Page 45 of A Deal for the Duke’s Virgin

“The thing about family,” Mabel continued, handing out cups of tea, “is that a person can always choose their own. Oh, yes, you didn’t know that, did you? Mothers and fathers and grandparents and siblings are all well and good, but you have people who feel just as close. And perhaps in many ways, they might be closer. Just you wait, Master Nicholas. You’ll have a family better than them. They weren’t good enough for you; that’s all there is to it.”

“Mabel is right,” Thalia said, throwing the maid a grateful smile. “Nicholas, thank you for telling us that. It can’t have been easy.”

Nicholas sniffed. “Well, I suppose not all stepmothers are so bad.”

“Oh, they aren’t,” Thalia assured him, leaning forward to tickle under Orange’s chin. “Mine is called Augusta, and she’s exceptionally kind. She got kittens for me and my brother. Jonathan’s is a black cat called Cinder. She wanders whenever she pleases and doesn’t let anybody touch her except him. Orange is a little friendlier.”

“Do you always take him on treats?” Alex asked.

Thalia shook her head. “Only on this one because you three are my favorites. Don’t tell the others,” she added hastily with a pang of guilt. “Now, who wants scones?”

Everybody, apparently. They all cheered, and she watched them with a smile.

This is exactly what I needed. Something to stop myself from thinking about that wretched man and his wretched soft lips.

She leaned over to whisper to Mabel. “Leave most of my food, won’t you? I want it to go back to the orphanage. The nuns who are leaving and Hannah ought to have first pick.”

“Are you sure, My Lady? You can always share mine.”

“Nonsense, Mabel. You carried that heavy hamper all the way up here. It would be shockingly unfair for you not to eat any of it.”

Mabel chuckled, opening her mouth to say something, then paused, squinting down the hillside. “Look who’s there, my Lady. He’s definitely seen you.”

Thalia followed her gaze, and her heart immediately sank. There, at the bottom of the hill, was the Duke. Christian. He sat astride a large, powerfully built black horse and was indeed staring up at her with a blank expression.

Their eyes met, and a shiver ran down her spine.

Almost as if following some unheard signal, Christian slipped down from his horse, leaving the placid creature standing still, and began to stride up the hillside.

Panic bloomed in her gut.

What am I to do? she thought, swallowing hard, glancing wildly around.

It was ridiculous to be so afraid, but what could she do? Snatching up the children and making a wild dash for freedom seemed a trifle ridiculous, but at that moment, it was all she wanted to do.

Then all prospects of either fleeing or pretending to be asleep were gone. Christian reached the top of the hill, and all chatter ceased. All eyes turned to him, wide and questioning.

“Good morning, Lady Thalia,” he said smoothly. “What a pleasantly domestic scene. Might I join you?”

CHAPTER 13

Thalia thought briefly about saying no.

An instant later, she remembered her manners and scrambled to her feet. Blades of dry grass slipped off her skirts, and there was quite a hideous crease in the material.

“Your G-Grace,” she stuttered. “Christian. I did not expect to see you here.”

She thought she saw Mabel blink in surprise at her casual use of his first name. It wasn’t the done thing after all. The use of a first name indicated a closer acquaintance than was perhaps proper. Or an engagement.

Thalia mentally kicked herself. Mabel was an excellent maid and a good woman, but she was also something of a gossip. This scene would be repeated and reenacted in the servants’ hall before the day was out.

“It is the Park,” Christian responded, his gaze never leaving her. “Although it is perhaps a little early for promenading.”

At once, Nicholas jumped to his feet and leaped between them. “If this gentleman is giving you trouble, Lady Thalia, I shall see him off,” he announced fiercely.

Thalia bit her lower lip to keep from laughing.

Amusement glinted in Christian’s eyes. “I can assure you that my intentions are nothing but honorable,” he responded gravely. “However, it is reassuring to know that Lady Thalia has such a fine protector.”