“That was sneaky.”
He shrugged. “It was strategy. Something that you willfind I’m very good at. Here.” He handed her the package. “This is for you.”
“Thank you.”
Loretta eagerly untied the yellow ribbon, peeled away the stiff parchment, and read: “A Proper Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing the Perfect Ladyby Sir Vincent Tybalt Valentine.”
With delighted surprise, she looked up at him and smiled. “The book that caused you so much grief.”
“And is responsible for creating the three Rakes of St. James. You did say you’d like to read it one day, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did. I had asked Mr. Huddleston to see if he could find a copy for me in Grimsfield but there wasn’t a shop that had one.”
“Perhaps one day there will be no copies for anyone to buy, but for now it sells because there is always a man who wants a few suggestions on how to woo a lady.”
“I’ll start on it tonight. Thank you. It is a beguiling title.” She looked at the cover and then back up to the duke. “I wonder if Paxton would like to read it, too.”
“Do him a favor and don’t suggest it.” The duke gave her one of his very attractive grins and said, “I hope you find it as amusing as I did years ago.”
“I will let you know.”
He nodded. “Now tell me about the lad who showed up at your door. Is he still here? Did you find out who he is and where he’s from?”
“Yes, he’s still here, and I’m sorry to say I haven’t learned much more about him.” She absently hugged the book to her chest as she talked. “His name is Farley. Whether it’s his first name or surname, he wouldn’t say. He won’t tell me his age, where he came from, or where he wants to go.”
“How was his attitude when you talked to him?”
“Wary and a bit impish.”
“I had thought that might be the case. It sounds as if he’s being obstinate or perhaps even secretive on purpose. He doesn’t want you to know who he is.”
“Maybe, but I think it could very well be that he really doesn’t know the answers.”
“I would venture to say that, by age five, most people know both their names and their age.”
Knowing the duke was right, she remained quiet.
“I had wondered how forthcoming he would be about himself. How is his health?”
“Better, but far from well.”
“I’ll see what I can find out about him. I brought my carriage this time so I could take him back to London with me.”
Loretta smiled. “Yes, I heard about your fancy carriage. Mrs. Huddleston was quite taken with it. And your horses, too.”
The duke shifted his shoulders uncomfortably. Apparently he didn’t like being teased about the elaborate workmanship of his conveyance. Getting the best of him, no matter if it was in such a small way, made her feel good.
“However, I’m afraid that taking Farley back with you is impossible, Your Grace. His fever only broke just yesterday and his cough is frequent and unmerciful. He hasn’t even been out of the bed yet. He is not well enough to travel. I would have you see for yourself, but he just took a tonic to help him sleep.”
“All right, if you think it’s best for him to stay a little longer. I had asked about him when I stopped in Grimsfield last week to make arrangements to have your horse returned. It’s a fairly small village, and I thought perhaps someone there might have heard of a missing boy. No onehad. And almost everyone I talked to agreed that it wasn’t common to have children living on the streets or in the countryside. There’s always someone willing to take in an orphaned child.”
She nodded. “I had asked the apothecary about that as well, and received much the same answer as you. He said Grimsfield is filled with goodhearted people and they would never leave a young boy to fend on the streets for himself.”
“I see by your expression and hear in your voice that you still have great concern for him.”
“It’s only natural,” she answered, having no reason to deny his observation. “He’s still basically helpless.”
“I think it may be more than that.”
