Page 15 of What's a Duke Got to Do With It
“Yes!” Bridling’s eyes shone with excitement, his chest fairly puffing up with pride. “Miss Mirabel Hutton, London’s premier actress. No!” He corrected himself, his gaze going slightly dreamy. “England’spremier actress, for she outshines any other.”
“She is your fiancée, sir?” Miss Denby queried politely.
“Not yet,” Bridling said, shooting an almost defiant look at Sebastian before returning his gaze to Miss Denby. “But she soon shall be. Once I return to London, I intend to ask her to be my wife.”
“My early felicitations, Mr. Bridling,” Miss Denby said with a smile.
Blessedly, Lady Tesh was through being ignored and put an end to Bridling’s effusions.
“Sit, all of you,” she snapped. “My neck aches from looking up at you.”
They did as they were bid, though Miss Denby sank into her own chair near the dowager viscountess with seeming reluctance. “Shouldn’t I bring Mouse to my room, my lady?”
“What is the point? He will no doubt find a way to escape. No, the damage is done. He shall remain, and when we are done with our tea we shall all take a walk out of doors so the beast might have his exercise. I would show His Grace and Mr. Bridling Seacliff’s gardens, and we may discuss our plans for the next weeks. If, that is,” she drawled, sending Bridling a droll look, “you are more amenable to this trip, my boy.”
“Why would I not be amenable?” he asked, giving Lady Tesh a wide smile before returning his attention to Miss Denby. “I am quite anxious to begin planning my time here. The Isle is a lovely place. And its inhabitants equally so, it seems. It shall be a wonderful little holiday before I return to my Mirabel and begin life as an adoring husband.”
It was blatant flirting, not at all subtly done, and punctuated in the most baffling way with that pointed mention of Miss Hutton. Truly, Sebastian could not make heads or tails of Bridling. No matter how confounding he was acting, however, Sebastian had no choice but to watch the boy carefully and pray that Cartmel knew his son enough that this mad scheme would work.
Just then the dog—which Miss Denby had been doing her best to control with a firm hand on the creature’s collar while simultaneously attempting to balance a delicate teacup in the other hand—suddenly broke free of her grasp.
“Mouse,” Miss Denby cried out, even as Lady Tesh heaved a loud, beleaguered sigh.
“That is a fine pet you have,” Bridling said, scooting forward in his seat and patting his knee. “Come here, dog. I say, come here.”
But the animal ignored Bridling completely. Instead, and with a bright look of determination it its eyes, it worked its way around the low tea table, large tail coming dangerously close to swiping the whole tea set to the ground, and made a beeline to Sebastian.
“You naughty thing,” Miss Denby said, rising to her feet, no doubt intending to go after her pet. “Come back here at once.”
But though Sebastian knew it would be best to let her fetch the creature, he instead found himself holding up a hand to stop her.
“It’s quite all right, Miss Denby.” He looked down at the dog—well, not so far down, for it was nearly on eye level with him now that he was sitting.
Miss Denby, however, did not look any easier. “If you are certain,” she said as she gingerly resumed her seat.
“I am,” he stated with firmness before turning to the dog. “Now, my good man, can you behave yourself?”
Seeming to sense he would not be turned away, the dog heaved a happy sigh and rested his quite heavy, quite solid head in Sebastian’s lap, looking up at him as if there was no place he would rather be in the world.
To Sebastian’s credit, he did not flinch when the dog’s head came in such close contact with his private area again. He did, however, allow himself a silent mourning for his trousers, which would no doubt need to be disposed of once the dog’s drool was done with them. It was an expense he could ill afford.
“That is most kind of you,” Miss Denby said with a beatific smile. “He truly does like you, Your Grace.”
Which should not have affected Sebastian as deeply as it did. But with her looking at him as if he were a saint among men, he suddenly felt one hundred feet tall.
“He likes everyone,” Lady Tesh muttered.
Bridling, of course, spoiled man-child that he was, could not be left out of the conversation. “I have a great many hounds back at our country seat. Cartmel Manor boasts extensive grounds, you know, and has some of the finest hunting in Somerset. Have you ever been to Somerset, Miss Denby?”
“Er, no,” she answered with an uncertain smile, seeming to drag her attention away from Sebastian and her dog with difficulty. “No, I have not had the pleasure.”
Bridling smiled wide. “I hope I may one day have the pleasure of your visit there. I say,” he continued, fairly bouncing in his seat as he turned to Sebastian, “as you and Miss Denby are old friends, mayhap you can invite her for the wedding festivities when you tie the knot with Diane.”
Sebastian flinched. It was well known that he was pursuing Miss Bridling, but his suit had not exactly been accepted yet. He glared at Bridling. All of it, of course, hinging on this boy with his seemingly mercurial affections.
And, apparently, the news had not traveled so far as Synne if Miss Denby’s reaction was any indication. “You are set to be married, Your Grace?” she asked quietly.
Why, he thought as he looked at her pale face, did the thought of succeeding in his desperate suit of Miss Bridling suddenly sit so very wrong with him? Or, at least, more wrong than before. And why did he feel as if he had betrayed this woman? Yes, he had at one time wished to make a future with her. And yes, he had begun to make advances toward her to show where his affection had lain. And yes, she had seemed to welcome those advances quite enthusiastically.
