Page 154 of Doxy for the Ton
“Only a slight improvement in my opinion of your friend here.”
Whitcombe chuckled. “I trust you’ve not been too hard on him.”
“No more than I deserve,” Alexander said.
The journey continued in silence, but Alexander sensed a shift in the atmosphere, as if the duchess warmed to him. When the carriage rolled to a halt at the entrance to Radham Hall, she even deigned to smile at him as he climbed out.
Lord Radham and his wife waited by the front steps. Lady Radham greeted her sister with a warm embrace and effusions of love, and though she was cooler in her reception of Alexander, at least her greeting lacked open hostility. Even Radham himself managed a word of welcome before he clapped Whitcombe on the back and led them inside.
“I hope we’re not too late, sister,” the duchess said.
“Not at all. We’re due at the school in a little under an hour, so you’ve time to freshen up first. I thought we might walk to the village—it’s such a pleasant afternoon. They’re waiting for us there.”
Both ladies glanced toward Alexander, then they linked arms and went inside.
Something was afoot.
Did that explain the duchess’s civility during the journey? Perhaps she was engaging in some form of deception to lull him into trusting her.
Then he shook his head. The duchess was the least devious woman he knew, save…
Do not think of her.
*
A small crowdset off for the village—the entire household of Radham Hall, by the look of it. Lady Radham led the party, hand in hand with a young boy, while Whitcombe and Radham followed, deep in conversation.
Which left Alexander with Whitcombe’s wife.
“The school opening looks to be something of an occasion,” he said.
“It marks the culmination of much effort and hard work,” she replied. “Many hands were involved, though none more than the person who directed the enterprise.”
“Lady Radham, I suppose.”
She remained silent, but gave him a smile.
He glanced over his shoulder at the small crowd following then, then recognized a young woman among the party, hand in hand with a small boy.
“Is anything amiss?” the duchess asked.
“I thought I recognized that woman with the boy.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Lily and Sam? Yes, I heard you’d met them.”
“Who’s the man with her?” Alexander asked, glancing toward the tall, thick-set man who held Lily’s arm with a proprietary air. “That’s not the man who hurt her, surely?”
“Heavens, no!” she said. “That’s Mr. Wade. He’s Jem—” She hesitated. “He’s from the village, and has quite taken Lily and Sam to his heart. There aresomegood men in the world.”
“But not many.”
She turned her gaze to him. “Perhaps there’s one more than I first thought.”
“Careful, Duchess,” he said, “or I’ll begin to believe you intend to pass me a compliment.”
“I would never insult you with flattery.”
“No,” he said, laughing, “only with brutal honesty.”
