by Wendy Vella
When she reseated herself, he reached for the teapot. “Can I pour you a cup, your Grace?”
Flustered to have him serve her, Eva merely nodded.
“The thing is, your Grace, the nobility are traditionally a lazy bunch who spend a great deal of time indulging themselves,” Lord Kelkirk said. “Food and drink being one of those indulgences, we like to do it well.”
Eva’s cup had been halfway to her lips when he spoke and it remained poised as she looked at him. She had never known a man to speak so easily to her and especially not a nobleman. “It is amazing that you are not all stout then, my lord, if indeed that is the case.”
“Well, speaking for myself, I do a great deal of exercise to counteract the indulgences. Your husband, however…”
“Have you bored my wife to tears yet, Kelkirk?”
Eva drank deeply as the duke entered the room and ignored the tiny flutter in her stomach as he called her his wife. He had kissed her and she could still feel the imprint on her lips even though she had washed her face thoroughly.
“We were just discussing the nobleman’s penchant for the overindulgence of food and drink, Daniel.”
He stood beside her and looked down at the small roll on her plate. “Not a failing of yours, Duchess?”
“She nearly fainted when I mentioned the trout.”
“Now that is not true, Lord Kelkirk. I merely shuddered.” Eva felt moved to protest, besides which, it was easier to talk with Lord Kelkirk than her husband. He made her pulse do silly things.
“At least you have stopped wearing those ridiculous caps.”
Eva watched her husband go to the sideboard and load his plate. “I beg your pardon, your Grace?”
“Perhaps you could call me Daniel, Eva.”
Could she? It seemed to infer they were comfortable with each other when, in fact, they were anything but.
“And I am Simon, Eva.”
“I said I’m glad you are no longer wearing those ugly caps that cover your hair.”
Swallowing another mouthful of tea to soothe her suddenly dry throat, Eva stammered, “I...I...uh, I had no idea you noticed, your Grace.”
“I was trying to work out what color hair you had, yet not one strand escaped those ridiculous things.”
He sat to her right and Eva’s eyes widened as she looked at his food-laden plate.
“I rest my case.” Lord Kelkirk had a smug expression on his face as he noted her own expression.
“My caps were a sort of cover against my family, your Grace,” she said after a moment.
“Daniel,” he said around a mouthful of ham.
“Cover?” Simon pressed, intrigued.
“My family were not the easiest of men to live with, Lord Kelkirk, and sometimes I wanted to blend into the background and look…inconspicuous,” Eva said.
Simon coughed and several drops of tea flew onto the cloth. Eva looked at the small splotches on the linen and hoped the stains would come out; this was one of their new cloths.
“Inconspicuous?” he finally gasped, begging her pardon.
“Yes, and perhaps a touch witless,” Eva added.
“Witless?”
“Come now, Simon, you should be well versed in the word,” the duke said with an evil glint in his grey eyes.
“Are you suggesting I’m witless, Stratton?”
“Well, there was that time at Eton when you set fire to Professor Maitland’s front door only to find it was in fact Professor Hind’s front door.”
“That was not my fault!”
Eva had never heard her husband speak like this. He sounded as if he was enjoying teasing his friend. He even winked at her. She watched as the two grown men bickered, each giving as good as he got. When one drew breath, the other spoke. Her brothers had never teased each other and if they did, a fight usually ensued.
“Do you like it here at Stratton, your Grace?”
It took her a few seconds to realize the conversation had swung back to her. “Yes, thank you, Lord Kelkirk. I am quite content.”
“You will like London even more. It is a wondrous place, especially on your first visit.”
“I don’t think I would, Lord Kelkirk. I am a country girl,” Eva remembered the conversation she’d had with her husband last night. He wanted her to take her place in society and had said that he would protect her.
“And yet as we discussed, Eva, you are coming to London with me,” the duke said calmly. She could feel his eyes on her as she played with the handle of her cup.
“And on that note, if you will both excuse me, I have an urgent letter to write.”
Eva watched Lord Kelkirk hurry from the room. “It must be a very important letter.”
The duke snorted. “Simon has never written a letter in his life. He merely wanted to give us privacy, Eva.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He knew I wanted to talk to you about London.”
Eva didn’t want to discuss leaving Stratton so soon, so instead she tried to distract him. It had often worked with her brothers. “I would like to apologize for how I was dressed this morning, Daniel. I understand it is not acceptable for a woman to wear breeches.”
Eva’s words filled Daniel’s head with visions of her shapely legs encased in the form- fitting breeches and the raven plait trailing to her waist. She had the sweetest curve to her buttocks and he’d had to fight the urge to caress it when he had helped her mount Posy.
“I have no issue with you wearing them in the privacy of your own home, Duchess. But considering how you looked in them, I would suggest you not wear them outside of Stratton.”
“I understand.”
He doubted she did but he wasn’t getting into that now. “Besides, when I best you, I don’t want you to have any excuses.”
She smiled but chose not to reply, instead saying, “I wondered if I could ask another favor of you, Daniel, as I’ve still had no word from my brother Reggie and would like you to send another invitation to my father to see if he can visit.”
“I will, of course, immediately write to your father informing him of our intentions, and ask that he let Reggie join us in London.”
“Oh, but - ”
“You will be protected there, Eva, and I will put you in no situation you are uncomfortable with. It need only be a temporary visit, until society is satisfied that you actually exist.”
“My family - “
“Will not bother the Duchess of Stratton because she is far above them on the social scale,” Daniel said firmly. “I have told you I will protect you, Eva and am sorry that my leaving Stratton led you to believe I would not do so. Can you not trust me in this?”
“I want to.”
“Yet the circumstances of our marriage do not inspire trust,” Daniel said softly.
Emotions flickered through her eyes, yet she did not voice them. “I just need more time to prepare, Daniel.”
Daniel knew she was hoping to stall him but he would not change his mind. He truly believed this was the right decision for both of them. “I have no wish to prolong the journey to long, Eva.”
He could see her trying to read what she believed he had not said. Mistrust from her past did not make acceptance easy and he knew it would be some time before that changed.
“I will, of course, be ready when the time comes to leave, your Grace.”
He could hear how much those words had cost her, yet he would not back down in this. They would leave Stratton, and soon.
…
Eva lowered the book to her knees and stared out the window. She had slipped away to her room to curl up on the window seat and read, yet she couldn’t concentrate. Her thoughts always seemed to return to her husband.
Neither of them had mentioned London again and she had spent the past few days getting to know both he and Lord Kelkirk and in doing so, had grown comfortable in their company. She had never spent time with men who simply wanted to be with her to talk or make her laugh. It was a revela
tion. They constantly bantered with each other and now included her in this. She was called on to referee and offer her opinion, and Eva could not believe this duke, with his easy manners and charm, was the one she had known in the early days of their marriage. He was a formidable man when required, yet with her he was polite and attentive and she slowly felt the barriers she had built to keep her safe begin to erode.
His touch unsettled her – his hand on her back or around her waist. The contact was always brief and Eva wasn’t experienced enough to be certain, but she thought by the knowing gleam in his eyes that perhaps this contact was deliberate on his part.
A knock on the door disturbed her thoughts. “Enter.”
“Miss Belton has called, your Grace, and wishes to see you with some expediency,” Luton said, coming into the room.
“Of course. Please have tea brought into….uh, where did you put her, Luton?” Eva questioned as she searched for her shoes.
“The lemon parlor, your Grace.”
“Excellent. I will be with her shortly.”
When Eva entered the lemon parlor - presumably named for the solitary lemon tree outside the window since the walls were painted peach - Eva noticed Claire was craning her neck to see the driveway.
“Claire, is something amiss?” she said, coming forward to take her friend’s hands.
“Yes. Dear lord, Eva, I am afraid Mrs. Potter is on her way here again. I was in the village and overheard her saying to that fish-faced Mrs. Plimpton it was her duty to call upon the duke now he has returned to Stratton.”
“When?” Eva rushed to look out the window. She did not relish the prospect of Daniel meeting Mrs. Potter. What if the woman decided to push him into attending church?
“Now, as we speak. I had to warn you.”
Both ladies stood still as statues as they listened to the wheels of a carriage drawing up outside the front door.
“Is your husband from home?” Claire whispered hopefully.
“No. He and Lord Kelkirk are in the stables,” Eva whispered back.
“Perhaps they will stay there.”
“Perhaps, but I don’t believe so. Lord Kelkirk likes to take tea at this hour.”
“Noblemen and their tea,” Claire muttered.
“Mrs. Potter, your Grace,” Luton said, showing the older woman into the room seconds later.
“Dear Lord!” Eva whispered, watching Mrs. Potter come bustling forward. She resembled a basket filled with fruit of every color and variety.
“Your Grace.” Mrs. Potter curtsied, making her large hat tilt precariously to one side and nearly oversetting the small stuffed bird on its crown.
“M-Mrs. Potter,” Eva said with only a slight quiver to her voice.
“Oh, Miss Belton, you are here also.” Mrs. Potter deflated slightly. “I have come to see your husband, your Grace.”
“Uh, I believe my husband is from Stratton at the present time,” Eva said quickly.
“If it is not too much of an inconvenience, your Grace, I shall wait. It is the reverend’s fondest wish that the duke attend his service this Sunday and I am here to issue the invitation.”
Both Eva and Claire watched in fascination as she then lowered herself into the nearest chair, wriggled and twitched, patting the cushion at her back and finally settled, not unlike a small dog.
“He could be some time, Mrs. Potter.”
“Mrs. Potter, I believe,” said a deep voice from the doorway as Eva finished speaking.
Both Claire and Eva stiffened as the duke and Lord Kelkirk walked into the room.
“Mother of God!” Simon whispered, watching the small, round woman rock back and forth several times before gaining enough momentum to get out of the chair.
“Simon, this is Miss Belton.” Eva waved a hand from Claire to Simon as she tried to hear exactly what Mrs. Potter was saying to her husband. “Allow me to introduce you to Lord Kelkirk.”
“A pleasure,” Simon bowed deeply over Claire’s hand. “We met briefly in London, I think?”
“Yes, we did, my lord,” Claire said, not sparing Simon a glance, Eva noticed, as she too, was attempting to follow the conversation between Mrs. Potter and Daniel.
“I am charged to convey an invitation to you, your Grace, to attend church this Sunday. My husband is to give a very fine sermon.”
Eva held her breath. Surely Daniel would not tolerate Mrs. Potter making such a request?
“Of course, Mrs. Potter. All who reside at Stratton will be attendance.”
“Oh, that is wonderful news, your Grace. Reverend Potter will be very happy indeed.”
The duke turned to smile at Claire and Eva before continuing. “There are many here at Stratton, Mrs. Potter, who need spiritual guidance and it is my responsibility to ensure they receive it.”
“He is a silver-tongued sod,” Simon whispered to Eva from the side of his mouth.
“I have never once seen Minerva Potter at a loss for words,” Claire added.
Eva wanted to giggle as she watched color flood the round face of Mrs. Potter after Daniel complimented her on the stylish arrangement upon her hat.
“Duchess, could you have Luton replenish the teapot?” Daniel asked, winking at the small group gathered by the door. “Mrs. Potter and I have much to discuss.”
“Allow me.” Simon made a dash for the door before Eva could even lift a foot.
“Come and join us, ladies,” the duke added.
Grabbing Claire’s arm before she, too, fled, Eva towed her to one of the couches. Sitting together, both ladies watched Daniel as he proceeded to ladle on the charm. Within minutes, Mrs. Potter was blushing and twittering like a debutante at her first ball.
“He should be on the stage,” Claire whispered.
“I am coming to realize there are many sides to my husband.”
“Oh, Daniel has a wicked wit when he unleashes it,” Claire added. “And his smile has often got him what he wants.”
“Is my smile not as distracting?” Simon said, returning. “Country manners are so charming,” he added with a goodly dose of sarcasm, as both women ignored him and kept their eyes firmly trained on the now giggling Mrs. Potter.
“The male ego is such a fragile thing, Eva.” Claire threw Simon a scathing look.
Eva swallowed another laugh as she peeked at Simon and noted his scowl.
“We are so honored that you are to attend dear Reverend Potter’s service this Sunday, your Grace.” Mrs. Potter clutched the duke’s hand as she prepared to rise after drinking two cups of tea and eating two jam-laden scones.
“I shall look forward to it.” Daniel bowed low over her hand.
The small group then walked outside and goodbyes were exchanged and finally Mrs. Potter left, casting longing looks at Eva’s husband until her carriage was no longer in view.
“That was very well done of you, your Grace,” Claire said, pulling on her own gloves. “Although I fail to see how you will rid yourself of her company now that she is halfway in love with you.”
“Tsk, tsk, Claire, I was merely being friendly.”
Claire snorted as they walked to the waiting carriage. “Be careful of this man, Eva - he can wrap any woman around his finger. Even my mother is infatuated with him. She used to make him play the piano and sing whenever he visited. If one is gifted with the voice of an angel, one must use it, she used to say.”
“A woman with exquisite tastes, your mother,” Daniel drawled.
“Or she’s tone deaf with failing eyesight,” Simon added.
“I assure you, Lord Kelkirk, my mother is in full control of her faculties,” Claire snapped, the smile leaving her face as she faced Simon.
Simon’s mouth tightened. Bowing slightly, he said, “Forgive my poor attempt at humor, Miss Belmont. I have little doubt after meeting you that your dear mother is both beautiful and in full control of her faculties.”
Rolling her eyes, Claire ignored him. “I am for London next week and I am hoping to see you there also, Ev
a.”
“Oh - ”
“She will be there,” Daniel interrupted Eva. Taking Claire’s hand, he helped her into the carriage and once she was seated, he gently shut the carriage door.
“Excellent.” Claire signaled to the driver that she was ready to leave.
Eva’s eyes stayed on the carriage following Mrs. Potter’s through the gates until it had left her sight and only then did she turn to face Daniel.
“We are to leave for London so soon?”
“Yes. We will return for the remainder of the season.” Daniel had a feeling that if she hadn’t thought it an unseemly display, his wife would have stamped her foot in frustration. “You cannot hide here at Stratton indefinitely, Duchess.”
“I am not hiding. I am preparing myself for what is to come.”
Color sat high on her cheekbones as she glared at him and he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her, taste her anger. “An excellent comeback, Duchess.”
“I will not embarrass us both by appearing countrified, your Grace, therefore I would beg a bit more time to learn the role I must play.”
“No.”
He just used the one word but it was enough to have her expelling a breath loudly and then turning to stomp back inside without speaking another word.
“You handled that well, Stratton.”
“I would not be one to criticize, were I you, Kelkirk. I have never seen Claire take such an instant dislike to someone as she did with you.”
“She is thankfully not my wife. I have never known you to be so ham-fisted with a woman, Daniel. You weren’t joking when you said you needed help conversing with your duchess.”
“I am not ham-fisted, I am merely trying to get my wife to London and unfortunately I am going to need a firm hand to do so.”
“She is a timid, wee thing, yet finding her backbone, I believe.”
The two men headed toward the stables.
“I found her out riding, in breeches of all things, and she was careening recklessly over the countryside. My duchess definitely has a backbone.”
“Lord, tell me you didn’t take her to task over it?”
Daniel’s silence was enough to have Simon tsking.
“Go to hell, Kelkirk!”
“Just reassure her, Daniel. Tell her she will be safe once there and she will come about.”
