Page 17 of Masquerading with the Duke
Zach chuckled. ‘You have a romantic nature.’
‘Of course I have. I was married before, remember, so I know from first-hand experience how unhappy most women are in that institution—especially when forced into it by their relatives.’ She reached up to softly touch his face. ‘But then I met you, my eyes were opened to the possibilities of true, abiding love and I want everyone to be as happy as we are.’
‘Impossible.’ Zach kissed the end of her nose.
Fortunately, Vince will shortly be in need of a new nanny and Amos has suggested that I recommend Martina for the position.’
‘Well then, that solves that problem.’
‘Insofar as it will offer Martina a comfortable position close to Ariana, certainly it does. But what of the bigger picture?’ Frankie wrinkled her brow. ‘I recommended Martina to the Redrows, and I’m sure that Eleanor Redrow will expect an explanation from me for her abrupt departure.’
‘Unless she was ill-treated within the household, her good nature exploited.’
‘No.’ Frankie shook her head emphatically. ‘I don’t know Eleanorthatwell, but I would not have recommended Martina if I even suspected that she treats her staff badly.’
‘What of Redrow? I barely know the man. He spends a lot of time forging trading links abroad, I think.’
‘I am less sure about him.’ Frankie’s brow furled. ‘But I know that Eleanor is devoted to him and I am perfectly sure that he would not have overstepped the bounds.’
‘In that case, I suggest doing nothing for now. Martina might open up and then we will have a better idea of what occurred to frighten her off.’
‘You don’t suppose…’
‘You just insisted that it was unthinkable.’ Zach squeezed her waist. ‘Speculation is one thing but it doesn’t do to jump to conclusions. You are a duchess and you don’t owe Mrs Redrow any explanation. You could conceivably demand one but I would wait to see if she brings her complaint to your door. If she knows why Martina left without giving notice and feels entitled to her grievances, she will bring them to you.’
‘And if she does not?’
‘Well then, my love, I think we would be better advised to drop the connection. I won’t ask questions that might threaten Martina’s reputation, especially since we will not be assured of honest answers.’
‘Hmm, you are right, I suppose, but I feel responsible.’
‘Then let me distract you.’
She laughed and batted his hands away before they could start exploring. ‘It looks as though we have company,’ she said, sliding from Zach’s knee and smiling at Leo and Josh as they burst through the open French doors, clutching jars with something alive squirming in grimy pond water.
‘Papa, we’re making frogs!’ Leo cried.
*
Martina felt extremely discomposed after her meeting with Mr Braden. The first thing she had noticed about him was his presence, which she found inexplicable. She was not in the habit of gawping at gentlemen, not even the attractive ones. But there was something about him that held her interest and made her eschew her usual rules. He was that rarest of creatures, a compelling gentleman to the tips of his elegant fingers who would not make assumptions simply because she was a glorified servant without male family members to safeguard her honour. She wasn’t sure why she had reached that conclusion when he was a complete stranger, but somehow she just did, and she trusted her instincts.
No single feature made him handsome; not the sweep of his brown hair, the sharp cheekbones or the strong jaw. But taken together, those attributes were compelling. His readiness to smile, a smile that lit up intelligent brown eyes, added to his allure. She had often heard people refer to the colour of a person’s eyes as if it were something of importance, yet his would be beautiful in any shade.The intensity of the assessing gaze that he had fixed upon her spoke of honesty and compassion, stirring her emotions.
Worried about her extreme reaction, which she could tell he had noticed, she muttered something unintelligible when she was introduced and returned her attention to rounding up the children.
‘You look as though you have seen me before,’ he remarked when Lord Amos’s attention was claimed by the children keen to have their tadpoles admired. ‘But I can assure you that if we had met, I would not have forgotten the occasion.’
‘No, sir, we have never been introduced.’
But Martina was almost sure that she had once seen him, or someone who looked very like him, in animated conversation with Mr Redrow on the far reaches of his estate. Their discussion had looked private and Martina had walked in the other direction, anxious not to intrude. She had instinctively steered clear of Mr Redrow even before he had tried to compromise her, sensing his inappropriate interest in her. It still infuriated her that men in positions of privilege abused their situations in order to take whatever they wanted and damn the consequences.
Well, Martina might be young but the experiences she had lived through had toughened her up and she would never be a victim again.
She smiled at Mr Braden, excused herself, and moved away from him with deliberation, even though she didn’t sense any ill-intent on his part. She scooped the duke’s daughter into her arms, sensing that she was tiring, and gave Mr Braden a final look over her shoulder as she carried the child in the direction of the house.
Chapter Five
Jared returned to Winchester Park the following day to find Equinox fresh and ready to misbehave, as evidenced by the manner in which he pranced and danced at the end of his tethering rope. A young lad swore at him as he strapped the stallion’s quarters and the horse repaid him by attempting to take a chunk out of his backside. Jared had already half decided to buy the glorious and unusually coloured horse. He enjoyed a challenge and was determined to start the way he intended to carry on by showing Equinox who was master.
