Page 81 of The Texan Duke
Was she going to summon Elsbeth to her room and demand to know what she’d decided? Would she banish her from Bealadair on the spot if she refused?
Betty stood and went to the side table, beginning to arrange the duchess’s tray. Addy excused herself to go to the stove, retrieving the toast she’d made earlier.
“I’m supposed to seduce you,” Elsbeth said, glancing at Connor.
She’d never seen anyone’s face turn to stone quite the way Connor’s did. One moment his eyes were filled with humor. The next they were flat and expressionless. His mouth assumed a straight line, his beautiful smile gone in an instant.
“What?”
She was as surprised as he. She hadn’t meant to say anything to him, especially not with Addy and Betty so close. She lowered her voice further.
“The duchess wants me to seduce you,” she said. “So you won’t sell Bealadair. Evidently, I’m supposed to have such extraordinary feminine wiles that you’ll immediately change your plans and give up any thought of moving away from Scotland, of selling Bealadair and displacing the family. All because you kissed me.”
He was watching her with that intent gaze of his. She wished he wouldn’t, but she could hardly say that, could she?
“Not that the family is truly being displaced. I mean, they knew once the new duke arrived that there was every possibility they would have to move. After all, even Gavin planned for that contingency or he wouldn’t have been so generous in his bequests, don’t you think?”
She finally took a breath when Addy moved back toward the table.
He still hadn’t said anything, which made her feel even more foolish. No, she was acres past foolish. She’d been an idiot. Why had she said what she had?
“Have you ever heard of anything more ridiculous?”
After Betty left with the duchess’s tray, Addy returned to the table, smiling as she sat.
Elsbeth was hoping he didn’t say anything now, not with a witness.
She didn’t get her wish.
“Not so ridiculous.” His voice was calm as he reached for another scone. “My mother would love these,” he said to Addy.
Elsbeth’s face felt hot. Her heart was beating furiously. She stared down at her nearly empty cup. If she raised it now, they’d both see her shaking hands.
Why had she said anything?
Why?
What did he mean,not so ridiculous?
Chapter 25
For nearly a week, Elsbeth managed to avoid a great many people at Bealadair. First of all, the duchess. Her excuse for not meeting with the woman centered around the upcoming ball. She was simply too occupied with the details. She didn’t have time to spare. That’s the excuse she gave every maid and every footman Rhona sent looking for her.
Although it was more work for the staff, she took breakfast in her sitting room every morning. Nor did she return to Bealadair for lunch, instead taking some cheese and bread with her as she made her rounds. She would much rather sit in a stable stall and have a solitary lunch than be forced to face the duchess or the rest of the McCraight family.
She even stayed away from her suite until she was certain the duchess had retired for the night.
As far as Connor? She was avoiding His Grace at every possible occasion. The closest she’d come to seeing him was when she’d met with Mr. Kirby to tell him that neither Hamish nor his men had been near Castle McCraight on the day of the shooting.
“Do you believe him?” he’d asked.
“He’s a very reputable man,” she’d said. “Most of the people at Bealadair are.”
“Someone isn’t.”
That comment lingered between them. He was right. Someone at Bealadair, or on Bealadair land, had tried to kill Connor.
She knew he’d gone into the village to make inquiries, but hadn’t turned up any information. He had promised her to be as tactful as he could be and not antagonize the villagers.
