Page 27 of Lavender’s Lost Duke

“Nothing, my lady. It’s only that Lord Chilcott has come to collect you for a ride through Hyde Park.”

Lavender pulled her brows together. “Lord Chilcott?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“I wasn’t expecting him.” She filled her lungs and stood up, fully annoyed by the baron. Why now? He didn’t have the decency to collect her for their ride when he’d said he would, but she was to accompany him whenever it pleased his schedule? However, she was in no position to turn away the attention of any man, no matter what commotion was going on in her own heart. “Tell him I’ll be there in a few minutes.” She turned to Jack and knelt on the floor in front of his chair. “Talk to me, Jack. How are you feeling?”

Jack’s red rimmed eyes crinkled in the corners. “I was just remembering my mum. She used to rub my back like that. Thank you, Lady Lavender.”

She smiled. “I’m happy to help. You must promise me to listen to Mrs. Bitters and not overwork yourself. Those hands will need a lot of that oil to heal up, so I’d be happy to help you with it in the mornings.”

“You don’t need to do that.”

“Yes, I do.” Lavender stood up once again. “I know better than anyone how gentle to be, and what the healing process will look like. Besides, you would be doing me a favor. It would make me feel better to be of assistance.”

Jack nodded. “I’m not in a position to tell you no.”

“I’ll see you later today then.” Lavender pulled on her long white gloves once again, covering up her grotesque arm as much as she could. If it were winter, she’d wear a shawl to finish the task, but as the summer was becoming unbearably hot, she couldn’t put herself through that particular type of torture.

Aside from all that, her enthusiasm for the outing was not what it likely ought to be. She was glad to finally be making some progress in being courted, but the man had already forgotten their appointment once, did she really want to continue encouraging someone so inconsiderate?

Lord Chilcott was waiting for her in the foyer. “Lady Lavender, how wonderful to see you.”

She forced a smile to her face. “It’s a pleasure to see you as well, my lord. Allow me to retrieve my bonnet, and I will be ready to leave. Oh, I must warn you. I have terrible reactions to bees. Perhaps we can keep our ride short on a day like today?”

He puffed out his chest. “You won’t need to worry with me around.”

She smiled at his attempt to ease her worries and hurried up the stairs to her room, finding her bonnet hanging on a hook just inside her door. Her hands shook as she tied the ribbons beneath her chin. She looked over her pale complexion in the mirror. Jack’s scare had been harrowing for her. The memory of pain that resurfaced was almost physical. She took a deep breath and shook her head. She was well. It was Jack she ought to be concerned about. She would check on him again as soon as she returned.

Lord Chilcott handed her up into his phaeton with a flair that she’d only seen when one was in the presence of a dandy. It was a little odd for him to behave as such; he didn’t dress like a dandy. Lord Chilcott was always loud and surrounded by people, though, like now, his actions seemed like playacting. Perhaps he was trying to make up for his forgetting their ride a few days ago, but his over-the-top performance made Lavender uneasy.

By the time they turned into the park, Lavender realized she was clutching the seat below her so hard that her hands were sore. She pried her fingers from the bench and attempted to relax. But between the scare with Jack and her being forced into Hyde Park in the middle of a hot day, her senses were piqued for any flying insects.

“Does Gilfordshire know where Fenleigh is?” Lord Chilcott asked.

“Excuse me, what?” Lavender tried to anchor herself to his conversation.

“The lost duke. Surely, you’ve heard about it.”

“How could I not? It is all anyone is talking about, in large part due to your efforts, I believe. But I don’t know why you believe I would know anything about it; the Gilfordshire household may be the only one left not talking about the lost duke, or at least not while in my company.” She watched his face transform into one of annoyance.

“Yes. Well, the fact that everyone is talking about him was not entirely my intention. The man doesn’t need a head any more puffed up than it already is. To be the talk of the town is likely the reason he disappeared in the first place. He is never happy with what he has, always searching for more . . . no matter the cost.” Lord Chilcott’s voice was full of derision.

His tone was a little frightening.

“I never met the Duke of Fenleigh, so I don’t have any insight as to his character.”

“Consider yourself the lucky one,” he mumbled.

“Perhaps we can talk of something more pleasant then. What did you think of the musical the other night? I adored hearing the string quartet that Mrs. Harwood’s sons played together. The youngest could not have been ten. They are such talented boys.”

Lord Chilcott nodded. “I suppose they were.”

Lavender pressed her lips together. “Do you have any musical abilities, my lord?”

“No. Quite frankly, I find music a waste of time.”

“Oh.” What else could she say?