Page 39 of The Duke's Spinster

She had to maintain a prim and proper disposition. It had never been more difficult. It had never been easier than with him.

“Do you really like the white coffee, Your Grace?”

His eyes didn’t budge from hers. “It’s delicious. I think I want more.”

Chapter Fifteen

Boudicca sat infront of the mirror pulling a few brushstrokes through her hair. It had been quite the irregular afternoon. Up until the garden party, most of their time had been spent alone, or at least, privately. But there, sipping tea together, and him bringing her a treat had felt…different. And he had brought her a taste of her favorite flavored ice. For everyone to see. And many were observing and speculating. Surely there would be gossip spilling out of this afternoon’s event.

The most peculiar aspect of the ice escapade was that it was one of the least scandalous things they had done together, yet it would be the topic of gossip. More scandalous actions included the following: she had worn breeches in front of him, they had fenced, she had won, and of course, they had kissed. That was patently the most scandalous of all so far.

All her life, her public life, Boudicca had followed the rules. Prim. Proper. Responsible. But some rules were just meant to be broken. The rules she broke were only ever for herself, namely the breeches and the fencing. One day she would work up enough nerve to go public with those actions, but she needed a bit more time. It was a dream to instill confidence in other women. Empower young girls. Girls were always praised for being beautiful, as if that were the highest possible achievement. Boudicca had always felt within her a need to be a force. It was the very essence within her that people perceived as intense. Theessence she subdued, all but when she was fencing. Hence her plans for an academy.

Enjoying her ruminations in solitude too much, Boudicca was surprised when without warning, there was a short knock on the door, no time to reply, and then Mimi. In the middle of her room.

“What are you doing here? It’s late,” Boudicca said.

Without a word, Mimi rushed over to the window and flicked something that sounded almost like the click of a lock.

“Mimi, what are you doing?”

And sure enough…“I’m unlocking your window.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Mimi’s eyes popped out of their sockets. “How can you even ask that? What if the duke decides to show up in your room tonight only to find your window locked? You might be asleep and not hear him. What will he think then? He may think you’re turning down his advances.”

Boudicca’s leg started bouncing at the same rate as her heart was pounding. “He would never…”—she shook her head—“no, he wouldn’t…”

“He might…”

“No.”

“He could.”

“He wouldn’t.”

“Bodi, I saw the way he was looking at you today. You have spent time together every day. You’ve,” she darted a glance around the clearly empty room, “kissed.” The last word was unnecessarily whispered.

Boudicca rolled her eyes. She should have never told her sisters about the kiss. Especially Mimi. She would only contrive some hopeless fantasy over it all.

“If he came—if”—she held up her hand—“if, it’s a hypothetical Bodi, what would you do?”

“I would turn down his advances if he came through my window at night.”

“Any night? Or just tonight?” She hadn’t even flinched at Bodi’s reply, already having a secondary question prepared.

Exasperated, Boudicca released a ragged sigh. “Out with you.”

“I just want to make sure you’re ready if he does come.” She swiftly looked down at Boudicca’s nightrail. “You’re not wearing that, are you?”

“It’s night time. I’m going to sleep. This,” Boudicca pulled on the sides of her most comfortable cotton nightrail, “is what I’m wearing. To sleep.”

“But—”

And then realizing the only logical way to get Artemisia out of the room was to apply Mimi’s own argument against her, Boudicca said, “If he does come, the last person he will want to find in my room is you.”

“But—” Artemisia held up her index finger as if she had a tertiary argument. Silence. “No, that’s a perfectly good point.”

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