Page 20 of The Moonstone Governess
“Yes, so I have been telling myself for quite some time now.” He cast her a boyishly appealing smile, one she had no idea he was capable of giving after seeing the ruthless way in which he had dealt with Mr. Priam.
Poor Mr. Priam. Hopefully the commission he would make on the duke’s lease would go a long way toward mollifying him.
Mr. Matchett, the ostler, hurried toward them. “Your Grace, forgive me. I did not realize Mr. Priam had left you with the task of handing me his curricle.”
The Kestrel Inn stable served not only the inn but the local business owners, and sometimes housed the army horses as well.
Brenna grabbed her journal off the curricle’s seat, bade the ostler and the duke a good day, then hurried off to find Uncle Simon and Felicity to make arrangements for tomorrow. After the scene between her and the duke, it was a wonder he had not changed his mind about leasing her manor. Apparently, the thought of canceling had not crossed his mind.
She decided to leave well enough alone. Yes, she was still irritated by their completely avoidable curricle incident. She had gotten an apology from him, which was quite something because, as he’d stated, he clearly was not the sort who ever apologized for his misdeeds. That he had offered her one was quite a concession on his part.
She had yet to cross the high street when the duke caught up to her. “Your Grace? What now?” she asked.
“Daire,” he said, falling into stride with her. “Call me Daire. I’ll let you go in a moment, but can you tell me where I might find those items you mentioned for Matthew?”
She stopped walking to stare at him askance. “Do you plan on choosing them yourself?”
“Yes, I do. What is so difficult about it? You forget I was a little boy once.”
She did not think he had ever been a little boy—not in the sense of having a youthful upbringing that was in the least enriching or innocent. “I’m sure you were more of a terror than young Matthew.”
He nodded. “I was not the best-behaved lad.”
“If you can wait until tomorrow, we could stop by Mr. Bedwell’s mercantile before you leave for the tea party. I’ll be done going over the Stoningham Manor items to be repaired with my uncle and cousin by late morning. Shall I stop at the inn to fetch you once I am back? Or do you have other plans?”
“No other plans. In fact, I’d like to go up to the house with you in the morning, since it might be simpler to make swift changes if your uncle finds something else that must be done.”
“All right, that’s an even better plan,” Brenna replied. “We’ll pick you up in my uncle’s wagon. Felicity and I can ride in the back while you sit up front with my uncle. It is not nearly as fine as your posh carriage.”
“Nor as cramped as Mr. Priam’s curricle, I imagine. Too bad. We were quite cozy, weren’t we?”
She frowned at him. “Do not ever bring that up again, not even in jest.”
“Wagon is fine. I don’t mind riding with the rabble,” he teased, then held up his hands in mock surrender.
She gave up and sighed.
He was naturally charming, but so full of himself. And yet not anything like his elite friends. He thought highly of workers, for he had not thought twice before accepting Uncle Simon or Felicity for the work proposed. He judged people on their merits.
“Once we are done and return to the village,” she continued, “it will only take us a few minutes in Mr. Bedwell’s shop to select some games and books for Matthew. I’ll give serious thought to what he might like. Mr. Bedwell can send to Plymouth or Exeter for whatever he does not have.”
The duke was agreeable to all her suggestions.
“We’ll be seeing a lot of each other over the next few days, Brenna. I really wish you would call me Daire.”
“No, Your Grace,” she said softly. “It is better that we maintain a professional rapport.”
He sighed. “Very well, but we can remain professional while still dealing with each other cordially. Why are you so reluctant? Are you concerned your beau might disapprove?”
She stopped walking and turned to look up at him. “Who told you about Albert?”
“Your distinguished college professor who has never properly kissed you? Everyone in Moonstone Landing gossips, Brenna. Half the time they don’t realize they are doing it because it is so innate to them. Why do you think I had to come down so hard on Mr. Priam? I took no pleasure in doing so, but I could not risk harm to your reputation. Especially since you are completely innocent. But since we are on the subject of your Albert, why don’t you tell me about him? Isn’t it better that I hear the facts from you than wild rumors from unreliable sources?”
She shook her head vehemently. “Oh, no. I will not have you undermining him.”
“Why do you think I would do such a thing?” the duke asked.
“It is none of your business whether he has ever kissed me.”
