Page 57 of A Bride for the Beastly Duke
Margaret fixed her with puppy eyes, “Will you come with me, Ava? Be my chaperone? Please?”
Ava’s eyes widened with surprise as she flicked a glance at her mother. She was so used to being the one needing a chaperone that it was disconcerting to be asked to do so for someone else. “Are you sure? Wouldn’t you rather go with Mama?”
“No! I want you, please?” Margaret clasped her hands in a praying gesture as she batted her eyelashes at a nonplussed Ava.
“A-all right. I don’t mind if Mama says it is fine.”
Martha smiled at her. “Of course, it is. I know you will take good care of your sister.”
Even knowing that her mother meant the best, Ava still felt a pang at the words, filling in the ones she thought her mother left unsaid.
Because you would not want what happened to you to happen to her.
She did give Margaret a smile. “Then, of course, I would love to.”
Margaret clapped excitedly. “You are the best, Ava!” she exclaimed.
Ava gave her a wan smile, hoping that whoever this Marquess was, he was worth all this excitement.
Edward woke up late, his head pounding not so much because he drank to excess the night before but because of stress and tiredness. Even as he lifted his head blearily, he realized how tired he was. The last few days had been extremely stressful, and that was likely to continue for a while. He knew this because hehad decided to continue to look for his brother’s killer in spite of everybody’s warnings. The government might have ordered the hit, but somebody wielded the knife that had killed his brother, and that person would pay.
If he ever found out who exactly had given the order, that person would pay too. Jonathan had died for his principles. He ought to get a medal and not be thrown away like so much garbage, dishonored and forgotten.
He lay back thinking how he might find John Winchester again without endangering the other man’s life. Just from the way he spoke, he had gotten the impression that Mr. Winchester might not be an Englishman.
French perhaps? Or Spanish?
He remembered what John had said about the man with the title deed. If he could find out who that man was, and where he was, it might be a start.
Home Office records would have that information.
He could not send Michaelson to look because his private investigator did not have clearance, but he did.
I can get in there on the pretext of making a report. Although, I am sure Fenton and the others have already done the same; surely, they are waiting for me too—if only to ensure that I don’t know too much.
With a sigh, he threw off his blankets and slipped out of bed.
Once his valet was through with him, he left the room and went down the stairs, hoping that most of the household was done with breakfast. He missed having the first meal of the day with just Lily and Ava. He felt as if he had not seen Lily for days, what with all the preparations for the ball that had them all so busy, they barely had time to eat together.
He stepped into the dining hall and saw that it was empty aside from William Marshall, who was drinking a cup of tea and reading the day’s paper. Edward cleared his throat. “Good morning.”
William looked up briefly and nodded before going back to his paper.
“The ladies are out in the garden,” he said in his gruff voice.
“Oh.” Edward was not sure what he was supposed to do with this information. “Lily, too?”
William looked up, nodded, and smiled. “Yes. She wanted to pick flowers for all the vases in the house.”
Edward had to smile as well. “Quite the undertaking.” He leaned back as Notley poured him some tea. “Thank you,” he murmured after the butler was done. Picking up his cup, he took a sip as he waited for Notley to make a plate for him.
They sat in silence, each focusing on their own plates. Suddenly, William put down his cup and turned to look at Edward. “It is no more than youshoulddo, but I want to thank you for treating my daughter with respect and love. Not many would have seen her value, but I have come to see that you do.”
Edward swallowed the lump in his throat. “She is a very special lady as is Lily. I feel fortunate indeed to call myself their family.”
William nodded, looking thoughtful. “You might not know this about me, but I was in the corps as well. We defeated the French at Dover and drove them back into the sea. Never have I seen such brave men as those who fought with me that day. There is something about battle that strips you of all your preconceived notions, is there not?”
Edward had not been expecting the conversation to take this turn. He was a bit flabbergasted, but he hastened to pull himself together. “Er, yes. Once one has been that close to death, I suppose the little things cease to matter.”
