Page 40 of An Innocent Maid for the Duke
The old lady fixed her grandson with an intense stare. ‘Cooler heads must prevail, Jacob. I am relying on you to speak to the Prince. To make him see reason. This is England. Our soldiers do not run roughshod over the populace. Now, if we have quite exhausted this topic, I find I am tired. Ring the bell, Jake. I wish to retire.’
Her heart sank. How could she have been so thoughtless as to upset the old lady? ‘I am sure it will all be resolved satisfactorily in the end. I am sorry if my careless words caused you worry.’
‘Nonsense, child. My weariness has nothing to do with politics. I need my sleep after all our gadding about today.’
Jake rang the bell, then went to help his grandmother to rise. ‘I will escort you up, Grandmama.’
‘No need. Previs is here now. Finish your tea, Jake. Entertain Miss Nightingale. Perhaps you would read to her for a change.’
The elderly butler had indeed arrived and was handing the old lady her cane and offering an arm. They staggered out, closing the door behind them. An unusual mistake. Should she get up and open it? Would it not seem distrustful? She glanced at Westmoor for his reaction and was surprised at his strained expression.
‘I am so sorry, Your Grace. I would not upset your grandmother for the world. She has been so very kind.’
When he said nothing, she felt compelled to continue. ‘I told you I’d muck things up. Me pretending to be a lady is such a...’ she waved a hand to encompass everything around her ‘...farce.’
She had never seen a farce at the theatre, but she’d read them. Shakespeare’sAMidsummer Night’s DreamandAs You Like It. People dressing up as what they were not. While as funny as all get out, things often ended badly.
‘Rose,’ Jake said.
There was something in his voice that made her look at him more closely. He was laughing? She bridled. ‘What? Do you find me amusing?’
‘Not at all,’ he said, laughter dancing in the depths of his eyes. ‘Poor young Faxford. The brainless idiot didn’t have a clue what you were talking about. That is why he called you a bluestocking.’
‘How mean. I promise to be more careful.’ Something inside her shrivelled a little.
‘You certainly don’t want people to think you have any sort of brain,’ His Grace said, agreeably.
She glared at him. ‘Why must women act like foolish creatures without a sensible thought in their heads?’
He must have realised her distress, for he reached over and patted her hand. The touch of his bare skin on hers sent tingles rushing across her skin.
‘I’m teasing, Rose. I like you just as you are. Unfortunately, one derogatory remark can be picked up and passed from person to person until one’s reputation is in tatters. Men love to deride intelligent women. It makes them feel superior.’
‘Derog...’ She frowned as she tried to get her tongue around the unfamiliar word. ‘Derogatory. I assume it was something intended to hurt.’
‘From the Latin,derogatorius, meaning impairing in force or effect, criticising.’
Her head whirled. ‘You speak Latin?’
‘I learned Latin. No one speaks it any more. But that is beside the point. Faxford is a twit, whereas you are eminently sensible.’
A feeling of pride at his praise swelled her heart. ‘Which account do you believe?’
‘The prognosis is not good.’ He winced. ‘I apologise, I forget you have not had the same opportunity to—’
‘Oh, I know what that means. It is a medical term for the course of a disease.’ She had heard the doctors at the orphanage use it. ‘You think there is cause for concern?’
‘I do. I ran into Tonbridge, a military man with friends in the army. He believes the press has the right of it, for a change. Resentment among the people is building.’
She gasped. ‘Revolution?’
‘No need to look so hopeful, my dear.’
They both burst out laughing.
When their laughter died away, once more Rose looked so adorably serious, Jake wanted to kiss her.
‘You really think it will come to that?’ she asked.
