Page 31 of Would I Lie to the Duke
“Do let us know what you discover,” Jess said, calm and collected, but inside she danced. The seeds had been planted, and, even better, she’d steered the conversation in such a way to make the others believe it had beentheiridea.
The baron would learn more about McGale & McGale, including the fire. But Jess and her siblings had been transparent about the catastrophe, so there would be no chance of being accused of deceit. If Baron Mentmore’s man of business was worth his wages, he’d see that there would be a ripe investment opportunity for his employer. And if that man didn’t recognize it, tomorrow, Jess would make certain that the baron, and sympathetic others at the Bazaar, knew it.
Lord Trask appeared at the duke’s side.
She held her breath, worried that the marquess might castigate her for bringing in a business in search of capital—exactly what he’d grumbled about when she’d first gained entrance to the Bazaar.
“Time to begin,” he said.
She exhaled. Safe, for now.
Jess moved to perch on a delicate chair, careful to keep from staring too long at the duke. Instead of sitting, he stood toward the back, his arms folded across his chest. Moments later, a man entered carrying a covered birdcage. Soft avian sounds came from beneath the cover.
“My lords and my ladies,” the man said, “I am Bartholomew Pine, and I present to you today the solution to rapid communication in major cities.”
He tugged the covering off the cage, revealing a tiny sparrow.
“This solution will be far less expensive than using footmen or hired boys to deliver messages,” Mr. Pine said tremulously. “Trained sparrows will take brief communications from your home to a central hub. You canchirpat someone with your short message. The hub is where the sparrows will feed, so if someone wants to see if they have received a message, they can check thefeed, as I call it.”
Confused mutterings rose up from the guests.
“Does that mean we’ll have to continuously hover around the feed to see if anyone has a message for us?” Viscount Hunsdon asked.
“Obviously, you cannot spend all day at the feed,” Mr. Pine stammered.
“That would be a spectacular waste of time,” Baron Mentmore said irritably.
While Jess pitied Mr. Pine for receiving such a poor reception, his idea seemed ludicrous. She shared a look with the duke, and his expression revealed that he felt the same.
She also pitied the poor bird, who hopped around its cage, unable to spread its wings and fly.
“Why not use pigeons?” someone demanded.
“Sparrows are quite tractable, with the right training. I will demonstrate.”
He opened the cage door and reached for the sparrow. The bird immediately flew past his hand and out into the room.
Chaos reigned as everyone leapt to their feet and exclaimed in horror, amusement, or a little of both. Some took cover from the bird’s frantic fluttering. Grown men hid behind furniture and shrieked in alarm as if they were being set upon by bloodthirsty monsters. Their fearful cries made the sparrow carom through the chamber at a blinding speed.
“Take cover, Lady Whitfield,” Lord Trask cried.
“I grew up in the country,” she answered calmly. “Birds don’t frighten me.”
When the sparrow landed upon a tall cabinet, Jess grabbed a nearby chair and brought it over. She climbed up onto the chair, her movements deliberately slow.
“Pretty bird,” she crooned. She gently held out her hand. “Here’s a good bird.”
The sparrow tilted its head and regarded her with itsshiny black eye. Her hand inched closer and closer. A little bit more, and she could grab hold of it.
“God help us!” someone screamed.
Alarmed, the bird flew straight toward Jess’s face. She pulled back sharply. The chair beneath her tottered, and she fell—
Into the duke’s arms. He caught her and held her firmly. A gasp escaped her lips as she flung her arms around his neck, but whether it came from her close call or the feel of his solid body against hers, she didn’t know.
All shedidknow was that she clung to him, while he had a firm grip on the dip of her waist, and their mouths were quite, quite close.
His gaze skimmed down to her lips. She was suddenly dizzy, and startled excitement made her inhalations come even faster. As he lowered her gently so she could stand, she slid down the length of his torso, her thighs brushing against his.
