Page 36 of Lavender’s Lost Duke

Lavender knew that Miriam was trying to do her a favor by giving them a few moments alone together, but that was precisely what Lavender wanted to avoid. She allowed him to thread her hand through his arm and lead her from the ballroom and out onto the gravel drive.

“Lady Lavender, you must forgive me for earlier. I have no ill intentions toward you. I realize that being alone with me in the library likely had you worried over your reputation.”

She felt herself relax just a bit. “Yes, the thought had crossed my mind.”

He chuckled. “I thought as much. If you are feeling better tomorrow, might I take you to Gunter’s for an ice? We can sit in the shade and talk, as you suggested.”

“I would enjoy that.” Had she been imagining ill intentions from the man all along? At the moment, he seemed entirely amiable.

She would do as Miss Dalrymple suggested earlier in their friendship and watch for consistencies in his character. Then again, Miss Dalrymple was perhaps one of the most changeable beings she knew at the moment. What did that say about her advice or her true intentions?

When the carriage rolled into the drive at the Duke of Gilfordshire’s townhouse, Lavender had no intention of going to bed—there was too much on her mind. “I believe I’ll go out to the garden for a while,” she announced to the duke and duchess.

“I’ll join you,” the duke said immediately. “I’d like to try out that swing for myself.”

“And I’ll check in on Jack,” Miriam said, making eye contact with her husband in some meaningful way that Lavender didn’t understand.

He offered Lavender his arm as they walked around the side of the house. “How have you enjoyed the Season thus far?”

Lavender looked up at him, “I enjoy parts of it very much. There are a hundred different things to occupy my mind. And yet, not enough time to read.”

The duke laughed. “No, I don’t suppose for you there will ever be enough time for all the books you want to read.”

“You know me quite well, it seems.”

“I wouldn’t presume as much, but your sister does. She speaks quite highly of you and your library.”

Lavender looked sideways at the duke. “Does Rose fear me to be too bluestocking for my own good?”

“Not at all. She glories in your ability to find solace at Gardner Manor.”

Interesting. But then again, Rose likely never felt at peace when she’d lived at home. She’d probably felt more like she was at a stringent boarding school where all they did was try you until you broke. Rose never broke, but when she married, certainly the chains of her expectations were left behind at Gardner Manor. “Do you expect a visit from her and Frederick anytime soon?”

“Not soon enough. Miriam can lead the ton by the nose if she so chooses, but she always has more fun with Freddy and your sister around.”

How would it be to have friends like that? For a short while, Lavender had hoped that Miss Dalrymple would prove to become a close friend. But it seemed their family disagreements might run too deep. Samuel approached the swing, and Lavender stepped aside. “The only way to inspect a swing correctly is to sit on it.”

The duke looked at her with raised eyebrows.

“Go on,” she prodded. “I’ll fetch Tom to push you if you’d like. He is quite skilled at the task.”

The duke sat on the swing and muttered something under his breath. Something about being sure he was. “I think I can handle the swing on my own.” The Duke of Gilfordshire started pumping his legs back and forth, making the swing arc higher and higher with each pass.

“He’s going to break the tree,” a deep voice whispered into Lavender’s ear.

She jumped at Tom’s surprise appearance, and she couldn’t keep the smile from growing on her face.

Chapter 18

“Tom, how good it is to see you.” Lavender’s smile was a treasure, to say nothing of the way she looked in a ball gown. It accentuated her beauty like the stars accentuated the sky. The way Miriam had insisted she needed him had him worried, but she seemed well enough off.

He’d been at the kitchen worktable with a heel of bread and a slice of cheese, finally able to be off his feet after a long day. The staff hadn’t anticipated the arrival of the trio for hours yet. But then Miriam had warned Thomas that Lady Lavender had had a night of it. What could have happened in so short a time? Not only that, Miriam had also whispered that he’d better not make a mess of things. Did she suspect his feelings for Lady Lavender? And if she did, did that mean she approved of the idea?

Samuel jumped from the swing mid-flight and walked over to the pair of them. “I give my full approval on the swing. Good work, Tom.” He looked over at Lavender. “I’ll leave you now. You are in good hands.”

Thomas felt a rush of heat in his chest. If only he was allowed to hold her, he would. But surely there would come a time when he could do so without putting everyone here in danger. He pushed the thought aside.

Lavender smiled, but Thomas could see that there was trouble behind her eyes. “I told His Grace that you could push him on the swing,” she said, “but he said he could do it all on his own.”