Page 35 of The English Duke
“He’s been injured. He’s recovering.”
Josephine glanced at her in the mirror. “How protective you sound. How many hours did you spend together?”
“I left a little while after you did.”
“Did he tell you to leave also?”
“He didn’t tell you to leave,” Martha said.
“He as much as did. He was exceedingly rude.”
“He wasn’t.”
“You should have had a chaperone with you. A maid, if nothing else. Gran wouldn’t be happy if she knew you spent hours alone with him.”
“It wasn’t hours, and there was no need of a chaperone. We spent the whole time talking about Father’s work. Or you.”
“Me?”
“He thinks you’re lovely.”
“Does he? What a pity he’s a cripple.”
“I don’t think you should call people names.” Especially not Jordan Hamilton when he’d done nothing but offer his home to them and treat them like valued guests.
She was wise enough, however, not to say anything too complimentary about the duke to her sister. If Josephine knew how she felt about the Duke of Roth, she’d never hear the end of it.
“I apologize on His Grace’s behalf,” Reese said, meeting them at the bottom of the staircase. “He’s indisposed this evening and won’t be joining us for dinner.”
“Is he all right?” Martha asked.
“His leg is bothering him,” Reese said. “But Henry is with him.”
“Henry?”
“His valet, but he’s much more than a valet. Henry’s from Sweden and has been educated insjukgymnast.”
At her look, he smiled. “It’s manipulation,” he said, “of injured limbs.”
The fact that Reese had mentioned legs or limbs in their company was shocking, but she was grateful for the information.
Martha half expected to be led into a parlor where they would converse for a few minutes before dinner was announced. Instead, they were immediately shown to their places in the dining room, helped by two footmen who then promptly disappeared, leaving her and Josephine alone with Reese.
Reese had changed into evening clothes, making her wish she had something other than her lavender dress to wear. She looked like a drab older relative, someone who might chaperone the two of them.
She didn’t care. She didn’t even mind that Reese and Josephine talked over her the whole dinner. She sat quietly, lost in her thoughts.
After a butterscotch pudding was served for dessert, she started to pay attention to the conversation around her. The two of them were involved in a lively discussion of horses.
“Do you ride, Miss York?” Reese asked Martha.
“She doesn’t,” Josephine said. “Oh, she does, but not often. I, on the other hand, ride almost every day.”
She was perfectly able to answer for herself, but she bit back her retort and finished the pudding.
“Perhaps I could show you the stables in the morning. His Grace has a selection of magnificent horses.”
“I’ve already seen Ercole,” Josephine said.
