Page 10 of A Spinster to Reform the Duke
“I give you my word.” He deepened his voice as he spoke, rather delighted when she looked up to him and offered a smile. It was a new kind of smile from her, one he hadn’t seen before. It wasn’t mischievous, or spirited, but heartfelt. “May I be allowed to comment on the poetry?”
“You may just make me blush all the more.”
“It’s hard to imagine that is possible,” he teased her, making her lift a hand to hide her face. He was tempted to pull that hand away, to see her face again, but he restrained himself. It would hardly be a proper thing to do to touch her hand in such a way. “The poetry is striking.”
“Striking?” she repeated in shock. “You mean, you liked it?”
“Very much. Have you ever thought of trying to get your work published?”
She busied herself with fussing with items on the desk, as if avoiding the question entirely.
“Am I being a little too personal for two people who have just met?” he asked, resting an elbow on the desk, the better to catch her eye again.
“Just a little,” she remarked, lifting her eyes to meet his. “I’ll be glad when your friend takes his leave and takes you with him.”
“If my friend’s admiration for your sister persists, we may be seeing more of each other, Lady Rebecca.” Timothy smiled with his words, watching as her lips parted. “Good Lord, is the idea filled with such horror?”
“I didn’t mean…” She struggled to explain herself then shook her head. “I meant, poor you, Your Grace. Who would want to put up with the company of a spinster?”
“You forget that I have come to sit with you and talk to you now.”
“Presumably under the pretense of giving your friend more time with my sister.”
“Observant of you,” Timothy said, chuckling under his breath. He couldn’t truly understand what had gotten into him. Timothy had made his promise to his mother yet again the night before that he intended to marry.
Even as Catherine thrust him into the company of Lady Esther, he had constantly looked across the ballroom, searching out Lady Rebecca. His looks had been so frequent that his mother had even commented on it, and he had to deny there was anything in it.
Then why have I come to sit with Lady Rebecca now?
He couldn’t explain it to himself. He tried to reason the fact that Lady Rebecca had piqued his interest last night with lively conversation, something he did not always find, yet it didn’t seem to explain why he was gazing at her.
“You are a good friend to Lord Herberton, I can see that,” Lady Rebecca nodded in the direction of Alexander. “But I pray you, do not feel any obligation to speak with me because of it. If you come again to be your friend’s chaperone, you can do as you like. You can read if you prefer, and we can sit quietly here. I would hate to feel you were forced into conversation with me.”
“I have a feeling a book would not be as lively or as entertaining as this conversation.”
“Timothy?” Alexander’s voice from across the room cut across their conversation, making Timothy look away from Lady Rebecca. “We must go. We promised your mother we would be back in time for lunch.”
“That we did.” Timothy sighed, seeing the reluctance on his friend’s face to depart. If Timothy had his way, he would have happily kept his friend here with Lady Eliza for longer, and he certainly wouldn’t have minded sparring for a little while more with Lady Rebecca either, but they had made their promises elsewhere.
They stood up to make their goodbye and left the room after the pleasantries were done. As Timothy moved to the door, he glanced back to Lady Rebecca, his mind rather preoccupied with what he had read on those papers.
A secret poet. Who would have known that?
He felt as if he had stolen a peak behind a theatre curtain, into the true heart of what one of the players on the stage was like. He could not regret it though. He rather liked what he had seen there.I wonder if she would show me any more of her poems.
“Do you not think her enchanting, Timothy?” Alexander asked as they clambered down the front steps that led to the front door of the Birkston’s house.
“Enchanting?” Timothy spluttered over the word. “Well, I think she…I mean she is certainly…but no, not enchanting.” He realized he was babbling, hardly making any sense at all.
“No?” Alexander laughed as he stepped up into the carriage, past the footman who had kindly opened the door for them. “Good Lord, I do not know how anyone could not spend two minutes in conversation with Lady Eliza and not think as I do.”
Oh, Lady Eliza!Timothy felt a fool and slyly tapped his temple in reprimand before he followed his friend into the carriage. He had mistakenly thought Alexander was referring to Lady Rebecca.
“Yes, I am sure. It is good to see you so enamored, Alex, but do be a little careful,” Timothy said as he sat down opposite his friend on the carriage bench.
“Careful? What is there to be careful of?” Alex said, shaking his head back and forth. “You have met many a lady in your life that has turned your head.”
“Shh! We hardly need all and sundry to hear that, do we?” Timothy said, looking toward the windows of the carriage. His rakish ways had been suspected long enough in the gossip columns of the scandal sheets, but nothing had ever been absolutely said or accused. It meant his reputation was intact.For now.
