Page 41 of Duchess By Accident
Natalie felt her cheeks flush at the sincerity in his voice. “Perhaps next time, you will listen to me when I tell you something needs to be done.”
“That depends.” The Duke gave her a look.
“On what?” she asked as the smell of his cologne washed over her.
“On whether your little rebellions are at an end.” His eyes flashed with the ghost of his usual amusement. “It is rather hard to trust your word.”
Natalie paused, the desire to show the Duke that she would not be bullied warring with the fact of his words. If she continued to goad him, then of course he would not trust her. What would have happened if the gardener had not arrived when he did?
Melody was more important than Natalie’s ego. “If it will keep Melody safe, then fine. But I will not blindly obey you. And I will be redecorating the castle.”
“Then it seems we have reached a truce.” Adrian inclined his head towards her.
“Apparently.” Natalie agreed.
“I shall leave you in charge of hiring the new gardener.” The Duke gestured in the direction of the house.
Natalie knew that staff appointments usually fell to the mistress of the house, but until that point, she had not been sure he would let her.
“You will not intervene?” Natalie asked.
“No. I trust you will do the right thing for Melody.” He gave her an amused smile. “Besides, we have already agreed to a truce.Though I am sure you would have found a delightful way to try and irritate me.”
Natalie rolled her eyes and returned to pulling up the flowers. The silence spread between them as they worked together, but it was not charged. The part of her that wanted to constantly needle him was quiet.
He had thanked her. That was a victory. Melody would be safe. Perhaps that was enough for the moment.
Chapter Twelve
“Itake it my sister has been causing all sorts of trouble since she arrived?” Duke Emberly smiled as he took the glass of whiskey Adrian offered him.
The two men were sitting in a private room at the gentleman’s club in the village near Blackwood castle. Adrian had received a letter from the Duke requesting that they meet and had agreed.
“And who told you that?” Adrian narrowed his eyes, he did not like the thought that his servants had been speaking about his affairs.
“You did with your answer.” Duke Emberly gestured. “I was simply guessing that she might get up to some nonsense and mischief. I trust it has not been too wearing.”
“Nothing that I cannot manage. If anything, I have found the whole thing rather entertaining” Adrian replied, stretching languidly. “Besides, we have come to an understanding now.”
“Have you?” The Duke raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
“I believe so.” Adrian sipped his drink nonchalantly.
“Then I owe Rose a guinea.” The Duke shook his head. “She said that Natalie would stop her antics before we came to visit. I said that she would continue them until you were both old and grey.”
“I do not think you should pay your wife just yet, Duke. The truce between us may not last.” Adrian thought of their time in the garden together, and that moment they had shared.
“Natalie can be rather headstrong when she wishes and does not always know when to stop.” Duke Emberly shook his head. “The trouble she used to get into as a child. At one point I thought we would never find a governess for her.”
“I see her fighting spirit is not a recent development then.” Adrian canted his head towards the other duke.
He laughed. “And she is not above stretching the truth to prove a point. As I was in the area on business, I thought it prudent to meet with you and ensure the invitation to your castle was genuine.”
Adrian inclined his head towards the Duke. “It was. I believe the invitation was only extended to yourself, the Duchess, your children and Lord Peter. Na- my wife felt that having the entire family at one time would be overwhelming for my daughter.”
If Duke Emberly had noticed Adrian’s near use of his sister’s Christian name, he gave no indication of it. “She is probably right. There are rather a lot of us these days.”
“It is only Lord Peter who remains unwed.” Adrian recalled.
