Page 51 of Dubious about the Duke (Second Sons of London 5)

Chapter Seventeen

Win’s curiosity gotthe better of him. Or perhaps his yearning to see Sera did. Either way, he headed up the stairs. He had already breakfasted and spent time with Kepler discussing estate matters so he told himself he deserved a short break. Checking on the boys’ progress seemed the thing to do.

The door was open and so he stood outside for a good half-hour, listening as she quizzed the boys on rhyming words and had them write down the words they came up with. It didn’t even seem as if she were teaching. It was more a natural conversation which led to learning.

He decided Sera Nicholls was a genius.

Finally, they begin talking of exploring the house and then the estate. Little Charlie seemed quite eager to get atop a horse. Win needed to make his presence known so he could accompany them. As he stepped into the doorway, Sera raised her skirts to show the boys her boots.

All Win saw was a trim ankle and shapely calf which he wanted to run his tongue along.

Finding his voice, he said, “Perhaps you’ll need new ones after you’ve traipsed about Kingwood.”

As she turned, so did the boys. Charlie’s eyes lit up and he cried, “Your Grace! We are going to run outside.”

Smiling, he ventured inside the room. “I seem to recall the days when running brought me pure pleasure. I ran everywhere, especially with my cousin. Percy and I ran all around Woodbridge and also his family’s estate, Kingwood.”

Charlie grew serious. “Do you want to run with us?”

Freddie snorted. “Dukes don’t run.”

“Unless they are chasing little boys,” Win shot back. “I seem to remember running after you and Charlie.”

“You weren’t very fast,” Freddie told him dismissively.

“Challenge me to a race and we’ll see who wins,” he retorted.

Freddie stood. “Let’s do it.”

Sera rose, laughing. “I don’t think His Grace needs to be racing you, Freddie.”

“Why not? He said he’d race me.”

“Freddie wishes a race. I plan to give him one,” Win said, causing Charlie to leap to his feet and clap. “You said you were going outside to run. We can run a bit and then go to the stables and see about mounts for the boys.”

“Yes!” cried Charlie, who ran to the doorway and then skidded to a stop. He turned to look at Sera. “I know. No running in the house.”

“That’s right,” she agreed. “Well, what are we waiting for?”

Sera and Freddie went after Charlie and Win followed them. He noticed Sera didn’t stop for a parasol or bonnet. He couldn’t imagine any lady of Polite Society going without one or both.

And it made him love her all the more.

As he strode down the stairs, he wondered why silly, little things seem to magnify his love for her. Then he stopped in his tracks.

Life was made up of those small moments. It wasn’t always the important events he remembered clearly in his life but the little ones. Showing Percy a fish he had caught. The look on an enemy soldier’s face as he bayoneted him. Galloping across the meadow. The taste of his favorite cake.

Win wanted to create a thousand of those brief moments with Sera.

The boys reached the front door and the footman looked to Sera.

“We are going for a run. Not a walk,” she told the servant.

He appeared shocked by her breezy words but opened the door and the boys took off, Sera running behind them. Suddenly, Win found himself dashing down the remaining stairs and racing across the foyer and out into the open, leaving behind the footman who wore a stunned look.

The boys ran across the front lawn and then started twirling in circles. Sera did the same and he watched as they all wound up collapsing to the ground in laughter.

“I’m dizzy,” Freddie said.

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