“I do,” he said softly. “Deny it if it pleases you to do so. I won’t press the matter.”
Her breath caught in her throat, yet she managed to say, “It would do no good.”
“I’m willing to admit to that. I’m already well-acquainted with how hardheaded you are—and opinionated too.”
Her shoulders and her chin lifted. She had to be. “I’m not sure those would be considered attractive traits.”
He smiled. “I admire those qualities, Miss Swift, and they were just what I was looking for. It appears the stress of preparing two young ladies for the Season was more than Lady Evelyn’s constitution could bear. She’s come down with an extremely difficult case of the hives, welts, and most likely shingles too, according to her physician and apothecary. They have both assured me she will get better with bed rest and time. However, the unsightly rash has spread to her face, around one eye and halfway down her cheek. As you can imagine, she doesn’t want anyone outside our family and her maid seeing her.”
Esmeralda saw strain in his forehead and around the edges of his eyes. His aunt’s condition worried him. “That’s dreadful. I hope it’s not too painful for her.”
“Regrettably, it is at times. But not as bad as it could be. I’ve told her if she would just stop worrying about the twins’ Season she’d get better, but she’s been a mother to them all their lives. She finds it difficult not to worry over the simplest of things.”
“I’m sure you’re right.”
“I am, but she won’t listen to me, insisting I bring these to you.” He brushed his black cloak aside and from the pocket of his dark brown coat he withdrew a small leather packet. He handed it to her. “Since it became clear Lady Evelyn wouldn’t be well enough to attend the Season with the twins, she has been making notes for whoever would be taking her place at all the parties. After you look over this, you should be well-versed on all that she expects of you.”
The folder was heavy. There was no small amount of paper inside.
“I will do my best not to disappoint her.”
“I’ve never had any fear you would.”
Esmeralda laid the packet on the desk behind her. “Did you tell her I would be bringing my sister and Napoleon?”
“I did.”
Was that all he had to say about something so unconventional? “Was she all right with it?”
“She has no choice, Miss Swift. It is my house. But that said, I told her all that we’d discussed about the two and assured her there were no concerns about them interfering in your duties. She said as long as you do a proper job of caring for Lady Sara and Lady Vera she doesn’t care if you bring an elephant with you to the house.”
Esmeralda laughed. It amazed her that she was annoyed with him at one moment and laughing with him in the next. “You are teasing me, Your Grace.”
The duke smiled and chuckled softly. “The twins were only weeks old when Lady Evelyn came to live with us to care for them. Since that time her only goal in life has been to see to it that Sara and Vera each make a good match. She would like to see that happen in their first Season. After they are wed, she will consider her obligation to my father fulfilled and so will I.”
“And now she has to miss the Season. That must be very hard for her to accept.”
“It is, but as most of us have found out, life doesn’t always turn out the way we want it to.”
“I will attest to that, Your Grace. Though sometimes fate allows us choices and we must make good ones.”
With what looked like a nod of reluctance, he answered, “I wish I had learned that a little earlier in life, Miss Swift. It could have saved me a lot of difficulty.”
“That can probably be said by all of us.” She let her gaze briefly scan up and down his face before settling on his gorgeous blue eyes. “There’s an old adage that makes regrets a little easier to bear.”
“I’m not certain that’s true, but which one were you thinking about?”
“Better late than never.”
He gave her a rueful smile. “Ah. You are clever to recall that one.”
“I am practical.”
“And that should serve you well in my house. If you have questions, we will look into them when you arrive in Mayfair. Now, I’ll take my leave so you can continue with your reading.”
Without further words, the duke picked up his hat from the chair, turned, and strode out.
Esmeralda walked back to the fireplace. It wasn’t what she wanted, but there was no denying the duke fascinated her. Despite all efforts for it not to happen. Her mind immediately went back to her earlier fantasy of kissing the duke. She liked the way it made her feel inside when she thought about what it would be like to have his lips pressed against hers, exchanging breaths and sighs.
