Page 41 of The Duke of Lies
It wasn’t easy pretending to be a duke.
They arrived at the spinning mill and were given a tour. It might not be easy being a duke, but it was damn convenient. People gave you whatever you wanted and treated you with reverence. It was a bit like being captain of a ship, which Kit missed. In this way, he appreciated his current role. He also found the workings of the mill fascinating and was inspired to build one on the estate.
They left the mill, and he escorted Verity into the chaise, where she climbed in easily. He regretted his choice of vehicle since it didn’t require him to assist her. He rarely had occasion to touch her, and he found himself starving for the next time.
The other night, he’d wanted to sit next to her on the settee, but had seen the hesitation in her eyes and decided it best not to make her uncomfortable.
He settled into the chaise beside her and drove into the center of town. The pub he wanted to visit was just ahead, but he now wondered if it was perhaps a shade too disreputable for Verity. “I’d planned to go to The Sheep’s Head, but I don’t think that’s the best place for a duchess.”
“Is that the place Cuddy visits?” she asked, studying the run-down pub as they approached.
“Yes.” Damn, he should have brought a coach so that he could leave her. “I can return another day.”
“No, that’s silly. I’ll go to the draper. It’s just around the corner.” She gestured to the side of the street opposite the Sheep’s Head. “Drop me off there, and you can fetch me when you’re finished.”
He hesitated to leave her alone but admitted to himself that this was a matter of propriety with which he had no experience. “Are you certain?”
“Of course,” she said blithely, with a wave of her hand.
He turned the corner and, when he saw the draper, brought the chaise to a halt in front of the store. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Take as long as you need.” She climbed out of the chaise. “It’s important to track down Cuddy. I look forward to your report.” Her mouth lifted in a faint smile before she turned and disappeared into the store.
Kit didn’t leave immediately as he still pondered the wisdom in leaving her here. But perhaps he was being foolish. She’d said it was fine, and really, what did he know?
He drove the chaise back around the street to the pub. He found a place to leave the chaise that was somewhat equidistant from the pub and the draper. After informing the horse, unnecessarily, that he’d be back shortly, he walked briskly into the pub.
Scanning the dim interior, he registered ten or twelve patrons scattered about. The bar was at the back of the establishment, and a barkeep stood behind the scuffed plank of wood.
Kit went to the bar and greeted the man with a firm nod. “I’m in search of Mr. Strader. I understand he patronizes your establishment.”
“He does. Bit early for him, though.”
Withdrawing a coin from his pocket, Kit slid it across the wood to the barkeep. “Is he still lodging at the east end of town?”
The man picked up the coin and stashed it in his pocket. “As far as I know.” His gaze dipped over Kit. “You want an ale, or are you just being nosy?”
Kit flashed a smile and offered two more coins. “Does he come in every night?”
“Aye, for dinner. Then stays until I throw him out, usually.” He shrugged. “Always has plenty of blunt, so I don’t mind.”
“Thank you for your help.” Kit turned and walked out into the dappled sunlight filtering through the clouds, making his way toward the draper. He didn’t dare chance driving by Cuddy’s lodging, not with Verity. He’d come back one night soon. Knowing Cuddy spent his nights at the Sheep’s Head gave Kit the idea to go to the man’s lodging and search it while he was out. Perhaps he could recover some of the money he’d stolen. Kit doubted he’d get the lot, not after all this time, particularly since it sounded as though Cuddy liked to spend it.
Kit walked into the draper, his heart beating faster than it ought, and searched for Verity. It wasn’t a terribly large store, and when he didn’t see her, his pulse picked up more speed. The storekeeper, a slender fellow with a broad smile, came to greet him. “Good afternoon.” His gaze flickered with surprise and then recognition. “Your Grace, you must be looking for Her Grace. She’s just in the back salon, perusing furniture inAckermann’s Repository.” He turned, indicating that Kit should follow him.
Why had the man recognized him? Had Verity described him or had he recalled Kit—rather, Rufus—from all those years ago? The latter had happened when he’d arrived in town several weeks ago now to take a room. The innkeeper had instantly identified him as the lost Duke of Blackburn. Kit had simply stared at the man while the denial died on his tongue. It had been a massive gamble to pretend to be the duke, for there’d been every chance that while the innkeeper had recognized him, everyone else would know he was an imposter.
But when Kit hadn’t responded, the innkeeper had announced to the common room, which had contained at least a dozen people at the time, that the long-lost duke had returned. Everyone had turned their heads with marked interest, their scrutiny fixed on his person in a most uncomfortable and invasive fashion. Then one gentleman had shouted his agreement and raised his tankard in a toast. It was all Kit had needed to seize the chance to walk into Beaumont Tower with a purpose for being there, and to inhabit the birthright that would be forever beyond his reach.
Kit followed the draper through a doorway into a small chamber decorated like a sitting room but with a long table akin to a dining table. Verity looked up from a color plate depicting a bookcase. “You’re back.”
“I’m back. What are you looking at?”
“Bookcases. For your office.”
She was looking at furniture for his office? They’d found Rufus’s old desk in a storage room yesterday, and it was being installed in Kit’s new office today. He hated using the prick’s desk but saw no reason to buy one, particularly when he wouldn’t be using it for very long. He certainly wasn’t going to endorse purchasing a bookcase.
“I don’t need a bookcase,” he said.
