“Ives said you are a schoolteacher,” the duke prompted.
She treated him to a full accounting of her work in Birmingham and London. He at least pretended to be interested, although she noticed him send Ives a glance or two. She talked too long, but she feared the void when she stopped.
“I must apologize,” she said upon concluding. “It issuch a treat for me to converse with adults that I sometimes speak too much.”
“I like knowing all about the people who take residence at Merrywood.”
“I will not be here long. I am not really taking residence.”
“You are welcome to stay as long as you desire. I insist you remain while Eva is here. She is my other brother’s wife. She will be glad to have another woman about, so she does not have to suffer our company alone.”
The duke turned his attention to Ives and asked after matters in London. The two brothers conversed in the casual, unguarded way of relatives. She ceased to be the center of attention. That suited her. She focused on the delicious meal, even better than the one she enjoyed at Langley House.
“Do you ride?”
The question intruded on her admiration for a cake festooned with Chantilly. She wanted to jump into the cream and eat her way out.
The duke had her in his sights again.
“I have never had the opportunity.”
“Then you must while you are here. It is the only way to properly see the estate. The chestnut mare should suit her, don’t you think, Ives?”
“Very well, I would say. I will take you riding tomorrow.”
This was exactly what she expected to happen if she spent any time with this family. Her circumstancesnormally did not embarrass her, but over and over she would find herself begging off their generosity.
“That is kind of you. However, I do not own suitable garments for riding. I will appear comical enough on a horse without adding to the ridiculous image with my attempts to maintain some modesty while attired in a day dress.”
Both gentlemen appeared at a loss for words.
“Of course if you have never gone riding you would not have riding garments,” Ives finally said. “You should have thought of that, Lance.”
Now they were all embarrassed. Deciding to put them out of their misery, Padua stood. “I hope you will not mind if I retire and leave you to your port and conversation.”
They both rose to their feet and bid her good night.
***
“She is very... tall.” Lance offered his first words on Miss Belvoir while he and Ives strolled through the garden.
“Distinctively so,” Ives agreed.
“Distinctiveis not the word I would guess she has heard most of her life regarding her unusual stature.”
Had she heard unkind words instead? What idiots people were. What blind fools. “I think it is a very accurate word.”
His brother glanced at him through the dark. “It will make things difficult. Finding her riding garments, forexample. I doubt she can wear Eva’s, or whatever is left here from our mother’s days.”
“I will take her on a tour of the estate in a carriage instead. She does not have to ride.”
“You alone with Miss Belvoir for hours in a carriage... How thoughtful of you to take care of our guest. I trust you won’t find it too dull.”
“If I do, she will never know. I try to be polite that way.”
“Do not try to kiss her until you are on the way back. That way, when she rejects your advance, there will not be too much time left before you can both escape.”
Ives resisted pointing out that Miss Belvoir had already not rejected him. Far from it. He also avoided the invitation to protest the assumption he would try to kiss her again. He had not decided about that. Not entirely, at least.
