Nearly as tall as himself, though not quite as broad of shoulder, the man was athletically built. Wearing a traveling greatcoat merely draped over his shoulders, impeccably dressed beneath it, despite the fact that he’d been traveling and that tended to rumple even the best materials, he cut a dashing figure. Blond—Duncan was truly beginning to think most of England was—blue eyed, and in his mid-twenties, he had an air of importance about him.
Duncan wouldn’t have cared if he were royalty, he still didn’t like the fellow’s manner, and in one of his calmer tones—though those who knew him would surely call it ominous—he asked, “What, exactly, has been said aboot me, if you dinna mind telling me?”
“Just rubbish that anyone with a whit of intelligence would dismiss, but you know how ridiculous some females can be. Take my sister there.”
The fellow nodded over his shoulder at a lass with the same shade of blond hair that the gentleman sported. She was in the process of directing no fewer than four servants in the unloading of no fewer than six large trunks from the coach pulled up nearby. Very pretty girl, though.
Duncan no sooner had that thought than the fellow added, “Had to drag her here kicking and screaming, the silly chit is so sure you’re going to be toting a club and wearing bearskins to dinner. Takes gossip as the literal truth, Mandy does, when it should be enjoyed for what it is, titillating fiction designed to break the inevitable boredom of a nonworking class.”
“Why come, if she didna want tae come?”
“And miss this golden opportunity to meet the reclusive Neville Thackeray? Wouldn’t think of it. He’s only been speculated about for years and years, and most of the people I know have never even clapped eyes on him. ‘Sides, the little sister there is in the market, if you know what I mean, so Mum and Dad pretty much insisted she not miss the exposure of a grand country gathering as this one is sure to be. Not that they’re hoping foryouin particular, dear boy, just that they want to keep her circulating while the Season lasts, and yours truly gets to chaperone, don’t you know.”
Duncan was starting to understand the fellow better now, and wishing he didn’t That “dear boy,” he found particularly condescending, enough for him to remark, “If you havena noticed, I’m no’ exactly aboy,and certainly no’ adearone tae you, when we havena met prior. I’ve laid men on the floor for implying less.”
“Have you?”
This was said in a very unimpressed tone. But then the fellow began to chuckle. That in turn turned into some extended laughter. When that wound down, the Englishman continued, “A piece of advice, my friend. Learn to distinguish between a deliberate insult and what is clearly, or at least clearly intended as, no more than an affectation of speech. It might save you much angst, I’m sure, and might save a few innocent noses as well.”
Feeling foolish never had been a preference of Duncan’s. It usually annoyed the hell out of him instead, and now was no different. “Your own nose isna safe yet, mon. Just who are you?”
Grinning, and so obviously not taking Duncan’s threat seriously, the Englishman answered, “I’ve a few titles, but truly deplore passing them out. Just call me Rafe,oldchap.”
That last crack got the door shut on one of the most highly sought-after young lords of the realm, heir to a dukedom, wealthy beyond measure, the most eligible bachelor of the Season and every hostess’s dream come true. And yet the door was being shut on him.
Duncan wouldnothave been impressed had he known all of that. He was hoping their first meeting would be their last. They were to become great friends, though. They just didn’t know it yet.
Seventeen
“Why, Miss Sabrina!” Richard Jacobs exclaimed in surprise. “You’ve never come this far on one of your walks before. Is something amiss?”
Sabrina smiled at Lord Neville’s butler to put him at ease. She knew the man well, and his family. She knew just about everyone in their small area of Yorkshire, after all, including everyone’s servants, and everyone knew her. Her walks did take her everywhere, after all, and being the friendly sort she was, she would usually strike up a conversation with anyone she came across. Then, too, she had grown up here, and it was hard not to know everyone in such a small community—with the exception of Lord Neville himself.
Her embarrassment was starting to show, however, since Jacobs would know that she wasn’t there by invitation. He did so pride himself on knowing every single thing that had to do with Lord Neville, and in his position of greeting the guests, would know whom to expect.
To putherself atease, she didn’t get right to the point, asked instead, “How is your lovely wife faring now? Better, I hope?”
“Oh, much better, miss. And do please thank your aunt Alice again for that tea recipe. It was just the thing to soothe her cough.”
Sabrinacouldhave continued to chat, but felt her cheeks already heating, and before they got too bright a red, she wound up her courage. “I will be sure to do that. And no, nothing is amiss. I’ve just been asked to deliver a private message to Lord Duncan while I was out and about today.”
She couldn’t imagine why he rolled his eyes at that, until he said, “I’ve been charged with the same task, repeatedly, since last evening. The young lord is getting quite annoyed with me, and I can hardly blame him.” And then he leaned forward to whisper, “It’s his grandfathers, the both of them. They seem to be pulling him in two different directions without a moment’s peace.”
“His Scottish grandfather is here as well?”
“Oh my, yes, and a very… loud gentleman he is, too. But when they are in the same room together. Lord Neville and Lord Archibald, that is, well, they really don’t like each other, if you know what I mean.”
Now, that was a shame. You’d think that the grandfathers would get along splendidly, both having their grandson’s best interests in mind. To Jacobs, though, she nodded, and much as she would have preferred otherwise, got the subject back on track.
“If Lord Duncan is busy, don’t disturb him. I can always come back another time, since I don’t think my message is of an urgent matter. But if he has a moment to spare, and it shouldn’t take any longer than that, I would like to get this duty dispensed with.”
“Certainly, Miss Sabrina. I’ll try to locate him right now. And please step in—”
“No!” She coughed, to cover how horribly appalled she’d just sounded. “I mean, I know you have a house full of guests, and, well, the weather is so nice today, I’d prefer to wait out here.”
The weather was anything but nice, was quite cloudy and looking like rain was imminent, but then anyone who knew Sabrina knew that she loved being outdoors and never missed her daily walk, no matter the weather. Rain, snow, or the hottest day in summer, she’d be out in it, so what he might see as cold and dreary weather, she might well find refreshing or even beautiful.
He nodded, and not to be rude, even left the door open as he disappeared into the house. Sabrina, afraid someone might notice her in passing, stepped well away from the door. She was hoping that Duncan would be busy; then again, she was hoping to get this over with. Contradictions in feelings really did not sit well on the stomach, and hers was protesting most vehemently with a queasiness that wouldn’t go away.
