Page 61 of Lavender’s Lost Duke

“You know I had to keep it a secret,” Tom said. “Even now, I’m kicking myself for getting you involved.”

The sound of their voices was getting louder. They were coming from up the rose garden path by the stone lion. Lavender cast her eyes frantically for a better hiding place. She darted across the path and tucked herself behind the trunk of the tree that held the swing.

“Let me live the life of adventure. I’ve got nothing to lose,” Jack said.

Their steps stopped. “You’ve a whole life ahead of you. Friends who care about you,” Tom said in a serious tone. “You have more to lose than you might think. I’m actually quite jealous of the life you live.”

Jack laughed. “You? Jealous of me? That’s laying it on a bit thick, don’t you think?”

They began walking again, and Lavender circled the opposite way around the tree to remain hidden.

“I’ve been happier the past few months than I have been in years.”

“Until the past couple of weeks,” Jack interjected.

Tom sighed. “Yes, until the past couple of weeks.”

They continued on into the house and Lavender was left alone with nothing but the tree and her thoughts to cling to. She hadn’t thought through her plan. The servant’s quarters were just inside the door she’d come out of, and she had no idea how long Tom and Jack would remain awake. She rubbed her arms, feeling the puckering of her scars rub across her palm. It wasn’t truly cold out, but she would need a blanket for the next little while.

She picked her way to the stable and stole a blanket from a hook on the wall. Then, she walked back to her tree, wrapped the blanket around her shoulders, and leaned back to rest on the trunk. She’d give the men a while to get to sleep and then sneak back up to her bed. In the meantime, she had a very odd conversation to attempt to make sense of.

Lavender tried to piece together what she felt she knew. Tom was trying to leave, and Jack was probably doing something stupid to help him. But the most concerning piece of information was that Jack had only recently felt like he knew Tom. If he had been proficient at hiding who he really was to Jack, how likely was it that Lavender knew who he really was? She’d been fooled before. Mr. Lanscombe’s return this afternoon was a clear reminder that Lavender had been taken in by a man’s charms once before.

But Mr. Lanscombe had lied over and over to Lavender, making her believe they had a future together. Tom was different. He tried to hide his feelings. He probably thought he was acting in Lavender’s best interest—and to all of society, he was. But how could Lavender stand him leaving? She needed to work some things out with him and expend all their options before he disappeared from her life forever.

Lavender woke to Mrs. Bitters shaking her awake. “Goodness me, Lady Lavender!” She exclaimed. “Did you sleep here all night?”

Lavender ran her hands over her face. “What?”

She sat up and the chill from outside washed over her like a wave. She shivered and yawned at the same time. She had no good excuse to give to the housekeeper.

Mrs. Bitters pulled Lavender to her feet. “I’ll call for a warm bath.” The older lady didn’t ask her any questions as she helped Lavender inside. “It’s a fine thing I’m the first one up. You shouldn’t need to explain anything to anyone.”

When they made it to the landing at the top of the stairs, Mrs. Bitters turned and looked at Lavender. “Have any of my staff been acting in a way I need to know about?”

Lavender’s cheeks caught fire at the implications. “No,” she hurried to say. “Not at all. Everyone has been perfectly well behaved. I fear I just had a wandering mind last night and fell asleep.”

Mrs. Bitters pursed her lips together and nodded once. “If that ever changes, you don’t be afraid to talk to me.”

Lavender nodded her understanding. “Thank you, Mrs. Bitters.”

They pushed the door to Lavender’s room open, and a breeze pushed at them. “A window open as well. It’s a good thing it’s summer,” Mrs. Bitters exclaimed.

Lavender walked across the room and closed the window. Mrs. Biters left to start warming some water, and Lavender fell onto her bed. Her body ached, her head ached, and her heart ached. What had she been thinking last night?

Once she was submerged in the tub, Lavender felt the chill begin to leave her bones. She hadn’t been woken by the cold. Apparently the wool blanket had done its job well, but waking up outside and then spending time in her chilly room had taken hold of her.

As she soaked the cold away, she considered how lucky she was. She’d been foolish, and instead of the housekeeper telling her off, she’d been treated like the queen. Not everyone could claim that level of coddling. Tom hadn’t had a warm bath after his hours of waiting up for Jack.

The conversation she’d overheard still baffled her. But she’d ask about it tonight. If for no other reason, she wanted to make sure Jack wasn’t doing anything stupid.

Chapter 30

Tom waited in Samuel’s study for his return from parliament for the day. Finally, Tom might have a chance to clear his name. He sat in a wooden chair and put his elbows on the large wooden desk. If he was able to prove his innocence, he would be sitting in a much more comfortable chair in no time.

One of the first things Lady Lavender ever said to him was that he was built to make his place in this world. It was time he did just that. He had an opportunity—because of his birth—to make a difference. Until he’d disappeared, he’d been so focused on proving his uncle and steward wrong about his obtuseness in his own home, he hardly ever focused on anything that didn’t affect his own estate management.

He understood better now the workings of the world around him. There were good people like Jack and the new maid, Savannah, who needed to learn to read, to give themselves opportunities to better their lives if they wanted to. He could fight for them in parliament. It would be an uphill battle, but who better to take the lead than a duke?