“There are no other options suitable for a man of his station. The pathway of a second-born son is clearly set.”
“I imagine the path of a duke does nae usually include sweeping a floor, but yet here you are. Perhaps you can bend that same way for yer brother somehow.”
***
Fiona bathed and then dressed and then dragged William out by his rumpled coat lapels to a precinct near the Thames that was just beginning to come to life, scullery maids and boot boys out moving quickly to complete their chores.
She didn’t care for Will’s protest that he hadn’t yet slept or eaten or even changed clothes since the Macklebury ball. If he was going to reduce her laboratory into shambles, he was damn well going to help her fix it, regardless of how tender he felt after a night of drinking.
Despite his complaining, however, he did as she asked, porting cases from the store to the carriage. By the time they’d returned to the house, she felt pity for him and sent him to get a few hours’ sleep. But at noon, Andrew would be at the foot of his bed with a bucket of water and at ten past, William would be dressed and in the lab ready to help Fiona remake the matches he’d destroyed. In the meantime, she had another task.
Edward was in the breakfast room, his plate full of sausage, eggs, and kidney. He was readingThe Times, and a copy ofThe Morning Postsat ironed at his elbow.
Copies of both newspapers had been included on her breakfast tray each morning since she arrived, and she wondered if he’d always had two copies of the paper delivered, or if he’d ordered the second especially for her.
He smiled and stood when she entered. The cocked eyebrow and the long gaze that traveled slowly up her body made her tingle. He gestured to the seat next to him and she felt a nervous fluttering at the thought of being so close, despite being as close as two bodies could get just hours ago.
She took a plate from the side table and filled it.
“How did you fare this morning?” he asked, returning to his seat as she sat.
“We had to visit four different establishments, but we managed to secure all the elements we need. William is getting a few hours’ rest before I put him to work.” She ate quickly, putting more food into her mouth at one time than she should, she knew. But old habits could not easily be dismissed. Her body never truly forgot the hunger she’d experienced.
“Thank you, for taking him,” Edward said.
“You’re welcome. It’s a good idea. Perhaps some time spent working on this will inspire him to find something, anything, useful to do with his time. Goodness knows, he owes me.”
Edward picked upThe Postand handed it to her. “There’s a story on page six that I think you’ll find interesting.”
No doubt it was interesting, page six usually was, but she’d come to breakfast this morning with a specific conversation in mind. It wasn’t an easy one to have, and if she looked at the paper, she would find all the excuse she needed not to have it. So she placed it beside her breakfast plate.
“Actually, if you have time, I have a question.”
He folded his newspaper and set it aside. “I have all the time in the world.”
Good. That was good. Really.She took in a deep breath. “I need help,” she said on the exhale. There. That wasn’t too difficult. She bit the inside of her lip as she waited nervously for a response.
He raised an eyebrow. “That wasn’t a question.”
“Oh. Of course.”Stupid, stupid, stupid.“Could you please help me?” That didn’t make much sense either. Bother. It had been so long since she’d willingly asked for assistance, she’d quite forgotten how to do it.
“You see, I met with ten distributors this week, as Finley, and I could not convince one of them that coming on board was a sound idea. I know the product is good. My presentation obviously isn’t.”
“And you want help finessing your business case.”
“I want help with all of it. My business case, my presentation, my mannerisms. I want to be as impressive in my meeting with Chester as you are when you meet with your political opponents.”
He gave her a gladdened smile and gestured to the footman to bring another pot of tea. “That, I can help you with.”
Chapter 23
Ten days later, Edward hummed as he made his way out of parliament chambers. He knew he was humming; he knew he was getting odd looks from his colleagues as he did so, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care that it was frivolous. He didn’t care that there were more important things for the Duke of Wildeforde to be doing than playing the piano. He didn’t even care when the Earl of Gloucester paid a visit and caught Edward composing an original work in the second-best drawing room.He felt music again.
So he hummed as he descended the stairs quickly, eager to make his next appointment. The jeweler had sent word that morning that the work Edward had commissioned was ready. Some would consider less than a fortnight to design a ring, source the stones, and assemble it an unreasonable request, but what was the point of being a duke if one couldn’t make unreasonable requests and have them met?
He’d considered giving her one of the family rings, but that wouldn’t do. Not only had his mother worn them, none of them were quite Fi. She worked with her hands; she couldn’t have a ring with a large stone. It would get in her way. No, she needed a simple band that she could wear every day without it catching, set with three small stones that sat flush with the metal—little red licks of flame surrounded by gold.
“Your Grace,” came a voice from behind him.
