To his surprise, Dame Beatrice joined him first. He poured her a sherry.
Taking the glass from him, she said, “I don’t disapprove of you, Your Grace, despite you being too handsome for your own good.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“That you aren’t the blackguard some believe? Absolutely. But I also sense that you are more than fond of Celeste?”
He noted the question in her tone. “I admire her greatly.”
“I think she admires you as well.”
“She does?” He’d wanted this confirmation.
“Do not be too pleased with yourself, Your Grace. I plan on being a dutiful chaperone.”
He thought of her snoring on the coach ride, and yet, he could see her becoming as fierce as a tiger if she decided Celeste needed protecting.
Before he could answer, she turned to the hallway door with a smile. “Celeste dear, come see this delicious tray of sweet breads the duke’s staff has prepared.”
“I don’t wish to spoil my supper,” Celeste replied, approaching them. She didn’t take the sherry Oliver offered but chose a glass of sweet cider instead. “And now, Your Grace, you owe me a tour. Will you join us, my lady?”
“I shall stay here with the sherry,” Dame Beatrice said and reached for another sweet bread. “You can tell me all about it later.”
Celeste turned to the duke expectantly. He offered his arm. For the next hour, he took her from room to room. She seemed to have a hundred questions in each room, and Oliver could barely answer one. Fortunately, Avery, the butler, lingered in the hallway, ready to offer assistance when Oliver turned to him.
“You don’t seem as if you know this house very well,” she said, when Avery excused himself to see how dinner was progressing.
“I don’t,” he admitted. “I haven’t been here since I was a child.”
“Why is that?”
“My mother liked it, so Father didn’t wish to visit often because they didn’t seem to rub along well. I was happier spending most of my time at school.”
“My parents didn’t like each other either. Although they had nine children together.”
“Are you one who believes marriage is about duty?” He didn’t know why he’d asked such a question, and yet, once spoken, he was curious about her answer.
“Like the marriages our parents obviously had? It seems the happiest people are in relationships based on love. And I do believe love should be valued.”
“Because you are a romantic?”
“Because I believe we should surround ourselves with people and things we love. I enjoying being close to my brother and sisters. They matter to me even when I find them annoying. However, when it comes to a place to live, if I were you,thiswould be my home. I like the peace of it. Of course, I would make improvements. Some of these rooms need new furnishings—oh, wait, is that a dog?” She was looking toward the hall.
Dog? There were no dogs here, and then Oliver saw a black shadow cross the door.
“Adog,” she repeated happily, moving toward the door. “Come here, come here,” she called softly.
Sure enough, a black terrier peeked his head through the door as if to question whether she was talking to him. He was solid black with a shiny nose and laughing eyes as if he knew his own worth. Celeste made a delighted sound. “A Scottish terrier.”
Just as she reached to give the dog a pat, Mrs. Hillsdale came racing through the doorway. She swept the dog into her arms. “I’m so sorry, Your Grace. Muggins snuck into the house.”
“He is your dog?” Celeste placed her hand gently on Muggins’s panting head. “He is such a handsome laddie.”
“Muggins is a handful is what he is,” Mrs. Hillsdale replied. “He shouldn’t be in the house.” There was a somewhat staged tone to her comment.
“All dogs belong in the house,” Celeste assured her. “I enjoy my pets at Fenmere Park. That is our country estate. Dogs, cats, why, I’d let the horse inside if they would allow me.” She looked up at Oliver. “Let Muggins stay? I miss my dogs."
His mother would never have allowed an animal in the house. Dogs belonged in the stables, according to her. Except, looking into Celeste’s pleading eyes and knowing her affinity for “pets,” Oliver knew she would not be happy if he banned Muggins from the house.
