Page 28 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
“A sentiment that is never more convincing than when someone immediately denies something whilst pouting and folding their arms.” Benedict laughed.
“I was not pouting.” He considered. “Fine, maybe I was pouting a little. But that is beside the point. There is nothing between the Duchess and me, and there never will be.” He slammed his fist into this hand to illustrate his point.
“If you say so.”
“I do.”
“I bet you five guineas that you fall in love before the year ends.” Benedict held out his hand, mischief in his eyes.
“I will take that bet, because hell has a better chance of freezing over.” He took Benedict’s hand in his and shook it.
“Then we have a deal.” Benedict walked towards his waiting carriage. “I shall see you in a few weeks old chap!”
“As long as I live through the next fortnight!” he called back.
He turned and began his long walk back to the castle, shoving his hands deep into his pockets.
“Fall in love with her. Pfft.” Frederick shook his head. “Even if it was something that could happen, there is no way I can allow it.”
He knew what falling in love led to. He had already seen what being too emotional with Lady Andrea resulted in. “It is far better that we put the whole thing to bed.”
He kicked a stone. “I just have to get through the next fortnight, and then we can go our separate ways. If I do not rise to her bait, she will just leave me alone.”
All he had to do was survive the fortnight.
ChapterNine
“So, you do have quiet hobbies.” An amused voice said from the tree above Andrea.
She gave a start, the movement upsetting her hand and almost ruining her painting. She was standing with her easel in the gardens of Caverton Estate, looking out over the rolling hills as fog settled in the valleys.
Looking up, she saw Frederick sitting in the bough of the tree above her, a leg dangling down and a book in his hand. She wondered how long he had been there.
“What are you doing?” she canted her head towards him. “Besides scaring me half to death.”
“Reading.” He gestured to the book in his hands and grinned at her.
Her brow furrowed, and she would have folded her arms across her chest had she not remembered the paintbrush clasped in her hands. “And you needed to be up a tree to do this?”
“It is a lovely day, and I felt like being out of doors. And this way I am sure to remain undisturbed. You would be surprised how few people look up.” He laughed to himself and gave her a conspiratorial whisper. “It has saved me from more than a few tiresome business meetings, let me tell you.”
“Are not such things part of running an estate?” She pursed her lips.
Frederick shrugged and made a vague gesture with his free hand. “I find it is best to limit the amount of boredom one submits oneself to, otherwise you risk going rather mad.”
“Says the man reading a book in a tree.” Andrea gestured to him.
“That does not make me mad. Simply a man in search of peace and quiet and the comforts of a good book.” He leaned back against the tree trunk and gave her a half serious look. “And given your escapades with the violin this morning, I thought it best to leave the castle. In truth, I did not think it was possible to make a violin make such sounds.”
“I am full of such hidden talents.” Her cheeks flushed with colour.
In an effort to irritate the Duke, she had decided to practice her violin in the early hours of the morning. Her working theory was that the more irritating she was, the more the Duke would avoid her and the safer she would be.
She had given the servants warning, not wanting them to be caught off guard by the unholy sounds she intended on making.
“As I am starting to learn.” The Duke ran a hand through his hair, his lips quirked into a half smile. “You must have had a rather varied musical education, far more than most women. Bagpipes, the violin, the piano forte, the timpani. I am surprised your father encouraged it.”
“He did not.” Andrea clenched her fist. “When I gained my independence, I won the time to study things that would bring me joy.”
