Page 58 of The Duchess in His Bed
“The animal section?” Aiden asked.
“If you’d joined us in our little circle a moment ago, you’d have learned that I have divided the shop into sections according to the types of books to be found there.” She waved a foolscap with some sort of layout and markings in front of his nose. She would be eight and ten in a few months, but already had a good head on her shoulders for business, no doubt having learned quite a bit from her older siblings. Mick had sent her to a posh finishing school to prepare for her introduction into Society. His desire to see Fancy well situated among the nobility had been one of his motivations for achieving the success he had. “Upstairs is a sitting room. You’ll find some boxes marked with anS. If you’ll haul them up and assist the duchess in arranging them on the shelves—”
“Which duchess?” There was Selena, of course, but his sister Gillie was also a duchess, not that she was yet comfortable with that title.
Fancy smirked. “The one you’re interested in, naturally. I thought you might appreciate having a task that wouldn’t have everyone watching you. She seems rather nice. I like her sisters.”
He didn’t think there was a soul in the entire world Fancy wouldn’t like. She had a rather innocent view of life, but then he and his siblings had ensured she’d been protected from all the harshness they’d faced. “You’re a conniving little minx.”
“Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“You’re a bit of a grouse. Do you love her?”
What he felt for her defied description, but he wasn’t fool enough to give away his heart no matter how forcefully she was tugging on it. “You’ve too much of the romantic in you, Fancy. Now show me where these boxes are.”
She took him to a storage room, but after she left him, he didn’t immediately see to the task set before him. Rather he wanted to take a measure of Selena’s sisters. So he wandered through the maze of bookcases he imagined his sister would take comfort from when they were lined with all the volumes she’d amassed. Peering around the edge of one of the cases, he was surprised to find the twins working diligently together, Florence on her knees, sitting back on her heels, pulling a book from a box and handing it up to Constance, who placed it on the shelf.
“This could become our life,” Florence said on a wispy sigh. “Laboring all day.”
“It’s not going to come to that,” Constance assured her. “Although I rather like feeling useful. Sometimes it seems we are expected to be mere ornaments.”
Florence extended her body up until her bottom was no longer on the floor, yet she remained on her knees. “Why do you think we’re really here?” Her voice was a low, conspiratorial whisper.
Constance appeared dumbstruck. “Well, to be helpful.”
“Did you see the way he looked at her? Aiden Trewlove? Mark my words. The invitation came from him, not Lady Aslyn.”
“But Selena barely knows him.”
“So she would have us think. But why was he waiting?”
“To be hospitable.”
“Fire lit in his eyes when he saw her. He’d keep her warm on a winter day.”
“All gentlemen perk up when they see her. They are all enthralled by her beauty.”
“Her cheeks were as red as apples. Have you ever known her to blush? I think perhaps he has piqued her interest.”
Constance laughed lightly. “My word, Flo. I do believe you are seeing things that aren’t there, because you are bored, because our Season has been delayed. But if you are correct, I won’t fault her. I know she adored Lushing, but I don’t think there was ever any great passion between them. A woman should have passion, at least once in her life. I suspect that is why Aiden Trewlove’s sinful parlor will thrive.”
“Are you thinking of going?”
Constance lifted a shoulder. “I’m curious. Aren’t you?”
Turning away, knowing he’d eavesdropped enough on a private conversation, he decided to restrict entry into his establishment to those of a more mature age. He didn’t need young ladies making stupid mistakes. On the other hand, was it his responsibility if others didn’t keep a close watch on them? Although even when mothers did and approached him about denying their daughters access to his club, they often changed their mind with a bit of pampering. Lady Fontaine certainly had. He’d received a missive from her that afternoon stating that both she and her daughter would be returning in the near future. The foot rub had done the trick—but then, it always did.
He located Alice in a back corner, sitting on the floor, her skirts fanned out around her, an open book in her lap. “It’ll take you forever if you read each book before you put it in its place.”
Jerking her head up as she snapped the book closed, she looked at him through large innocent eyes, her cheeks turning a burnished pink. “I hadn’t had a chance to read this one yet. It came out too late for me to receive it as a gift for Christmas.”
Crouching before her, he noted the title.Through the Looking-Glass.“Perhaps Fancy will allow you to purchase it today, even though her shop’s not yet open. You could be her first customer.”
Slowly, she shook her head. “It’s an extravagance, and I can’t ask it of Selena. Her coins are precious of late.” Her blush deepened. “I probably shouldn’t have revealed that. It’s terribly crass to talk of money.”
“It’ll be our secret.” Although he was impressed with her sacrifice. While his family was now teeming with nobs, his opinion of nobles as a whole was not favorable. He viewed them in light of the pennies they could add to his coffers, not the ones absent from theirs.
