Page 121 of The Good Duke
It took him a moment to process what she’d said.
He gave his head a wry shake. “You don’t have a very favorable opinion of men, do you, Persephone?”
“They’ve not given many reasons to be held in high esteem.”
Simon went motionless, and he recalled too late the grounds by which she denounced men. “You speak from your own experiences,” he said quietly.
Persephone shook her head. “I’d venture I speak for the majority of women everywhere.”
He gave his head an exasperated shake.
“Your Grace, I will be all too happy to provide you a thorough lecture on traits ladies admire…and spurn in prospective husbands. Later. At the moment, Lady Isabelle is no doubt waiting for you, and, as I said earlier, it is unpardonably rude to keep her waiting. Her brother will not take that offense lightly.”
As if horrified by the words she’d spoken, Persephone recoiled. Her eyes grew stricken.
Simon sharpened his gaze on her face. “What is it?”
“N-Nothing,” she whispered, her voice unsteady. “I…will be along shortly.”
Again, he stopped her, this time placing himself between her and the way back to the carriage.
He grunted. “You aren’t going alone.”
Persephone looked at him as if waiting for more. As if it didn’t make perfectly good sense.
“Andwhy not?” she finally asked.
Apparently to her, it didnotmake perfectly good sense. “Because…you’re…you’re…”
Persephone stared patiently at him. “Yes?”
“Alady.” The word exploded from him.
Persephone laughed.
He lowered his eyebrows. “You find this amusing, Miss Forsyth?” Simon tacked a warning onto that question.
Persephone gave another little bob of her head. “I do.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m a governess, finishing school instructor, and matchmaker.”
Red descended over his vision at her flippant view of herself and the world for seeing her in that role.
“You are still a lady,” he growled.
“I’m an employed lady. That is different. If—”
“Never tell me, you will offer a lesson on just how they differ when we conclude here?”
A mischievous grin lifted the corners of her lips. “Actually, I wasgoingto say, ‘if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be along shortly.’”
And this time, without allowing him a word in edgewise, Persephone adroitly stepped around him. Any moment that was not this one, Simon would have felt a buoyancy at the return of the teasing side of Persephone he’d always adored.
Frowning, Simon easily overtook her now more measured strides and fell into step beside her.
It was a moment before Persephone noted his presence, and when she did, she looked at him askance.
“What are you doing, Your Grace?” she whispered from the side of her mouth.
“I thought it should be clear, I’m accompanying you,Miss Forsyth.”
