Page 32 of My Secret Duke
“Good morning.”
Once again, Prince Nikolai was in the stable yard, watching as Otto walked the prize stallion back and forth. He looked up in surprise at Ivo’s greeting, before giving him a brief nod of acknowledgment and turning back to whatever it was about the animal that was causing him to frown.
“Is he lame?” Ivo asked curiously, pausing by the prince’s side.
Nikolai stiffened as though he had been sworn at. “No,” he said in a sharp voice. “I think just a little soreness. That wretched girl rode him hard.”
“That wretched girl” being Roberta. Despite her apology, it seemed that the prince had not forgiven her.
“Are you coming on the excursion?” Ivo asked. “You could ride Leopold. He might just need a leisurely trot to sort out his problems.”
The prince ignored him as if Ivo wasn’t worth the bother.Charming!Ivo gave up on the rude fellow and made his way into the stables to find his own mount. The others would be here soon, but he hoped Charles would reach him first so that they could have their “chat.”
Ivo greeted the horses they had brought with them from Whitmont. He had been worried he might have to sell some of them but perhaps now he wouldn’t have to. Just as he was making his choice of a suitable mount, he heard Charles speak his name.
The man looked as unruffled as he had earlier. He was dressed in a plain dark coat but with a colorful waistcoat beneath it, which seemed to be an idiosyncrasy, and his fair hair shone in the light from the stable doors.
“You wanted a word?” Charles asked with a smile, and raised an inquiring eyebrow.
For a moment, Ivo could only stare because that gesture was so familiar. He did it himself, but it was something his father also used to do. Ivo cleared his throat and gave a surreptitious glance about them to make sure there was no one within listening distance.
“I noticed at the ball you were dancing with Lady Justina. And at the archery contest, you seemed… close.”
Charles’s smile faded, and the friendliness left his eyes.
Ivo carried on. “I hope you have considered the disparity between her situation and yours.”
“You don’t think I’m good enough for her.” It wasn’t a question, and now there was a flush on the other man’s cheeks. A sign of either anger or embarrassment.
“No, that is not what I meant. Justina is young and vulnerable, and you are a man with a certain reputation. You must see how your attentions to her could be misconstrued?”
“Misconstrued?” Charles echoed. Those familiar blue eyes were fixed on him with such intensity that Ivo, who rarely felt uncomfortable, wanted to squirm. He reminded himself that he was quite within his rights to talk of these things. Or was Charles such a cad that he would refuse to listen?
“Must I explain myself further?” Ivo said impatiently. “Surely you can see how Justina could take your attentions more seriously than they are intended. Youwould be wise to remove yourself from Grantham before matters cross that line. Put some distance between the two of you.”
Because that was what Ivo would be doing.
Charles’s eyes narrowed. His hands clenched into fists at his side. “Why are you telling me this?” he said in a muffled tone, very unlike his usual voice. “Are you Justina’s protector? Isn’t it up to Gabriel—who is my best friend, by the way—to remind me of my lowly position?” He was angry but containing it.
Ivo suspected he had pressed upon a tender spot. “I did not mean,” he began awkwardly, forced into the unfamiliar position of explaining his high-handedness.
But Charles had heard enough. “Perhaps you should look to your own house before you start rummaging through mine,” he said loudly enough to startle the nearby horses. “By my reckoning, you have twice jeopardized Olivia’s chances of reentering society and making a decent match. You are in no position to throw stones,Your Grace.”
Ivo flushed angrily. This was not going at all as he had expected. It was as if he and Charles were engaged in swordplay, and their words were drawing blood. “My actions are none of your business,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Oh, are they not? And yetmylife isyourbusiness?” Charles regarded Ivo quizzically, and that damned eyebrow lifted again.
Ivo took a calming breath. “I am simply trying to prevent another scandal. Haven’t the Ashtons had enough of them lately? I know Olivia is concerned—”
“Oh,Oliviais concerned? So she has sent you like some sort of knight in rusty armor to dispatch me.”Charles shook his head in disgust, and then, with a mocking sketch of a bow, turned on his heel.
Knight in rusty armor?
Ivo was left standing there, fuming, while the rest of the party for the excursion began to arrive. Forced to push down his emotions, he plastered a smile on his face and endeavored to make polite conversation.
The excursion had turned into a picnic—Vivienne’s bright idea—and there was a delay while everything was prepared and packed. When they set off at last, most of the men were on horseback, while the rest of the party had taken advantage of the comfortable conveyances. Slower carts were carrying the servants and the picnic paraphernalia. This may be an outdoor meal, but no one was expecting to “rough it.” As they rode along, the prince dawdled by the carriage, paying special attention to Olivia.
Ivo pretended not to notice because, as Charles had reminded him, he had done enough damage already.
