Page 7 of A Duke's Lustful Riddle
Mrs. Harrow gave Gemma an encouraging smile, her face softening. She had always been kind to Gemma even if her stern tone was demanded in certain situations. Over the last five years, she and Mrs. Harrow had developed a deep bond. The elder woman was not merely a housekeeper, she was a comforting female presence at the estate.
“Maybe, one day you will become the lady of the manor,” said Mrs. Harrow kindly. Gemma’s eyes widened and her cheeks flushed at the words, but she swiftly dismissed the idea.
“Oh, Mrs. Harrow... truly,” Gemma said, unable to envision herself wed to Gabriel. She wondered how Mrs. Harrow could draw that conclusion even as she still felt the lingering touch of his hands.
She and the current head of the estate butted heads in her early years of living there. And then, like a puff of smoke, he was gone off to France, with little word since. Therefore, it made little sense to jump straight to the idea of her as being the lady of the manor.
What utter nonsense Mrs. Harrow spoke of. To even imagine such a leap of the imagination was pure folly. Gabriel had only returned that day and was hardly entrenched in his role as the new Duke of Ashbourne.
Mrs. Harrow raised an eyebrow at Gemma slightly and waited for more from the young woman. A look from Gemma, who was stations above Mrs. Harrow, and the woman took her cue to leave. Gemma stood alone in the hallway wondering how to recover from the entirety of the moment.
And yet, there was hardly a moment to waste. A grand dinner was underway, and Gemma knew that her immediate attention was needed in the kitchen. It would not do for a piece of the celebration to be left halfway to perfection.
Gemma wore a striking emerald-green gown that brought out the hazel in her eyes. She hoped for a compliment from Gabriel as she saw him walking down the staircase. Maybe he would think her ravishing. Gemma smiled and waited for his response.
To her absolute embarrassment, Gabriel hardly took note of her as he passed by. The arrogance of that man, to be sure. Gemma bit down hard on her lower lip to keep from showing her disappointment. At that moment, Hugh approached.
“Why, Lady Gemma, you look quite lovely this evening. Thank you so much for the invite,” Hugh boasted. “It will indeed be a grand affair, will it not?”
Hugh looked dapper in his black waistcoat and his blond hair was combed back, his ample forehead on display. His eyes glowed with anticipation.
“Thank you, Lord Anderson. You look well yourself,” Gemma formally acknowledged Hugh as her station instructed her to do so.
Hugh beamed at Gemma but before he could respond, Felicity emerged to make her way to them from a crowded hallway.
She was adorned in purple satin and her dark brown hair was piled on top of her head. She was dressed to suit the occasion, and she was absolutely fetching. Rather quickly, Hugh took note of this very fact.
“Lady Felicity, may you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to the dining room?” He extended his arm politely.
Gemma knew there were no more guests to wait for, so she followed the pair into the dining room, eager for the night to begin and happily noting just how well her good friend and Lord Anderson seemed to be getting along.
As Gemma entered the room, she noticed Gabriel sitting at the head of the table. His back was straight as an arrow as he drew Hugh into a focused conversation.
“It has been a long time, Your Grace,” Hugh said, taking the seat to Gabriel’s left.
Felicity took the open seat next to Hugh, leaving the seat on Gabriel’s right open for Gemma.
Gemma sat down next to Gabriel, eager to hear his conversation with Hugh.
“Well, I have been gone for a while. It seems this place has not been kept up in my absence,” Gabriel responded as he took a sip from his wine glass. “I see a great deal of disrepair.”
Hugh had been in charge of the estate until Gabriel arrived early that day and in fact, for much of his absence. The two men were regarding one another squarely but equally.
“We have had no one to keep track of what has been going on at Ashbourne Estate. However, now that you are back, hopefully things will be in order soon.” Hugh grimaced. “I must admit to you as I did in my letters, it was simply too much for us to run without you here.”
Both men stared at each other in silence before a huge smile broke out on Hugh’s face.
“But now that we have you here with us, you have our complete attention, Your Grace. Your time away must have afforded you many an adventure, indeed. We would love to hear about your time away.”
Gabriel considered his request but for a moment. Over dinner, Gabriel regaled his guests of his life and studies abroad.
Chapter 4
Dinner was going splendidly. Gabriel filled the group in on his many travels across Europe and about how Greece was his favorite of the places he visited. He enjoyed the history and the architecture that Greece had to offer, and he wasted no time in filling in his audience on his adventures there.
Hugh was fascinated by Gabriel’s stories since he had never been out of London. He listened with rapt attention as Gabriel relayed his knowledge of the history of Greece and Spain and its people. An interest he inherited from his father.
“I do love London,” Felicity spoke up. “It is home. While Spain was a pleasure last summer, I did get a bit homesick for the city.”
