Page 58 of Anything But a Duke
“A journey? The park is only a couple miles wide. Of course we’ll accompany you.”
Aidan dropped his gaze to the ground and contemplated his options. He could reveal what he’d seen or let Miss Grinstead carry on with her subterfuge.
After a deep breath, he decided to allow the young woman to have the moment she craved. How could he blame her for wishing to escape the confines of what Miss Ashby had described as strict parents?
“I wouldn’t mind spending a bit more time with the camels,” he said. He expected Miss Grinstead’s pleased nod of agreement, and he wasn’t surprised by Miss Ashby’s irritation either.
“Why tarry, Mr. Iverson?” Miss Ashby demanded. “Surely you’re not fatigued already.”
“I am, actually.” He ignored Miss Ashby’stskand focused on Miss Grinstead. “We’ll wait here, Miss Grinstead, and look forward to your return.”
“Nonsense, Grace. I’m going with you.” Miss Ashby cast him a disappointed look before striding off to catch her friend, who’d already started toward the far end of the park.
But Miss Grinstead stopped her and whispered in her ear. When the noble lady continued on, Miss Ashby stayed put and then strode back toward him, a frown pinching her brow.
“What did she say?” he asked.
“Only that she wished to have a moment on her own.” Her blue eyes were shadowed, her mouth working as she contemplated the young lady’s odd behavior. “I was tasked with being her chaperone. Shall I go after her or respect her wishes?”
Miss Ashby looked so worried that he found himself stepping closer, wanting to reach for her, though nothing he was about to say would reassure her.
“I believe Miss Grinstead has an assignation planned,” he told her matter-of-factly.
“That’s ridiculous. Grace is sensible. Her mother would lock her away if she so much as contemplated anything scandalous.”
“Maybe that’s why she finds the prospect so appealing.”
“Do you think so?” She craned her neck, trying to see past the crowd that her friend had disappeared into. “We should go. We should stop her.”
“Perhaps. But why not give her a few moments to speak to the young man?”
Miss Ashby turned to him and crossed her arms. “You’re considering marrying her. Don’t you wish to stop the lady from pursuing her own ruination?”
Aidan sighed deeply. She was right. He was getting used to the fact that she often was. Even if he would never woo and win Miss Grinstead, neither of them should stand by and let her cause a scandal on their watch. “Do you have any notion where the Reptile House might be?”
“No, but I’m sure someone does.”
They threaded their way through the zoo’s visitors, sidestepping crowds gathered at each fenced exhibition area. As they continued, the clusters of people thinned and they had a clear view of the couple. They were strolling near a half-built structure in tall grass that hadn’t been as neatly trimmed as the rest of the grounds.
Miss Ashby picked up her pace and Aidan lengthened his stride to keep up. She stopped in her tracks and gasped when the young man dropped to his knee.
“Oh no. Oh heavens no. We’re too late.” Her voice pitched high and panicked, and she shot him a miserable glance before lifting a handful of her skirt and starting off at a dash toward Miss Grinstead.
Aidan caught up with her and clasped her gently around the arm. “Slow down. Running through the Zoological Society grounds like a thief trying to escape a bobby will draw more notice than anything they’re doing.”
She was exhaling quickly, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She pressed a hand to her middle, where he suspected her corset wasn’t doing much to help her breathe.
“Perhaps she doesn’t want this,” she said. “I know the dread of having a man offer for you when the proposal is not expected or desired.”
“Do you?” Aidan realized he still held her arm and nothing in him wanted to let her go. “Who was he?” He wanted to know everything about the proposal she’d rejected. He wanted to know everything about her.
“It doesn’t matter, and now’s definitely not the time. But we must stop Grace from making a decision she might regret.” She tugged at his hold and he released her. When she started off again, it was at a more sedate pace. Though he could tell from the straight set of her shoulders and the jerky movement of her feet that she was aching to break into a run.
“Grace,” she called out when they were still too far to be sure the noblewoman would hear.
From every indication, she didn’t. The gentleman was still on bended knee in front of her, and all of the young lady’s focus was on him.
“I wonder who he is,” Miss Ashby mused. “What sort of a gentleman would cause her to risk this kind of scandal?”
