Page 32 of Nothing Compares to the Duke
“Why doesn’t Miss Prescott pose one of her own riddles, and we will try to solve it,” Mr. Nix said with a tone that implied he was very certainhewould solve it.
Rhys sat forward on the chair he occupied, elbows on his knees, hands clasped. He’d always liked her riddles and had even helped her devise a few. The first that came to mind was one they’d worked on together.
“There is one that has a head without an eye, and one that has an eye without a head.” Bella enunciated each word carefully and more slowly than she’d normally speak. “You may find the answer if you try and when all is said, half the answer hangs upon a thread.”
“Can you solve it, Mr. Nix?” Louisa asked pertly. Anyone looking at the man could tell he didn’t have a clue.
“I fear,” he said with a grimace, “Lord Hammersley and I were distracted with conversation.” They weren’t. Both had listened attentively, but Louisa allowed him the fib to save his pride.
“That is unfortunate,” she told him with forced sweetness. “I wonder if the Duke of Claremont can unravel the words.”
Bella snapped her gaze to Rhys’s. Louisa had no notion that reading had once been his torment and that he often doubted his ability to think quickly. It was why he’d helped her construct her riddles. Together they’d discovered that he was actually quite skilled with words, as long as he didn’t have to confront them on the page. Though in time, he’d gotten better at that too.
“I already know the answer,” he said, his gaze still fixed on Bella. “I was there when Miss Prescott came up with this conundrum.”
“You helped,” Bella insisted.
“Very little.” He grinned and then settled back in his chair, hands clasped over his waistcoat as if he was suddenly completely relaxed. “You’ve never really needed my help.”
“That’s nonsense.” Bella scooted forward on the chair she occupied, prepared to argue with him. But then she noticed the hush in the room. Everyone had turned their attention to her exchange with Rhys.
“I think I may have it,” Lord Wentworth said into the silence.
Louisa shot him a pleased look and nodded encouragingly. “Then tell us, my lord.”
“Thread gives it away, does it not?” He looked around at the other gentlemen. Hammersley and Nix wore a matching frown. Bella’s mother smiled knowingly. Perhaps she recalled this one too.
As soon as she and Rhys came up with a day’s worth of riddles, they’d share it with her parents.
“Go on,” Louisa urged Wentworth.
“Is it pin and needle? One has a head, the other does not, and only one goes on thread.”
Louisa clapped and Bella joined in. It wasn’t a terribly challenging riddle, but Wentworth had been quick. Hammersley and Nix grumbled individually and then leaned in to grouse to each other.
“Shall we have some music and dancing?” Bella’s mother stood and approached a footman standing sentry near the door. “If you’d all be so good as to stand, we’ll make a bit of room and I’ll take a spot at the piano.”
Louisa usually played when they had a musical evening, but everyone had agreed that leaving Bella alone to dance with each gentleman in attendance would be awkward, to say the least.
Everyone obeyed her mother’s command and stood. Another footman appeared and the two young men quickly moved both settees to the sides of the room to create space to dance. In the flurry of activity, Bella didn’t notice that Hammersley had ambled toward her.
“Miss Prescott, may I claim the first dance?” He was so earnest in his request, Bella was tempted to agree but before she could form a reply, Rhys approached as if summoned.
“I’m afraid that’s already been claimed, Hammersley.”
The older man’s face reddened like dinner’s wine and his jowls began to quiver like the aspic Rhys loathed. His mouth worked as if he wished to protest, but no words emerged. Just sounds of frustration.
Rhys reached his arm out in front of the viscount’s chest and offered Bella his hand.
“Forgive me, Lord Hammersley. I will save you the second dance.”
Rhys took her hand and led Bella to the center of the room while Louisa and Mr. Nix stepped into place beside them. Soon after, Bella’s mother began playing to cue them that the dance would soon begin. Bella had requested a waltz. Her mother hadn’t known at the time that Rhys would accompany her, but she looked distinctly unsurprised.
“You didn’t have to promise him anything,” Rhys told her as he rested his hand at the small of her back.
“There’s no point in being impolite.”
“Bella, you want him to leave your home because he’s overcome with irritation and disdain.” He didn’t speak the words with any anger or judgment, just his usual good humor and enough of a smile that a dimple flashed at the corner of his mouth.
