Page 23 of The Duke and his Muse
“Good afternoon!”
“Good afternoon,” the duke replied with a bow, one hand in Daniel’s. “Any outside adventures today?”
She shook her head. “None planned, but we can let Daniel stretch his legs before we have tea.”
“Would you like to go for a walk?” the duke asked the little boy.
“Forest!” The boy released his father’s hand and ran forward to clasp one of Jane’s. “Forest!”
Her heart swelled with happiness as she held the boy’s hand and walked with him to the clearing with the stump.
“Leopold!”
And therewasa Leopold in the clearing. A red fox stood at the edge of the trees, startled by their appearance. The animal sniffed the air before turning its back on them and disappearing into the woods.
Daniel made to rush after the fox, but his father stepped forward to swing the boy into his arms.
“Remember how we talked about being nice to animals, Daniel? We wouldn’t want to frighten Leopold so he never returns to the stump, do we?”
Daniel had struggled in his father’s embrace to get down but now stilled. He shook his head solemnly. “Leopold is friend.”
“He is,” his father replied with a grin. “And so is Oliver, so must be nice to Miss Hayward’s cat this visit.”
“Daniel nice.”
She smiled at his words. “Daniel is very nice.”
“Papa nice.”
“He is very nice, too,” she replied, feeling heat on her cheeks.
“Thank you, Miss Hayward. We think you’re nice as well.”
There was an uncomfortable silence filled only with the rustle of a breeze through the trees and the song of birds.
“Forest!” Daniel again struggled in the duke’s hold, and his father set him back on the ground.
The little boy stomped around the clearing for a few minutes and then his father asked him, “Shall we go in for tea? Perhaps there are cinnamon buns.”
“Yes! Tea!” This time the boy insisted on holding his father’s hand and one of Jane’s.
She kept her gaze on Daniel or her feet as they returned to the cottage.
Once settled in the parlor with tea and sweets, Jane looked over the pages the duke brought with him. A few minutes later, Maisie appeared to escort Daniel to the kitchen and an audience with Oliver the cat.
The duke ate cinnamon buns and ham sandwiches as Jane read the words he’d written.
When she had finished reading, Jane let out a happy sigh. “Perfect. What you’ve written is just perfect.” She closed her eyes a moment.
“Worthy of your father’s approval?” the duke asked softly.
“Is that important to you?” she asked, opening her eyes and staring at him.
“He left a wonderful legacy. I would hope I lived up to his standards. And yours.”
“You have,” she breathed softly. “You most certainly have.”
The duke nodded briskly. “I’ll be going to town in two days. Would you like me to present the manuscript to the publisher?”
