Page 6 of Moonstone Angel
“I’ll sleep here,” the duke said, patting the well-padded seat. “There is no need for me to put Cara out.”
“No, Your Grace. You’ll never fit. You are too big. It will be no inconvenience for me.”
He regarded her with some surprise.
It was her turn to grin. “I am not always as sour as lemons. Since you will not go away, this seems to be the best arrangement. Of course, I will need a few hours each day to attend to myself in the privacy of my own bedchamber, but we can easily work out a schedule between us. Now, let’s take care of the practicalities. Have you brought clothes? And where is your horse? He’ll have to be properly stabled.”
“I noticed the Kestrel Inn has a fine stable beside it. I’ve placed Ares there and left my bags in the care of the ostler. I’ll grab them now, assuming you will not slam the door in my face again.”
“No more door slamming, I promise,” she said, fighting the urge to warm to him. “At least, not until the next time you irk me.”
His smile was softer toward her now. “I am always on my best behavior when my grandmother is around.”
“And when she is not?”
“I have no answer for that yet. I’ve never met anyone quite like you, Cara…and I do not mean it as a compliment.”
She laughed. “Ah, yes. You like your ladies to be biddable and doting on you. No independent thoughts. No challenge to your authority.”
“If I am to be husband to one of them, they ought to respect me. But I’d like them to be more interesting than a wedge of cheese.”
“Ah, that is quite a standard you’ve set for the woman you shall marry.”
He joined her in a chuckle. “I’ve expressed myself badly. Perhaps it is because I do not know yet what I want.”
“However, you do know that it cannot be anyone like me.”
“Cara, you already have my head spinning, and I’ve not spent more than five minutes with you. If you were my wife, I think you would outsmart me at every turn.” He did not appear at all indignant. Quite the opposite, his eyes were no longer that stark, cold silver, but were warm and brimming with mirth. “I’ll go fetch my bags now. Grandmama, don’t let her lock me out.”
Cara followed him to the door and watched him stride down the street to the stables.
He disappeared from view a few houses down.
She stifled her disappointment and returned to his grandmother’s side. “Perhaps I ought to have been a little nicer to him. Do you think he only plans to stay the night and take you back to London tomorrow? Without me, I suppose. He cannot abide me.”
Duchess Anne patted her hand. “You are a breath of fresh air to him. I don’t think he minded your impertinence at all. He needs to be challenged from time to time, not to be swooned and fussed over by those young ladies constantly throwing themselves in his path. He needs to marry a clever woman, not one with pudding for brains…or dull cheese.”
“I’m sure there are very clever young ladies in London. Lady Yvonne is one, but not in a nice way. Do you think he will settle on her?”
“He won’t, my dear. I can see by the look in his eyes that he won’t.”
Cara leaned against the sofa’s back in relief. “I hope you are right. I would never wish unhappiness on him.”
“My grandson is a clever boy. He will come around to finding the right girl for himself.”
Cara bussed her cheek. “Do you realize I now have a duchess and a duke under my humble roof? And I have no decent supper prepared. Nibbling on day-old bread and leftover soup will not keep your grandson’s muscles finely honed.”
She laughed. “Ah, you noticed his muscles?”
“Of course. They are hard to overlook, are they not?” She felt heat rise in her cheeks, for she had been honest in her response, as she always was around the duchess. But this was the lady’s grandson, so she really had to think before she blurted whatever was on her mind. “Are you feeling all right? Do you mind if I leave you with Mildred for a few moments while I run to the Three Lions Tavern and order heartier fare delivered for our supper?”
“Not at all. Go ahead and do what you must. I shall be fine right here with my tea and lemon cake.”
“I won’t be long. We can sit on the veranda and watch the sun set when I return. It’s a perfect day, not a trace of rain in the air. And isn’t the breeze refreshing?”
The duchess inhaled lightly. “There’s something soft about the air in Moonstone Landing. It warms my bones and soothes my heart. But run along now, don’t delay.”
Cara grabbed her bonnet and took off for the village square where all the shops, inns, and businesses were to be found. All were in sight of the harbor and hardly a five-minute walk from her home.
