“I’m to bed,” he said to no one in particular.
“Old grump,” Gabriel murmured. He’d already paced halfway up the grand stairway. “I’m changing, then to White’s. Won’t you join me for once?”
“And watch you gamble away half your allowance? No, thank you,” the duke said.
Maggie led me toward the stairs. Towardhim. “And what of Miss Wood? Yourguest?”
More time with the duke was the last thing I wanted tonight. It was already too much being in his home.
“I am accustomed to his moods,” I said loud enough for him to hear. “Let him sleep so we have half a chance at a good one in the morning.”
Maggie grasped my arm and leaned forward, laughing. “Too true, isn’t it?”
Even Gabriel stopped to throw back a grin.
The duke continued his ascent without a word.
Maggie walked me to my room, which was a few doors down from hers. While Jane worked quickly to ready my room for the night, Maggie gave me a brief tour of the surrounding rooms, the most interesting being a large library I could not wait to explore tomorrow. We met the duchess in the hall, and she told me how pleased she was to have me stay. I hoped she meant it.
I liked Maggie. She was genuine andfun. I found Iwanted her friendship, hertruefriendship, and felt a pang of guilt for having stolen her attention under false pretenses.
If she knew the truth—that the duke and I were barely acquaintances—what, then, would she think of me?
He’d promised not to divulge our contract. Promised to follow it.
But what would Maggie think after our time was over, and the duke no longer invited me out? If I wrote to her, would she write me back?
Alone in my room, I tucked the ring in its little box safely in the bottom of the trunk at the foot of my bed. I lay in bed that night, my opposing feelings at war—sorrow at all I’d lost, but also joy at the prospect of what I might gain; anxiety from being surrounded by strangers, but excitement for potential new friends; despair swiftly turning into hope. My life had completely transformed. If anyone came to call upon me after tonight’s outing at Drury Lane, they’d be directed to the Duke of Marlow’s house, where I was currently staying. Word would get around.
Nights like tonight could becomenormalagain.
And this was only the beginning.
ChapterEleven
Marlow
My butler’s hands were shaking.
The man was the most composed, most rigid servant in all of England. I had never seen a single bead of sweat upon his brow. But here he stood in front of my desk, encapsulated by bright beams of early afternoon sunlight, mumbling—
“I will understand if Your G-Grace would prefer I remained ... if I didnotask ...”
I rubbed my temples. Something was wrong with him, and I hadn’t the patience to wait him out. My cat, Cleo, nestled between my boots, purring. She flicked her tail back and forth, and I swear the motion kept me from losing my temper. “Speak, Toole.”
“You have my word, it would have no effect on my work. No change to my loyalty as the woman is the most loyal to the family and to the Crown.”
Thewoman? “What are you saying? Plainly, for I haven’t the time.” I needed to meet with my steward in a half hour, and I still hadn’t gone through the stack of papers he’d sent last week. I had risen to my usual routine—tea in my room, an hour of fencing, then straight to work—but somehow, I was already behind.
“I wish to ask for her hand in marriage, Your Grace. She isa childhood friend and someone I have loved all my life. Her husband has died, and she is left with nothing. I want to look after her.”
My butler wanted to marry? Of all the ridiculous ideas. Did I not keep him busy enough? Where the devil did he plan to live? I rubbed an ache in my right arm, particularly sore after this morning’s fencing.
“Does she have children?”
“No, Your Grace.”
“Well, at least there’s that comfort.”
