And in that moment, he knew that he wanted to keep Celeste happy.
It made him feel good to say, “Of course, he can remain inside—provided he stays away from my boots.”
Mrs. Hillsdale’s face lit with delight. “Thank you, Your Grace. He will behave. He is not a chewer, well, not much of one.”
Oliver didn’t believe that. Muggins appeared as if he did whatever he pleased.
However, Celeste beamed at him, and Oliver felt noble in a way he could never have previously imagined.
At that moment, Avery announced dinner.
Celeste and Oliver returned to the reception hall to gather Dame Beatrice, and they had a companionable, delicious dinner. Some place between the cheese and the pudding, he realized that the loneliness that had so often troubled him had vanished.
He had hoped to spend more time alone with Celeste after the meal, but when Dame Beatrice declared herself ready for bed, Celeste agreed that she was tired as well.
Oliver escorted the two women to their rooms. If he thought Celeste might linger, he was disappointed.
“We have a big day tomorrow,” she said. “Good night—” She paused and then tacked on, “Oliver.”
“Good night, Celeste.” The door shut quietly.
He stood a moment, staring at the polished wood.Magic. She’d used the word earlier to describe Elberling, but he thought it better described Celeste, with her remarkable eyes and heavenly scent, and her generous nature.
Oliver took a step back, and then another, though the last thing he wanted was to walk away from her.
So, he went to his room. Alone.
Well, not completely alone. His sheets had been turned down. A lamp burned on the bedside table. And Muggins lay on his back in the middle of the coverlet. He appeared completely at his ease.
A manservant, who was acting as his valet, came walking in behind Oliver, carrying a pitcher of steaming water and some linen towels. “I’m sorry, Your Grace. I meant to have this ready before you—” The servant stopped short. “Muggins. Down from there.” The manservant set the pitcher on the wash basin before racing to the bed. “I am so sorry, Your Grace. So sorry. Muggins,down.”
Muggins did not move. It was as if he owned the bed.
The servant would have grabbed the dog and carried him out, but Oliver stayed him with one hand. “What is your name?”
The man swallowed as if he feared he was in trouble. “Henry, Your Grace.”
“Thank you for the water, Henry. I can see myself to bed. And don’t worry about Muggins. He appears quite comfortable.”
“He will catch it when Mrs. Hillsdale learns where he is.”
“Then we won’t tell her. Good night, Henry.”
The servant could barely hide his surprise, but Muggins began panting as if he was laughing. Unlike the family hunting hounds, the terrier seemed to understand humans.
Oliver climbed into bed. He was amused to hear the dog grumble as he sullenly made room for Oliver’s much larger body. Muggins curled up beside him, his back to Oliver, and both man and beast fell asleep.
8
Celeste woke up confused. She had been attracted to the duke, to his reputation, and even to his arrogance. However, she was seeing a different side to him, a human one. If he’d been as arrogant as he seemed in London, she could ignore her attraction to him. Instead, here in the country, he’d deferred to his butler and had acted a bit sheepish that he hadn’t known more about his own house.
Oneof his own houses, she reminded herself.
“I do find him like him,” she whispered to the ceiling. But he could do better than her. She had no doubt every heiress in London chased him. “I’m not going to lose my head over him.” It was a promise to herself, one she intended to keep because nothing was worse than pining for what she couldn’t have.
She put a leg over the edge of the bed. “My charity,” she said aloud. “Mine.” But her declaration sounded hollow. She wouldn’t have reached the point of buying property or even holding a ball for subscribers without Oliver.
And while Celeste wished she had more control over the planning of the ball, she could admit that Mr. Peters, the duke’s man, was better organized than she could ever have been. So,perhaps she should stop being defensive. She was the one who had begged for Oliver’s help.
