Page 33 of Lavender’s Lost Duke

Lavender’s heart went out to a man she’d never met, “If he is half so honest as you, Tom, I would very much like to meet him. He sounds interesting. It’s a shame he isn’t here. I’ve had little luck finding gentlemen who appeal to me for a husband.”

“You would consider him, even as aimless as he is?”

Lavender glanced at her exposed arm and felt a flush creep into her cheeks. “It is far more likely he wouldn’t consider me. Not when he could choose anyone. The man is a duke after all.” She felt the familiar melancholy settle into her heart. No, the duke would never consider her an option for a wife. Not with the rushed nature of her circumstances coupled with her mangled arm.

“A duke that would be ridiculous if he didn’t see your value. You are an incredibly beautiful woman, Lady Lavender.” Tom stood and clenched his jaw. “I hope you do get to meet him. You would make a good match.”

As much as Tom’s words soothed Lavender’s heart, they hurt in equal measure. If Tom was so set on her being a good match for another man, he certainly wasn’t thinking about her the way she’d begun to think of him—despite him calling her beautiful. She knew the impossibilities of marrying a servant. It would be her family’s undoing. But still, some part of her had seemed to hope.

As things stood, she thought on the Duke of Fenleigh and the possibility of gaining his favor. If only the man hadn’t disappeared, she could explore that avenue. Still, there were plenty of people curious about the duke’s disappearance. She’d started this entire game of questions so that she might be more helpful to Miss Dalrymple, so that she might help discover the truth. Perhaps if she put even more effort into the pursuit, she could meet the man one day.

Chapter 16

Thomas didn’t sleep a wink. He’d spent the entirety of the night going over his conversation with Lady Lavender. It was obvious that she didn’t believe herself beautiful enough for a duke.

Ridiculous.

The woman was enchanting, humble, honest, and kind. Of course a duke would consider her an option. He thought back on his reckless behavior of only a month ago. If he’d met her then, she would have slipped through his bleary eyes as nothing more than a pretty face. But he knew better now. It was a blessing to know her. She made him want to be better—and by what she said, she believed he could change.

He wouldn’t let her down. And when he cleared his name of treason, he’d court her like a proper duke ought to.

Tom made his way into the kitchen to see Jack at the worktable with a book in front of him. Sunlight shone through the open window onto the pages. He held it on the table with his hands wrapped in bandages.

“Where did you get that?” Thomas asked him.

The boy smiled and wiggled his eyebrows. “Lady Lavender brought it for me.”

Thomas’s interest was piqued even further. “Oh, and what is it?”

Jack’s face flushed a little red. “It’s just a book.” He pulled it a little closer to himself. “How are the roses looking?”

Thomas looked down at his hands, now scratched in multiple places and bleeding just a little. Nothing a couple minutes wouldn’t stop—it was the stinging that was bothersome. “I’ll leave pruning roses to you once you’re healed, your majesty.” He walked over and took the book from the table. “The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes,” he read aloud. “My mother used to read this to me.”

Jack’s mouth opened. “Your mother could read?”

Thomas swallowed. “Yes, she could.” How could he have forgotten to hide his past so easily? Having a servant that could read, let alone have access to books, was exceptionally rare.

“Can you read?”

Mrs. Bitters came into the kitchen at his question. “Jack, have you not noticed that our Tom here wasn’t raised as a servant? You’ve been teaching him all this time and you haven’t realized he was once a gentleman?”

Thomas’s face was red enough to match Jack’s hair, but he nodded his head at her assertion.

Jack’s eyes lit up. “Can you teach me to read?”

Thomas thought about all the extra work he’d taken on the past few days in order to allow Jack’s hands to heal. He was tired to the bone each night. But he didn’t want to tell him no. “If Mrs. Bitters is alright with us using a candle after my work is done, I can teach you.”

“That’s fine by me,” she answered as she bustled about the kitchen arranging a tea tray. “Tom, will you put your livery on? I need you to take this tray to the drawing room for the duchess and her guests.”

Which guests were those? Thomas didn’t want to disobey, but he was trying his level best to stay out of sight of anyone who might know who he was. “Where is Jane today?”

“She’s preparing Daniel for a nap. Bless her efforts.” Mrs. Bitters chuckled.

“What if I trade her. She can help you with the guests. I’ll take Jack upstairs with me, and he can help me read this book to Daniel.” He was pressing his luck, he knew, but it was worth the attempt.

Mrs. Bitters looked over at Jack. “Oh, very well. Jane is more presentable as it is. At least she doesn’t have a full beard. But don’t you keep that boy up. He needs his sleep even though he doesn’t believe it.”

Jack’s smile was at least as large as Thomas’s as they left the kitchen. “Thank you, Tom. I can only do so much sitting and looking at the letters before my eyes want to pop out of my head.”