Page 25 of A Duke to Undo her
Even to Josephine, the duke’s last statement was ambiguous. Was Cassius Emerton telling Lord Carbury that he was demeaning himself by tormenting a helpless young woman? Or was he telling the man that he wasn’t worth Cassius’ own time? She hoped for the latter.
“After Lady Penelope and Lady Josephine, maybe we can look to you to entertain us tonight, Lord Carbury?” the duke added with a thin smile, picking up his newspaper again. “What do you say?”
“Haha, I don’t know about that…Well, you will have your fun,” reacted Lord Carbury with an uncertain little laugh of his own, maybe deciding it was best to treat this entire intervention as a joke between gentlemen.
It didn’t matter in any case, because the Duke of Ashbourne had returned to reading his newspaper once more and ignoring the entire company. All Josephine could really see of him were hislarge, capable hands, gripping the pages. Well, that suited her almost as much as Lord Carbury’s silence.
More cheerful now, if no less confused, Josephine ate a hearty breakfast and looked forward to the day ahead.
“There, that’s the last clue for the treasure hunt,” said Josephine, signing it off with a small sketch of a swan and a flourish.
She laid down the quill by the ink pot and put the paintbrushes into the water jar. Benedict Emerton picked up this final scrap of paper and blew on it as he examined the writing and accompanying pictures making up the clue.
They had gathered in an art and crafting room near the conservatories to work on plans for their treasure hunt. Vera sat reading peacefully in a chair on the other side of the room, having promised not to listen or peek at anything.
“My, you do have fine writing and drawing, Lady Josephine, as well as being my favorite dance partner and one of the few people to beat Cassius at any card game,” said Mr. Emerton admiringly. “Anyone who can best my brother is bound to be my friend. Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Pass an hour in company without attracting a disapproving comment?” she suggested ruefully, glad to have the uncomplicated Mr. Emerton at her side again. “I dare say thatLady Belinda, Lady Penelope and Miss Tewkes never struggle with something so simple.”
“Do not talk to me of Miss Tewkes,” responded Mr. Emerton in a stage whisper, as though the lady herself might be lurking under a table or behind the curtains. “Thanks to my mother, I have had quite enough of Miss Tewkes and her accomplishments for one day.”
Josephine giggled, having observed the dowager duchess several times introducing Miss Tewkes into the company of her unwilling but polite younger son.
“You did not enjoy your walk in the gardens after breakfast then?”
“No, I did not. I suspect that she is the kind of woman who couldn’t surprise a pelican if she tried.”
At this reference to their own absurd first meeting, they both fell about in laughter, causing Vera to look up at them and smile indulgently.
“How is the treasure hunt coming along?” Lady Elmridge asked.
“Wonderfully!” Mr. Emerton declared, recovering his composure. “Lady Josephine has finished all the clues and I shall now go out on my horse and lay them. After luncheon, everyone who wishes may join the game.”
With a polite bow, he left the ladies to themselves and left the room.
“I always find that young man’s company so very pleasant,” Vera commented with her usual approbation of Mr. Emerton. “I barely worry for you at all when you are with him for I am sure you will always be completely safe. If only all young gentlemen were so straightforward and good-hearted.”
“I am glad you approve of Mr. Emerton,” Josephine replied, glad that she appeared to be doing something right for once. “I do like him a great deal. Now, I think I might change this white muslin. It won’t do for the treasure hunt and if I change before luncheon, I don’t risk dropping food on it either. I don’t want to create unnecessary work for Betsy.”
“Go on then,” laughed her older sister. “I know you didn’t really want to wear that today. Only put on something sensible and respectable and I shall be content. Call Betsy while you’re upstairs changing and have her fix your hair too. It’s only eleven o’clock and it’s already all over the place.”
Glad to be alone, Josephine hastened from the room before Vera could change her mind and follow. While she did intend to change her dress, and was therefore not deliberately deceiving her sister, there was something else she wished to do first. It was a point of honor.
The Duke of Ashbourne had not been obliged to defend her as he had done at breakfast. Maybe it had even come hard to him, given his past opinion of her. Still, he had done it, and Josephinefelt that she owed him her thanks. It was not a conversation she wanted to have in front of other guests but now she had an opportunity to seek him out alone.
Chapter Twelve
Josephine rapped lightly on the wooden door of the Duke of Ashbourne’s study.
She had already quickly toured the main areas of the house. The duke had not been with his mother in the drawing room, nor with Lord Carbury and his friends in the billiards room, nor the group of younger guests playing pall mall on the middle lawns.
Benedict had hinted that his brother did not overly involve himself in social activities, even during his own house party and Josephine perceived that he had not exaggerated.
By chance, as she was about to abandon her plan, Josephine overheard a maid telling a footman that the duke wanted more ink in his study and then followed the man as he delivered the required item. The study turned out to be the very room on the corridor beside the staircase from where the Duke of Ashbourne had emerged yesterday to encounter Josephine so unexpectedly.
“Come,” commanded a man’s deep voice from within the study, sending a strange shiver down Josephine’s spine as she opened the door and stepped inside.
The Duke of Ashbourne sat behind a large oak desk, applying a seal to a folded letter. Upon seeing her he rose immediately to his feet with a distinctly shocked expression. He seemed as tousled as usual but now the sight no longer bothered her. It was only part of who he was.
