped into the perfect curtsy, even as she had to grip the sheet to stop it from slipping.
The Duke of Stoneleigh had turned and stormed from the hall before she could raise herself to her full height again.
‘Cecil.Why all the shouting?’Tillman shot at the butler.‘Do you know what you’ve done?’
‘Of course, I know what I’ve done.’Cecil huffed in exasperation.‘A reputation is a fine thing, but so is a little happiness.The young duke needs many things to prepare him for the future, and a mother who smiles occasionally will do him no harm.There aren’t many models for happy marriages amongst the peerage.Seeing one is a lesson that might serve him well.’The familiarity evaporated, and the officious facade returned.‘I shall start organising the wedding breakfast.Good day to you both.’
As Cecil strode away, Tillman slowly closed the door.He looked to Lorelei.She adjusted the sheet.
‘Do youwantto get married?’he asked.
‘The gossip is likely already being shared over the back fence.Do we have a choice?’
He reached for her hand, then hesitated.‘Are you… happy?’
