Page 28 of When her Duke Returns
Mary laughed. “I do quite like how you personify sand though. The sand.Thesand,” she repeated. “You’re quite funny when you want to be.”
“And why not? We saythesky andthe sea. The sand is just as substantial,” he said then threw the rest of his egg sandwich into the water. “For the fish,” he declared.
“I’m sure they will be quite pleased.”
“How’s the foot?” he asked then. “It’s been a few days. Still worse for wear?”
Mary let out a sigh. The ankle was a thing best left forgotten if only for the bitter memories it stirred. She had not spoken to Alexander at any length since their exchange—besides the odd chat over their supper in plain view of all the others—and she had not wanted to dwell on his rejection of her. Instead, she took to wearing the twist in her ankle like a badge of tarnished honor.
“It’s fine,” was all she could muster. “Fine enough to walk on.”
“You were quite the picture upon your return, I must say. I especially liked when you fell off Redgrave’s horse trying to get yourself into the house. Most graceful indeed.” He chuckled to himself. “The twigs in your hair were an excellent addition… You looked quite like a naughty little forest nymph.”
“What can I say? The bank appeared out of nowhere.”
“Well, if you hadn’t made such a fuss about the whole Summerhead ordeal, I daresay you would be better able to enjoy yourself now. It can’t be good being stuck up in your bedchambers all day, away from the rest of us,” Harry looked down at her then, his face contorted by the brightness of the sun. “What? Are we not allowed to speak of things?”
Mary rose to sit and dusted herself off. “What’s the point? What’s done is done.”
“You can be quite petulantwhen you want to be,” he retorted, using her own taunt against her. Harry looked over to where their family had set up camp along the beach where the grass from under the cliffside met the sand. Mary followed his gaze.
Their mother had set up along the very lip of the beach beside Sophia, who seemed mightily concerned with her breakfast. The men stood a little further out, engaged in seemingly cheery conversation as they skipped stones against the water. Most surprising was the new friendship between Alexander and Cecelia which manifested itself in their pacing up and down the shore, laughing as they went.
“I think,” Harry said then, “someone is rather taken with the Duke, against all odds.”
“Cecelia, you mean?” Mary asked, her question twisted in disbelief. “I doubt it.”
“Why? Because the Duke is not as handsome as he was once?”
“Because she’s a child.”
Harry let out a summary laugh, and she gathered it was meant to chide her. “She’s only two years younger than you are.”
Mary scowled. “It doesn’t matter a bit, regardless. He isn’t looking to make a match. And even if he was, he would not settle for the daughter of a baronet.”
“Thedaughter of a baronet, eh? My, my, Mary… I haven’t known you to be catty before.” Harry came to rest his hand on hers. “Wipe the jealousy from your brow, sister. It tarnishes your otherwise lovely countenance.”Mary made a face and hesitated to blow a raspberry before thinking better of it. Maybe she waspetulant,after all.
“Help me up, will you?” she asked, gesturing to her ankle. “I’ve had quite enough of you for one day,” she joked. Harry pulled her up without a word, and she hopped her way along the rest of the creaking pier to join their mother on her picnic blanket.
Mary sat down against a stump leftover from an old fence and sank into quiet contemplation. The sea air was refreshing against her skin, and for a moment, she almost felt at peace. Then came a tumble of sand, and the sounds of footsteps picking up sand. She looked up to see Francis and Antony making their way back to the group’s nest.
“Are you having fun?” Antony asked with a boyish grin then ran a hand through his dark hair. He was notably missing his shoes.
“I am,” she replied, trying her best not to stare at his toes. “What of you?
“I’m enjoying my time splendidly,” he replied, “though I’m eager to head back and get out of these clothes: sand in all places and what have you.”
“You shall take the beach back with you as they say. All the way to London, I wager,” she quipped. She reached up to wipe a few grains of sand from his face, drawn in by the tide of his hand as he swept through his locks. Naturally, she made sure to let her affections be seen byall, especially the Duke, who had shot a hesitant glance in their direction from his spot further along the shore.
Antony grinned. “I do so enjoy these moments with you.”
“Oh?” Mary managed to say. “That’s nice to hear.”
“Yes. When you’re here, away from town… you appear completely in your element. London does you so few favors in that regard.”
Mary scoffed, “Not like Edinburgh, you mean?” She let out before she could stop herself, and shefeltAntony’s heavy glare on her skin before she saw it. Thankfully, Francis began to speak, putting a pin on the subject of their shared affairs for now.
“Now that we are all settled and among ourselves,” he began, still standing fiercely tall over the rest, his hand resting on the nape of Sophia’s neck, “there is something I would very much like to announce.”
