“I am staying with Sir Cornelius and his wife.”
“We will give Napier the direction and take you there at once. We should arrive tomorrow next midday.”
“You know the timing well, and the inns on the way. Have you visited Scotland more than I realized?”
“When I was younger I came here a few times. I have a good memory, that is all.”
She did not think that was all, from the somewhat clipped way he responded. “If you take me to Sir Cornelius directly, you will be imposed upon to visit at least a brief while. Perhaps you should have Mr. Napier take you to your rooms first, then deliver me to them.”
“I do not mind visiting a brief while. I know of Sir Cornelius and expect he is an interesting person to meet.”
“I should warn you, Sir Cornelius’s wife is a free thinker.”
“Do you think that will shock me?”
“I think nothing much shocks you. I merely thought to prepare you. She is outspoken in her views too, and is sure to take advantage of the ear of a peer.”
“Yet you speak warmly even as you warn.”
“She is a wonderful woman and I admire her. She is like an aunt to me. The warning was for you, because you might not share my esteem of her.”
“I do not dislike outspoken women. At least you know what you have in them. I might not want to marry one, but if given the choice, I would rather sit beside one at a dinner than beside an empty-headed beauty.”
“What an odd thing to say. You would rather spend time with such a woman but would not want to marry one. What kind of woman do you expect to marry, if you marry at all?”
He shrugged. “One like my father, and his father, and the duke before him.”
“An empty-headed beauty?”
“Not too empty, if I can help it. Nor all that beautiful, for all I care. But . . . appropriate.”
She wondered if he had disapproved of Langford marrying Amanda. He probably considered Stratton’s marriage to the daughter of an earl far better. But even Clara was not truly appropriate.
“You do not sound as if it appeals to you at all,” she teased. “You have not yet availed yourself of this wonderful opportunity to be just like all the dukes before you, so I think it does not.”
“I had time to wait a while. It is not the union I avoid but the imposition on my time of arranging it all. Next season, however, I will do the dance and find a partner and fulfill my duty.”
“An appropriate partner.” She leaned in. “Do you know what I think? I think you have avoided it because you do not relish being appropriate all the time. I think maybe you would prefer not being the most ducal duke in this matter, or in many others.”
He looked at her, first in surprise, then with an interest that made her uncomfortable.
“Miss MacCallum, I am not the most ducal duke. That is a public face. I was raised in a tradition of extreme discretion, trained in it, and discovered it creates considerable freedom to live the way I choose. The difference is, the world does not know about my private doings. Because my life is no one’s affair but my own, that suits me.” He in turn leaned in until they faced each other squarely across little space. “I am not appropriate all the time, as you well know.”
She fought being absorbed into that gaze. “I doubt discretion alone gave you that name. You could not live in London, in society, and secretly be some wild rake or dissolute peer.”
“I admit I am not a rake. I am glad I am not dissolute. As for London, however—it is not the whole world. When I leave it, I leave all those eyes, and gossiping mouths too. For example, had I taken one room for us up above, and not two, no one here would have cared or much noticed. It is so common an occurrence that I doubt the servants even comment about it to one another. Do not pity me my appropriate life. I daresay it is less appropriate than yours in the sum.”
She resented the way he had turned things around. “No doubt. I am a woman. I am not permitted to be free without being ruined. I would think if a man had your privileges, he would explore his freedom fully, not live behind a public face except when he left Town. Have you never been stupidly indiscreet and inappropriate and . . . andmad? What a shame if you have not, considering you are one of the few people who can be so without consequences.”
He altered subtly right before her, becoming the Brentworth she first met. Something in that public face nudged at her. An explanation of the reaction Amanda said he inspired in women. She felt its power. Fear was the wrong word. It was too alluring to be called that.
“You do not know what you are talking about.” His vague smile of tolerance hardly softened his face. “There are always consequences to madness and passion. Often serious ones.” He pulled out his pocket watch. “I intend to retire now. You should too. We leave at eight o’clock.”
* * *
Damn the woman.
He sat in the dark in his chamber, hearing the muffled sounds from below as Miss MacCallum prepared for bed. He had not wanted this particular chamber, but of the two it would have been rude to take hers instead. Another flight of stairs for this one. It was smaller and poorer too. Not that Miss MacCallum would care about that. Still, he had wanted her to be comfortable.
