The Duchess of Yardly was reprimanding Nathan when he arrived. Dimity stood beside the elderly woman with the dog in her arms. She did not meet his eyes.
“You and yours are reprobates. It’s time you put aside your wild ways and settled down.”
“We are not reprobates; we are high-spirited, Duchess,” Gabe heard his brother say with exaggerated politeness.
“And there is the ringleader!” The duchess jabbed her cane at Gabe as he approached.
“Duchess.” Gabe swept her a magnificent bow, which simply had a harrumph coming from her mouth.
“You found him then? Stephen, come and take the dog!” she said to a footman, who was lurking a few feet away with a terrified maid.
“Please,” Gabe added as the servant hurried to grab the little black bundle of fluff. The dog let out a fierce howl of protest as she was taken away from Walter. In turn, Walter seemed to sigh with relief.
“Don’t you be flippant with me, Raine,” the duchess said.
“It’s not flippancy, it’s manners,” he said sweetly.
“Yes, well, if you’ll excuse me.” Dimity tried to back away. Gabe grabbed her hand, holding her in place.
“How do you know Miss Brown?” the duchess demanded. “Why are you gripping her arm like that?”
“She was my sister’s piano teacher.” Gabe tightened his grip as Dimity attempted to pull free.
“You told me you worked in a seedy tavern with sailors,” the duchess said accusingly.
“She did, because she was too proud to come to us for help. I am about to rectify that,” Gabe added, surprised that Dimity had told the duchess about the tavern.
“I don’t want your help, and I told you I played piano.” She glared at the duchess, not something many people were game to do.
“And yet you’ll take it,” he added.
“Good lord, Raine, is there a woman who wants nothing from you?” The duchess crowed, delighted at the prospect. “Have your legendary charms deserted you with this one?”
“I do not have legendary charms and wish only to help Miss Brown,” he gritted out.
“She can come home with me,” the duchess said. “I need someone to be my companion. If you work out, I’ll let you stay. Come along.”
“I—ah, I beg your pardon?” Dimity said, staring at the elderly woman.
“Are you deaf, gal?”
“She will be if you keep shrieking at her, and she’s not working for you,” Gabe said. Just the thought of the beautiful free-spirited Dimity Brown being cowed by the Duchess of Yardly made him shudder. Her reputation with staff was legendary, and not in a good way.
The duchess thumped her cane. “Do you need work or don’t you?”
Dimity nodded.
“Then you may as well work for me. It can’t be any worse than working in that seedy tavern or accepting a handout from him.” She jabbed the cane at Gabe, and he had to lift his leg to avoid it connecting with his ankle.
“Someone really should have taken that from you by now.”
“I’d like to see someone try.” She gave him a feral smile. The lines on her mouth disappeared, making her look younger than she was. Although to Gabe’s knowledge, no one actually knew how old the duchess was.
“Your staff are to be commended for their bravery, Duchess,” Gabe said, needling her. He couldn’t be sure but thought the maid behind the duchess said, “Amen.”
“And, no,” he added. “She’s not working for you.”
The duchess jabbed him hard in the gut, winding him. He released Dimity to bend over and wheeze in a breath.
