Page 79 of The Undesirable Duke
“His Grace informed me that he had an errand to run this morning and will be joining us shortly.”
“An errand on Christmas Day? Whatever was more important than Morning Service at the Abbey?” Lady Welsford asked.
“I am certain that it was important to His Grace, Mother.”
“Indeed. The Duke is aware of what is important and what is not. The man has his priorities in order,” Lord Welsford agreed.
Of course, her father had not a bad word to say about the Duke. The two men got along swimmingly and discussed various topics, from politics to business and everything in between. The Duke was particularly enthralled by Lord Welsford’s stories of his travels when he was a young man. Of course, he had not travelled after he married Lady Welsford, and after the children were born. Yarmouth would spend hours listening to the tales of Lord Welsford’s travels and, he had told her, had hopes of traveling one day, hopefully with Lillian by his side.
Timothy nudged Lillian and grinned.
“Speaking of Yarmouth, here he is now.”
Lillian’s heart instantly sped up as she noticed the Duke approaching her. Dressed in light-colored breeches, boots, and a bottle-green double-breasted long-tail coat with a crisp white cravat, the Duke was utterly dashing. And quite coincidentally, the shade of his coat matched Lillian’s dress perfectly, as though they were made for one another.
His handsome face caused heat to rise inside her body, and her cheeks flushed at the mere sight of him. A playful grin appeared on his lips, and his eyes lit up when he saw her.
“Lillian, we shall wait in the coach for you,” Lady Welsford whispered as she touched Lillian’s shoulder, allowing Lillian and the Duke a moment alone.
“I am fairly certain that Lillian will be riding with the Duke in his coach,” Lord Welsford whispered to her in return. “We will see you at home, my darling daughter.”
Lillian nodded gratefully.
“Thank you, Father.”
As she watched Lord and Lady Welsford, along with Timothy, walk to their coach, the intoxicating scent of the Duke drew nearer.
“Good morrow, Your Grace.”
“A good morrow to you as well, Lady Lillian. My sincerest apologies for not attending Service with you and your family. I had an important matter which I had to attend to.”
“I hope that everything is well.”
The Duke nodded.
“Indeed. There is nothing to fret over.”
As the Colborne coach slowly went past, Lillian gave a small wave to her mother and father inside.
“Did you not wish to ride with your family?” the Duke inquired.
“Are you not also part of the family, Your Grace?”
The Duke chuckled.
“Indeed. Shall we?”
Lillian followed the Duke to his coach, and they climbed inside. She welcomed the warmth inside the coach with a happy sigh and slid her hands from her fur muff.
“I must admit, I was rather distracted during Service because of your absence.”
“I am here now.”
“Indeed, you are.”
The Duke cleared his throat and sat closer to her.
“There is something I wish to discuss with you.”
