Page 21 of The Duke and his Muse
“The same maid that is a baking wonder?”
Jane chuckled. “The same. Maisie is a treasure I could not do without.”
“Perhaps she could share some of her receipts. My son tells me her cinnamon buns are not to be equaled.”
The son in question entered the room at the same time a maid brought in a tea tray. The cups were sorted and as before, the duke and Jane exchanged work.
“You’ve completed the sketches for the whole book!” The duke looked up from the pages in his hand. “You have been busy.”
“I thought that perhaps the project was taking up too much of your time,” she replied with a weak smile. “You have so many responsibilities.”
“As have you.” The duke added, “You run your own home as well.”
The dowager made a soft sighing noise and rose to her feet. “I have a book I’ve left unattended for too long.”
The duchess strolled across the room, picked up a tome from a side table and proceeded to recline on a settee, book in hand.
Jane concentrated on the next few scenes the duke had written. “Very good. Very good. The reader will understand that Leopold could have saved himself. This is perfect.”
“So you agree that our normally dour blackbird, Iris, should be the one who wholeheartedly welcomes Daniel into the group?” The duke had his attention on his sketches.
“I think the reader would like to see the most disapproving member of the group of friends finally approve of our little hedgehog,” she replied tongue in cheek.
The duke glanced toward his mother and then met Jane’s gaze, a grin on his lips. “I wholeheartedly agree.”
There was a short silence before she asked, “How is Daniel?”
Before the duke could answer, the little boy ran into the room and straight to Jane. “Cat! Cat!”
“Good afternoon, Daniel.”
The boy grasped her hand. “Cat! Forest! Leopold!”
“I think he is happy to see you, Miss,” the boy’s nurse said with a soft smile.
Daniel pulled on Jane’s hand. “Forest! Forest!”
She looked helplessly at the boy’s father.
“He wants to show you the stump in a little wilderness by the house.” The duke smiled. “Would you mind?”
“I should be delighted to see his forest,” she replied truthfully.
The nurse sent a maid upstairs for Daniel’s outerwear while Jane donned her bonnet and pelisse in the entry hall, the duke his hat and coat. When Daniel was appropriately attired, their party, to include the nurse, exited the house for Daniel’s forest.
The boy insisted on holding Jane’s gloved hand as they made their way down the front steps of the house and along a gravel lane to the west of the mansion. They passed through awalled garden to a large open wilderness. A stump did indeed stand in the center of a cleared area.
When they came to a halt near the stump the duke said, “Daniel found the stump on one of our walks so I had the gardeners cut the grass around it to resemble your clearing, Miss Hayward.”
Daniel released her hand and rushed to the stump, tripping once along the way.
“Be careful!” The duke ran to the boy’s side and helped him up.
Daniel brushed his father off and placed a hand on the stump. “Forest! Leopold!”
“And Daniel,” she said, her eyes wet. What was wrong with her? Smiling widely, she looked about her, realizing the nurse was watching her.
“It isn’t as nice as your forest, Miss Hayward,” the duke said solemnly, “But I hope you see it as the tribute it is meant to be.”
