Page 31 of The English Duke
If her sister was, somehow, allowed to attend dinner then she would simply have to regale the two gentlemen with tales of Martha’s exploits. How Martha was not averse to wading into the lake with her dress tucked between her legs, trying to find something that had fallen off their father’s silly ship. Or how many times Martha had come home with her face all red from the sun or her dress covered in mud, unconcerned about how she looked, or smelled, for that matter. How many times she had returned to the house stinking of one of their father’s chemicals. Or, heaven forbid, with blistered hands from pounding copper.
Martha behaved just like a man and men didn’t care for such behavior.
“You have a cat’s smile. As if you’ve just eaten a defenseless bird.”
Looking up, she saw Reese Burthren standing there, leaning against the gate. She would have to pass him in order to get to the house. She pushed aside her irritation and smiled brightly at him instead, ignoring his rude remark.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Burthren. Isn’t it a lovely day?”
“Have you been visiting Jordan?”
She stopped in the middle of the path, clasping her hands together in front of her. Was he going to block her entrance to the walkway? If the price for getting past him was a few minutes of charm, she could certainly accomplish that.
“I accompanied my sister to the boathouse,” she said. “We delivered my father’s papers and experiments to the duke. Do you share an interest in his work?”
“Only tangentially,” he said, smiling slowly at her.
He truly did have a lovely smile. Men smiled for different reasons than women, her mother had told her. A woman will smile to hide something, but men always smiled to reveal themselves, especially when they were fascinated with a woman.
She returned his expression, thinking if the duke wasn’t around, she might reciprocate Mr. Burthren’s interest. For now, however, her main occupation was Jordan Hamilton. If she wanted him, he was hers. He may not know it yet, but he would.
“You don’t seem the type to be interested in torpedo ships,” he said.
“I’m not. I think men are more suited to such things.”
“Your sister doesn’t feel the same way.”
“No,” she said. “She doesn’t. Martha has no interest in feminine pursuits.”
“Ah, but if she did she’d be competition, wouldn’t she?”
His smile had changed character, become almost insulting.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
Surely he could recognize that Martha was almost plain while she wasn’t. If he expected her to say something along those lines he was going to be disappointed. Maman had always told her men prefer a modest approach. Besides, it was better to let them think they’d come up with an idea with careful coaching.
If she cared enough about Reese Burthren, she’d make sure he decided she was the prettier of the two sisters. However, she didn’t, so his opinion mattered only a little.
“I understand you’ve been exploring Sedgebrook,” he said.
“If I have? Why is it any of your concern?”
“I’m told you made a few interesting comments. Things like what you would change or not.”
“How do you know that?”
She was not going to use Constance again if the maid told tales about her.
“Do you see yourself as the next Duchess of Roth, Miss York?”
She really did have to rid the man of his insulting smile.
“You are in my way, Mr. Burthren. I would like to return to the house.”
To her surprise, he stepped aside, still smiling. She had the feeling he watched her as she passed, but she didn’t look back.
Chapter 10
