Their eyes met, a wealth of understanding passing between them.
“Exactly why I was relieved as well,” Beau conceded.
If it had been anyone but the duchess, Beau would have sworn she snorted. “I know you have not had a chance to discuss settlements,” she said with another pat to his arm. “I have the address of Pip’s family lawyers. I am confident you and they will make certain our Pip is protected.”
It was pointless to even nod. Besides, she wasn’t waiting for it.
“In the meantime,” she said, looking around, always on alert around her guests. “You must go somewhere this evening. Together. No one gets married and then simply stays at a house party.”
“Even your house party?”
Her smile was luminous. “Even mine.”
He should be working out a place to take Pip where they could be alone. Somewhere he could still monitor the house party. The problem was, he didn’t want to be alone with Pip. It would just complicate matters. It would make resisting that strange and terrible attraction all the harder.
“Well,” he mused as they walked along nodding to people. “I cannot take her to Delamere right now.”
“And subject her to your relatives? I think not. Youaregoing to encourage them to move on, aren’t you, my dear?”
He finally grinned. “I might just leave that to Pip. She has been threatening action since she was twelve.”
The duchess grinned right back. “Please do alert me when she does. I should love to watch.”
He gave her a polite nod. “This is not my neighborhood. Do you have a suggestion? I must stay in some proximity.”
Her smile was beatific. “If you wouldn’t mind, our Dower House has stood empty since my Aunt Eleanor passed away. It lies just about a mile away in a lovely copse of trees. My staff is very fond of Pip and might have already begun removing holland covers and stocking the pantry.”
Coming to a stop, Beau bent to the duchess’s lifted hand and kissed the air just above it. “Your price is far above rubies, Your Grace.”
The duchess seemed to consider a moment. “It is, is it not?” She patted his hand. “All I hope is that you not rush into any decisions.”
Beau blinked. “I believe we just did.”
“Not that. One that will irrevocably set the path for your marriage.”
For the first time Beau saw real vulnerability in the eyes of the most elegant woman he’d ever known.
“Do not waste your future on past regrets,” she said.
Beau almost turned away. She didn’t know. How could she? She hadn’t been there to hear Pip urging Theo to do whatever he could to follow the drum. She wasn’t there when the Dragoon appeared at the door to Delamere.
The duchess gave his arm another pat. “Please,” she said, a wealth of emotion in her voice. “Talk to each other. Find a way through. She loves you, you know.”
He sighed. “I know.”
It didn't matter. He didn’t think it did, anyway.
But how could he douse that kind light in the duchess’s eyes? “I’ll try.”
She gave a brisk nod and one more pat. “In that case, you should begin to collect your wife.”
Beau lifted an eyebrow. “Begin?”
The duchess just smiled back. “If you do not know how long it takes your wife to say her goodbyes by now, you are woefully unobservant. The coach will be at the door in thirty minutes.”
He gave her a little bow.
She didn’t move. “And Drummond,” she said, and he knew the entire tenor of this visit had changed. “Since her grandparents died, I have acted in loco parentis for Pip when her own parents are unavailable. I consider her one of my own, which makes her very precious to me.”
