Page 33 of Her Tiger of a Duke
She hid behind another tree and listened as the Duke and housekeeper disappeared into the forest. Once Beatrice was certain that she would not be spotted, she crept across the garden once more and into the house, going to the kitchens and quickly making some sweets.
Fortunately, she worked quickly, and so she could reasonably pretend that she had been there all along. She was finishing them hastily when Mrs. Forsythe entered, her mouth opened in surprise.
“Where have you been?” she asked. “The Duke was most concerned for you.”
“I was here,” she lied. “My apologies, I should have said, but I wanted to make something for you all.”
She could tell that her housekeeper wished to argue or perhaps question the story further, but she did not. Instead, she looked at the cakes and took one, biting it and smiling.
“I must have missed you when I looked in here. Might you have been bending down?”
“I must have been. I will be sure to tell you where I am in future.”
“Do not worry, but you ought to ensure your husband knows. He is the one who worries for you.”
Beatrice nodded, taking a cake and leaving for Owen’s study. She tried to steady her heart before she knocked, hoping that he would be as easy to trick as Mrs. Forsythe had been.
“Ah, there you are,” he greeted. “Come in. Where were you?”
“I was making these,” she explained, handing him the treat. “Mrs. Forsythe must have missed me when she looked. Am I correct in assuming that it was your idea to find me?”
“Indeed. I apologize for it, as I know I said we would be living separately and you are of course free to spend your time as you please, but I was hoping that you and I might do something together today.”
“Of course,” she replied in an instant, a warm feeling spreading through her. “What did you have in mind?”
“I thought that we might practice dancing together,” he explained. “We will be receiving invitations to events soon, and with the circumstances surrounding our match we never had to dance with one another. I think it might be wise to practice.”
“Do you mean to say that you wish to ensure I do not have two left feet?” she joked.
“That is certainly part of it, but also, I have not danced in years. I was not in search of a wife, and as you know I have little interest in spending time in London, so I am most out of practice.”
“Then I think it is a splendid idea. It will also give me the opportunity to spend time in the ballroom, for I only saw it briefly during my tour.”
“Good. I have some papers to tend to, so perhaps we might meet there after teatime?”
Beatrice agreed, thanking him and leaving the study. She was most pleased to have gotten away with sneaking down to the river, but as she returned to her room she wondered just why she had to feel that way.
If the reason the forest was unkempt was because the gardener did not want to care for it, and it was nothing more than that, why was it forbidden for her to go there? It did not make any sense to her; it seemed dangerous, but she was not foolish and knew to keep away from edges such as that one. The feeling in her stomach when she was almost caught was enough to tell her that they did not want her there, but it did not make any sense why.
Regardless, she was to have a pleasant afternoon with her husband and did not want to ruin it by asking too many questions, and so she kept her thoughts to herself. Instead, she spent some time looking at her new gowns, analyzing each one. They were beautiful and heavy, no doubt from the expensivefabrics used, and each one a completely different color. As if on cue, Ella knocked on the door and entered.
“Might you know the Duke’s favorite color?” Beatrice asked. “I am to dance with him later, and I wish to surprise him.”
“It is purple, I believe. His valet said that his favorite waistcoat is purple, at least.”
“Then one might assume he will wear it,” she considered. “Might you dress me in this one, then?”
She held up the purple gown and knew for certain that it had been his favorite. It was the most intricate with embroidery around the hemline and the fabric almost shimmered where the sun hit it. Ella fastened Beatrice into it, and she twirled in front of the mirror with a wide smile.
“It is so beautiful,” she sighed. “I could not have thought of something better if I tried.”
“He must care for you a great deal,” Ella agreed. “A man who has a gown like this made for his wife cannot feel anything less than deep admiration.”
And, as she stared at her reflection, Beatrice considered that her lady’s maid might be right. Her husband might like care for her in the way she was quickly beginning to like him.
And, if he did, she was in danger of wanting to know more about him.
CHAPTER 14
