“The Duke of Stratton, my lady.”
Daniel had been on his way to the club when he’d found himself outside his front door. Thoughts of Eva had consumed him all morning. The need to touch her, see her and make her smile had taken precedence over anything else. When Wernham had told him she had gone to visit his grandmother already, he had followed. He would not allow the old woman to censure her. Eva was just starting to gain confidence in herself and he would let no one hinder that.
Walking into the parlor, he stopped. Dear God, his grandmother was laughing. In fact, if he was not mistaken, she had tears raining down her cheeks. His wife was giggling, a husky little laugh that rolled down his spine and made his stomach clench.
“Daniel!”
“Hello, Duchess.” Eva came toward him, her smile spontaneous and genuine. Taking the hand she held out to him, he kissed the palm.
“Such an unseemly display in public,” the dowager huffed.
“Surely not unseemly, Grandmother,” Eva protested. “After all, you are not public - you are family. Therefore, the rules do not apply.”
Daniel waited for the set-down from the older lady and then he would step in and defend his duchess.
“She has spirit, Grandson,” his grandmother said, to his surprise. He could see the laughter in her eyes as she looked at Eva; it seemed his wife had enlisted the dowager to her ranks of devotees.
“May I steal her away, Grandmother?”
“Yes, go. I have much to do. But I will see you again on Thursday, Granddaughter.”
“I will be prompt, Grandmother.” Eva bent to kiss her cheek, something Daniel rarely did. It seemed Eva was breaking down barriers and not just inside him.
Daniel moved to kiss his Grandmother, too. “Thank you for making her welcome.”
“Look after her, Grandson, or you will have me to answer to,” the dowager whispered back.
“With my life,” Daniel vowed.
“Where are we going, Daniel?” Eva asked him when they were in the carriage.
“Be patient and you shall soon see.”
A short time later, Daniel helped Eva from the carriage after it drew up outside the British Museum.
Two days earlier, he’d told her in an offhand way that he intended to visit a new exhibit of Parthenon sculptures that had recently been put on display. To Daniel’s surprise, Eva had immediately said,‘Not the Elgin Marbles?’to which he’d replied in a stunned voice, ‘Yes.’
“So how do you know about the Elgin Marbles?” he asked now, watching her face intently as she looked up at the building before her. Her eyes were sparkling and her body quivered with excitement.
“I read about them in the newspaper. It said Lord Elgin acquired a collection of stone objects when he was ambassador to the Ottoman Court of the Sultan in Istanbul, plus there were some items from Athens. I understand the British Museum has only just purchased them from him.”
Surprised that his wife knew of such things, and stunned that she might actually share his passion for old artifacts, Daniel could only manage to nod.
“I have always wished to visit here.” She stood beside the carriage with her hands pressed together, looking up at the museum. She looked sweet and tempting in her long blue coat and bonnet and Daniel wondered at her allure. Was it the innocence of a woman raised outside society or the vulnerability due to how she had been raised that got to him? She had no false side, no arts or allurements and he would do his damndest to ensure she stayed that way.
“Then let us grant that wish, Duchess.” Daniel held out his hand and she took it, slipping her fingers between his.
She dragged him everywhere, to see every vase, every Egyptian artifact, exclaiming while studying each from every angle. A poor hapless curator was often asked to explain what Daniel could not, although he acquitted himself quite well.
“Do we get to stop for tea?” Daniel brushed a smudge of dirt off Eva’s cheek as she turned to look up at him.
“This is your place, Daniel, isn’t it?”
“My place?” he questioned, studying his disheveled wife. He had never known anyone who studied an artifact as thoroughly as her. Several long curls had escaped her bonnet, her pale lemon-and-white dress was smudged in places, but her eyes were alight with an energy that he could not help but share.
“Where you go to be on your own and escape all the pressures your position places upon you.”
How had she known that? “Yes. When I’m in London, I come here when I need to think or be alone.”
