And her father did exactly that. “Nonsense,” Armand Foure declared once more.
Every Rare-Foure female seemed to stare at him simultaneously. He was being welcoming to the point of pushiness. And Jeremy, who’d seemed pleased to shake hands with the duke when he’d first arrived, now wore a pinched expression.
“Perhaps for the duke’s comfort, Father,” Amity pointed out, “he might prefer the Three Boars Inn.”
“I’m positive neither His Grace nor his driver wish to go out again in this dreary weather. Even his horses are probably tucked in the stable munching hay.”
“Very well,” said Henry jovially as if he were doing them all a favor. “I shall stay and be glad of it. But I insist you put me on a cot somewhere. I would hate for you to turn Mr. Cole out of the guest room if there is none other available.”
In fact, itwasthe only one available, the other rooms being her parents’ bedroom, Amity’s chamber, and her sister’s shared room. Amity supposed she could move in with her sisters and give Henry her bed, but even offering to let him rest his body upon her mattress seemed inappropriate.
Henry looked at her father. Her father looked at Jeremy, whose eyebrows rose as he suddenly realized what he must do.
“Your Grace, you must take my room. Besides,” he added, rising to his feet so he could go gather up his things, “it’s just for one night.”
The duke gave a gracious nod of his head, but Amity noticed he did not confirm Jeremy’s supposition of the short stay.What was Henry up to?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Amity found out soonenough. His Grace was determined to pander to her parents, charm her sisters, annoy Jeremy, and make moon-eyes at her when no one else was looking. The rain never stopped that day, so the seven of them were stuck together indoors for hours before dinner. What’s more, it was an odd number that made everything a little more difficult, whether parlor games or seating arrangements for dinner.
Yet the duke, meandering about in the tartan slippers, acted as if it were no trouble at all, and somehow always made Jeremy the odd man out.
When Amity found herself seated opposite Henry again for a new game of whist, while her fiancé sat brooding nearby, she realized she would have to make a grand gesture.
“Mr. Cole, will you take my place, please, and partner with His Grace. I shall return shortly.”
Letting neither man protest, Amity left the room quickly with no destination in mind except to be alone with her thoughts. She wandered down toward the kitchen where their cook, Lydia, was busy with dinner. Delia was seated at the worktable, peeling potatoes, and Amity sat upon the stool beside her.
“How are you both today?” she asked, setting her chin upon her hand.
“How am I?” Lydia asked. “How am I?There is a duke awaiting my dinner. I’m thrilled and terrified.”
Amity stared at her. “Your cooking is always delicious.”
“Thank you, miss. But if something goes wrong on a normal evening, lumpy potatoes or a burnt bit of roast, you and the rest of the family know I’ll make it up to you the next night. His Grace has only the one time to taste my cooking. It must all be perfect.”
