Page 38 of The Duke of Lies
“We’ll find a place for it, or we can always give it to a tenant, or several tenants, depending on what you don’t want to keep.”
“Do you do that often?” he asked. “Give things to tenants?”
“As much as I can.” She gestured toward a comfortable armchair near one of the windows. “In fact, that chair over there might be a nice gift for Mr. Bricker’s new cottage.”
He lifted the lantern toward that side of the room to better illuminate the space. Then he turned his head and stared at her a moment. “That’s very thoughtful of you, but then I’ve come to expect nothing less.”
Something seemed to stretch between them, an invisible pull that she fought with all her being. Then he brought his glass to his lips, and the moment began to fade…until she began to focus on his mouth.
Abruptly turning, she went back into the Knight’s Room, where a low fire burned and there was ample illumination.
He set the lantern back down on a table and walked to the settee in front of the hearth. “I’ll build some bookshelves so that I may have a small library.”
“You seem to like books.” She’d seen him reading in the library downstairs several times, and Kirwin had reported that he’d once been found there in the middle of the night, asleep on a settee with a book open facedown on his chest.
“I do. It’s one of the few pastimes you can undertake on a ship. But due to space, you’re often reading the same things over and over. I’m quite thrilled to have variety again.”
“Beau saysRobinson Crusoeis your favorite. I never knew that.” She eyed the settee, wondering if he planned to sit there. But of course he wouldn’t sit at all until she did, which meant he could choose to sit by her. She’d take the chair, but he stood between her and it, and doing so would make an already awkward situation fully uncomfortable. Or so she worried.
In the end, she dropped onto the end of the settee, her hip bumping the side and indicating it was as far away as she could sit.
He took the chair, and she instantly relaxed. “I’ve always loved that story,” he said. “I’m sorry we didn’t discuss such things before. I’d like us to now. What’s your favorite book?”
“Oh, I couldn’t name just one,” she said. “I like to read plays. Perhaps because I like to see them and don’t often have a chance to.” Rufus had never taken her to see one, but then they hadn’t been married long enough to do much of anything.
Don’t think about that time. Stay in this moment where he’s not a threat.
“What did your audit find?” She sipped her sherry, then rested the glass on her leg as she held the stem.
“I’m confident Cuddy was stealing, and I’m sorry for it.”
She couldn’t keep from scowling. “I feel like such a fool.”
“Don’t chastise yourself. There’s no point. He was very smart about it. He stole enough to accumulate a tidy sum after all these years, but it was little bits at a time. You couldn’t have known unless you’d acted as steward right alongside him.”
“I should have performed an audit, as you’ve done.”
“This is not your fault. I won’t allow you to blame yourself.”
She arched a brow at him. “You won’t allow me?”
He flashed a grin, and she thoughtthismight be her favorite. His eyes crinkled at the corners, and his straight white teeth showed for a brief moment. It was an infectious smile, and she found her lips curving up of their own volition.
“Forgive me,” he said. “I only meant to demonstrate my strong preference that younotcastigate yourself. Please.”
“I’ll try.”
“This is entirely on Cuddy. Though I would like to ask about your father’s involvement.”
Her gaze snapped to his. “What do you mean?”
“You said it seemed as though Cuddy worked for him. Why did you think that? Was it because he encouraged me to hire him?”
“In part, yes. My father visits at least once a year, and they spend a great deal of time together when he’s here.”
Rufus nodded slowly. “And do you recall how your father knew of Cuddy? I’m afraid I don’t remember the connection or if there was one.” He winced apologetically.
“I don’t recall. I wasn’t invited to participate in estate matters before you disappeared. But it seems you may not recall that either.”
