Page 26 of A Duchess to Unravel
“Miss Theo? Pardon, but might I share a thought?”
Norma’s voice pulled Theo from her thoughts. She looked at her maid and smiled. They had been matched for several years now and got along greatly. She was kind, attentive, and loyal. However, it was not often the young woman spoke her mind, and her request to do so immediately intrigued Theo.
“Of course, Norma,” she replied.
Norma rubbed her lips together, looking as if she was gathering courage to say what she wished. Her brown eyes flicked to the walk as she fiddled with the white bonnet covering her dark brown hair.
“I did not mean to eavesdrop earlier, ma’am. And it is none of my business, surely, but I believe you should heed Miss Rose’s word on the Duke of Caldermere.”
Theo raised a brow in interest. She was not bothered that Norma had heard what was said but the matter of speaking of a noble, especially in regard to rumors was quite unusual. Still, Theo chose to approach Norma’s words with curiosity, not chastisement.
“Pray tell, why do you believe so?” Theo asked.
Norma’s eyes dipped to the ground again and a blush crept into her cheeks.
“Last night when you left the table, Lord Briarwood sent me after you and His Grace,” she confessed.
Theo’s heart skipped and she prayed the heat in her cheeks wasn’t blossoming into a scarlet blush. She immediately wanted to demand to know what Norma had seen but she took a breath. She did not want to appear worried about it- even if she was.
“And?” She asked, hoping she sounded carefree.
“It took me a moment to find you. I did not hear or see much,” Norma confessed, “But I did see him touch your face before you appeared perturbed and walked away. A true gentleman would not have been so careless with your person, my lady.”
No. Theo supposed that a true gentleman would not do such a thing. But a proper lady would have never allowed herself to be put in such a situation either. Nor would she have liked the touch so greatly. Or yearned for more, for that matter.
“Did you tell my brother this?” Theo asked, stopping herself from falling too deeply into the thought. Tristan knowing what had happened would be a far bigger concern.
“No, my lady. You appeared to handle him quite well, so when he asked what happened I told him that you and the Duke simply had a discussion.”
The tension in Theo’s shoulders fled. She drew in a breath, relieved that Norma had done her a favor. If she had not, Lord knows how much worse her and Tristan’s spat that morning would have been.
“Thank you, Norma. For covering for me and for telling me. Do continue to keep it our secret, though, please? My brother is so worried as it is, I do not want to give him reason to do so further.”
“Of course, my lady,” Norma replied, looking relieved as well.
“So you are not cross with me?” She added.
“No,” Theo assured her, “Surprised, yes, but I suppose I should not be. My brother warned me he would be keeping a closer eye on me. I assume he’s put that responsibility on you?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Norma agreed.
“Which would explain why you were able to follow me so quickly after I departed from the house,” Theo sighed.
“If I may say so, Lord Briarwood cares for you deeply, Miss Theo,” Norma said, “He only wants to assure your well-being.”
Theo sighed again.
“I know,” she replied as the two of them turned into the walkway of the Briarwood Estate.
“Welcome home, Miss Theo,” Mr. Harold stated, opening the door for Theo as she made it home.
Theo requested Norma to take her books to her room for her, then turned to their longtime butler with a kind smile.
“Thank you, Mr. Harold,” Theo replied as she handed him her hat and parasol. “Tell me, has my brother arrived home yet?”
“No, Miss,” Mr. Harold replied, “He asked that I give you a message. You also received another while you were gone.”
Theo waited patiently as he handed her things off to a maid to put away, then Mr. Harold retrieved two envelopes from the nearby credenza. She opened the one from her brother immediately. It stated that he would be busy with meetings elsewhere until the afternoon, then would be out for the evening. There was also a warning of a lecture if she attempted to leave the house unchaperoned again.
