The duke eyed her as if he didn’t agree, but he wisely didn’t contradict her. Instead, he spread his hands as if to show he meant no tricks. “I haven’t decided on the property yet. I’m going to Greenwich to look over the land tomorrow and see if it meets our needs?—”
Celeste could contain herself no longer. “Myneeds.Mycharity.Myidea. I’m honoring a request frommylate father.”She faced Salcombe, so angry she didn’t know what she would do next. “You have taken a great deal upon yourself.”
“You told me you wanted a place in the country for the men to live…with their pets. I’m attempting to help, Celeste.”
He’d used her given name. A day ago, she might have been flattered. Right now, she was annoyed. “Not by cutting me out of important decisions,Oliver.”
Her return use of his name made him sit up. The steel in his eyes met the steel she knew was in hers, but she would not back down. There would be no simpering from her, not on a matter of such importance. Her father had given her this task and she would be in charge.
She knew he didn’t understand her feelings. Why would he? He had all the advantages. Meanwhile, she had been pushed to the side, and she hated that all the world would believe he was correct to do as he wished.
The duke backed down first. “I’ve upset you, and that wasn’t my purpose. It was not my choice to leave you out of meeting with Masick. But Fromhurst and I met at his club, at his request,” he hastened to add.
“You could have suggested a meeting place where I might attend.”
“Not at that hour of night.”
He was right. No, it wasn’t his fault. Or, at least, not his fault alone. She also needed to remember that her charity had only been a dream until he became involved.
Still, that didn’t make being refused a role in important discussions easier. “You and Lord Penaly will meet at a club, even though it is morning?” she said tightly.
“Yes.” He paused and then said, “It is where men gather, my lady. There is no insult intended. However, I came here to keep you informed because it isyourcharity.”
He sounded sincere, but she was overwhelmed by the unfairness of it all. “Everyone thinks you are wonderful.”
“I take pains to give you full credit, my lady.”
“You do.” At last, she sat, momentarily defeated. Her tea was cold and her toast half eaten. A new idea formed. “I want to see the property.”
“It would be my honor to give you a tour of it.”
“You will not buy that property until I have seen it.”
“I’m walking it tomorrow. Masick is desperate and will give us a good price if I give him an answer immediately.”
“Then I’ll go with you tomorrow.”
He contemplated her a moment before saying carefully, “Greenwich is a day’s drive from here.”
She tilted her head, her suspicions rising. “Are you saying you don’t want me to go?”
He held up his hand as if to ward off any accusations. “I would be honored to have you as my guest at Elberling. That is my estate next to Masick’s land.”
She nodded, slightly mollified. “Thank you. I accept your invitation.”
He nodded and shifted in his chair as if relieved he had avoided another salvo from her. “Do you still wish me to see Penaly this morning?”
“Yes,” she conceded. “Because we will need his and all the other new patrons’ money to purchase the land.”
“I can purchase the land, my lady.”
It was a generous offer, one that spoke of his commitment to the charity…something, she realized she had rudely ignored.
The duke had also not referred to her by her given name after her flash of temper. He might not ever do so again. She had been wrong to lash out. It had not been well-mannered. But she would not apologize. She had needed to speak up for herself.
She also realized that she had placed her hand on the table in entreaty and let it rest there. His hand was also there, his fingers a mere inch from hers. She stared at his long, strong fingers. A swordsman’s hand. A capable hand.
Silence unspooled around them. She raised her gaze to find him watching her. Outside the room, household sounds drifted down the hall as the world stirred. But in this room, there was the deep quiet of something unspoken. She wished she could divine what he was thinking. He was not a simple man. He was more intelligent and altruistic than society knew. And respect was a gift that ran both ways.
