Page 21 of Her Duke at Midnight
Cecily turned her head and spotted theherhe referred to. A tabby cat lay on her side atop a folded quilt and watched them with a wary blinking gaze.
“A groundskeeper found her hiding in a shed and brought her inside to get warm. The Cook has relegated her to the conservatory, and I found a maid in here tending to her this morning.” He approached and knelt to offer his hand to the cat. She sniffed and closed her eyes, allowing him to stroke between her ears. “But she doesn’t seem to want to play.”
“I think I know why,” Cecily told him as she approached and gathered her skirt to kneel down next to him.
The duke shot her a questioning glance.
“If I’m not mistaken, she’s pregnant.” The cat allowed Cecily to pet her head and let out a quiet meow when Cecily gently stroked her swollen belly.
“I think you’re right,” the duke agreed. “I’ll speak to Derwent, since the maid said he insists the cat be gone by nightfall.”
“Why?” Cecily gestured to the purring cat. “She hardly takes up much room.”
Adam shrugged. “You know how some people are. They don’t favor pets. Maybe he doesn’t think it’s seemly to have a stray tucked away in his conservatory.”
“I’ll speak to him too, if you think it will help,” she told him. “Maybe the groundskeeper could take her in or someone in the village.”
“I’ll make some inquiries.”
The sweet feline reminded her a bit of Bess, but this cat was in even greater need. She wouldn’t need any help bringing her kittens into the world, but a dry, warm place to stay until that happened might save her life or theirs.
“If Derwent is beastly about it…” Cecily glanced about the conservatory to make sure no one might overhear. “I’ll take her up to my room and swear the maids to secrecy.”
Everton let out a soft chuckle. “A respectable noblewoman willing to engage in subterfuge and fib to her host for the sake of a cat. I find that quite endearing, my lady. And admirable.”
Cecily felt her cheeks heat and then the warmth spread to her chest. She liked his praise. Far too much.
Don’t let yourself fall in love with the first man you meet.
Goodness, being near the man turned her into a blushing ninny.
And why was he here at all?
“You’re not participating in the hunt this morning, Duke?”
He frowned at the coolness of her tone, but the momentary flicker of disappointment was immediately replaced with a charming facade.
“I’m not. And you’re not out riding with the ladies.” He bent his head, and sunlight revealed a faint line of stubble along his jaw.
“I’m not very good on a horse,” she admitted.
He grinned, that same imperfect smile she’d first seen last night. She had the wildest urge to trace the lopsided curve with her fingertip.
“Nor am I, truth be told. But I also don’t care to kill for sport.”
He was the first man she’d ever encountered who shared her feelings on the matter.
“I’ve never understood taking pleasure in it,” she admitted as she’d never dare do with most noblemen.
“My father did and tried to force it upon my brother and me when we were quite young.” His tone turned serious, his brows pinched. Then his expression softened. “My brother and I made a pact that we’d never satisfy the old bastard in that regard.”
“It sounds as if your father wasn’t kind.”
The tight smile he offered contained no true mirth. “Not even a little bit. Was yours?”
“He was cold, never affectionate. I sometimes wish I’d defied his expectations in any regard.” Cecily had never confessed that thought aloud to anyone either. “Though as I was a daughter and his only child, all he truly expected was that I marry well.”
“And you did that.”
