Page 23 of One Night of Surrender
“A governess until recently.”
“Well, you’ll fit right in here.We get all kinds in the Wicked Duke—blacksmiths, members of Parliament, barristers, vicars, dockworkers, even dukes.”Prudence chuckled.“Well, the two dukes who own the place, anyway.”
Isabelle swallowed as unease flitted through her.“Two…dukes own this tavern?”
Prudence nodded.“Colehaven and Eastleigh, but don’t let them intimidate you.They’re as normal and friendly as anyone.”
Eastleigh.
Isabelle should politely decline the position and keep looking.Except she’d been looking for hours, and this was the only thing she’d found.She needed to get away from Barkley before he took an uncomfortable moment and made it into something far worse.What did he have to lose since she was on her way out?
No, she couldn’t walk away from this.That Val owned the place was an even better reason to take the job.She knew it would be well run and, most importantly, safe.As safe as any taverncouldbe.
“Tomorrow is one of our biggest days of the year,” Prudence said, drawing Isabelle from her concerns.“We celebrate St.Valentine—both the actual saint and the Duke of Eastleigh, since he is named after the saint.That’s why we need you so badly.”Prudence smiled at her.“Are you ready to become acquainted with the Wicked Duke?”
Isabelle choked back a laugh.Oh, she was plenty acquainted with a wicked duke.And what would he say when he learned she was his newest employee?
She ought to tell him, but suspected he might not like it.Which was ironic since he’d offered to help her—an offer she’d vehemently declined, and yet here she was in his employ.This was different, she reasoned.This was a job, and he hadn’t hired her.
Hopefully, she’d find something else, but in the meantime, this would have to do.She hoped Val would understand.
Despite his desire to stay away from all Society events, Val found himself at a ball that very evening.He hadn’t wanted to go—because of the wager—but he knew he couldn’t withdraw from Society completely.His position in the Lords required at least a modicum of social engagement, and then there was his grandmother.If he didn’t demonstrate at least a half-hearted attempt to feign interest in finding a wife, she’d never let him alone.
Unfortunately, his pretense, for that was precisely what it was, would only encourage the wagers and, in turn, the matchmaking mamas.To avoid being announced, he slipped into the Mortrams’ ballroom from an adjoining salon.Nevertheless, he was set upon almost instantly as young misses eyed him while not so subtly dangling their dance cards.
Val ignored the lot of them while he searched for the dowager.She was seated across the ballroom, naturally, and it was some time before Val was able to reach her.
Viola stood beside her, a cheerful smile lifting her lips.“Good evening, Val.You stole into the ballroom like a thief.”
“Why would you do that?”Grandmama asked crossly.“Never mind.I hope you won’t do it again.”
“It seems I’ve gained a bit of notoriety.”Val was all too aware of people staring at him—more than normal.
“You’re always notorious,” Viola said unhelpfully.“Or at least popular.Everyone wants to talk with you or dance with you.Or marry you,” she added with a teasing giggle.She’d obviously heard about the wagers.
He gave her a look that promised retribution, and she merely batted her eyes in faux innocence.
If she knew about the wagers, Grandmama did too.
“Of course he’s popular,” the dowager said.“He’s Eastleigh.Do you know how many women would love to be your duchess?Particularly after the last one—they’re all desperate to prove that you deserve a better wife.”
Val wasn’t sure that was true at all, but he wasn’t going to debate her.It wasn’t worth debating her onmostthings.However, the time was coming when he’d have to tell her the truth, that he wasn’t ready to marry again and didn’t know when he would be.
Besides, he was still young.Plenty of gentlemen didn’t marry until they were well into their thirties.His friend Jack Barrett wouldn’t even contemplate marriage until he was thirty-five.That was simply the way it was done in his family—attain professional success and then wed.Jack was currently gaining political momentum, and Val fully expected him to be appointed to the government when the Whigs took power.
Val might not be as deep into things as Jack, but he took his position very seriously.“Grandmama, I’m far too busy to spend time searching for a wife.There are simply too many issues facing the country that must be addressed.”
“I can’t argue that, especially after what happened to Prinny.Some people are so uncivilized.”
“Which is precisely why I’m needed and my focus must be elsewhere.”The prince had left Westminster after opening Parliament and someone had shot at his coach, breaking the window.With the Spenceans and other radical groups gathering and causing upheaval, it was not an exaggeration for Val to say they were very busy in the House of Lords.
“Balderdash.It’s precisely because of all that distress that you should have a wife at home.”
Viola gave a tiny shake of her head, silently warning Val to drop it.As if he didn’t know when to back away from their grandmother.
“Do you know what would be nice?”Val asked.
Grandmama’s gray brows pitched to a drastic angle.“What’s that?”
