Page 32 of A Duke Makes a Deal
“Not at all,” she said and he nodded. “However, I believe that human factors only provide obstacles. They cannot truly keep two people apart.”
He let a bark of a laugh. Obviously, she had not experienced enough of life if she still believed that.
“So, you believe in fate, is that it?”
“Clara dear,” her mother said with a small shake of her head, obviously trying to dissuade her daughter from arguing with Silas.
“I believe in the good of humanity and even the good that comes from learning from our mistakes. It’s set us forward, regardless of how painful those lessons may be at the time.”
Silas looked at her with disbelief. It was strange to believe one thing and have the opposite so plainly explained to him.
“Clara, there’s no need to argue with his grace.”
“It’s quite all right, Mrs. Woodvine. I find Miss Woodvine’s staunch views rather refreshing,” he said as he watched her. Turning, he faced a concerned looking Mr. Woodvine. “However, seeing as Rousseau also didn’t believe people should own property, I’m liable not to follow him so devotedly.”
“No, of course not,” Mr. Woodvine said as Silas turned back to Clara.
Was she smirking at him? That was curious. Perhaps she simply enjoyed arguing for argument’s sake.
The ease with which he was able to talk to Clara was the most surprising part of their partnership, as she had come to call it. Without the pressures of a proper courting, both he and Clara seemed far more at ease with each other than anyone else.
Silas was fascinated by her patience and understanding. Whenever he spoke, her brow would lift and she would tilt ever so slightly towards him, giving him her undivided attention. It unnerved him slightly, but then everything about Clara was starting to affect him in a way he hadn’t believed possible.
Not after Cynthia.
He had accidentally broached the subject of her with Clara one afternoon. He had come to call with the intention of themtaking a walk, but a storm had interrupted their plans. Mrs. Woodvine had decided to busy herself with needlework in the corner of the room. However, after only twenty minutes, she nodded off. Her hand dropped to her lap as her embroidery frame fell to the floor, landing silently on the carpet. The gentle snore from her mother made Clara smirk.
Clara moved around the room and picked up the frame. She placed it on top of her mother’s sewing basket before returning to the settee.
“I was wondering if you and your parents would like to go to Vauxhall tomorrow evening,” he said to her as she seated herself again.
“Are you sure?” Clara asked. “I would think the crowds would be uncomfortable for you.”
“I would agree, but I’ve found your technique helpful and I should like to see how I fare in a large setting.”
Clara smiled brightly at him and the oddest pinch gathered in his chest.
“That’s wonderful. I’d be happy to go with you,” she said, her smile deepening. “Poor mother. She’ll be thrilled to be sure, but I’m afraid of what we’re doing to her,” she said, dropping the book she was reading to her lap as Silas took a seat in the chair opposite of the settee. “She is torn in two, you know.”
“How so?” he asked, leaning forward to take a teacake from the three-tiered plate stand.
“Well, she is very hopeful that this courtship of ours will lead to a wedding and is trying her best to help things along,” Clara said. “On the other hand, she doesn’t trust you.”
Silas frowned.
“Why not?”
“Because you are a duke and dukes are not to be trusted.”
“You and your family are terribly prejudiced, you know,” he said, his eyes on her as she leaned forward to fix her tea. She waswearing a tangerine-colored gown today that was so trimmed with frills and ribbons, she looked like the contents of a sewing basket. He really must find out what seamstress they patronized. “It’s not my fault I was born with a title.”
“But you weren’t born with it, were you?” she asked. “You inherited it from your father.”
“Yes, and when I was seventeen, he passed away and it fell to me. Hardly my fault really.”
Clara gave him a sad smile.
“I’m sorry you lost your father. That must have been difficult when you were so young.”
