Page 52 of An Innocent Maid for the Duke
‘Do you think they make a lovely couple?’ Her Grace asked, watching her grandson with narrowed eyes. ‘I suppose he could do worse. The Pettigrews are a family almost as old as ours. Not to mention the gal has a considerable dowry.’
Was that hope in her voice? Rose gritted her teeth and ignored the clench of pain around her heart. Was Her Grace making a point? ‘She is lovely.’
‘Lovely.’ The old lady turned slightly in her seat with a strange smile on her face. ‘They do say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There’s no accounting for people’s tastes.’
Did she like the match or did she not? Rose couldn’t make up her mind. Not that it was any of her concern. Except it was, because if Jake did decide on a lady to marry, Rose would not be remaining under his roof. She clenched her hands in her lap. She just couldn’t.
An elderly lady of enormous proportions wearing a turquoise dress and a wide-brimmed hat tottered over, waving her fan. ‘My word, Your Grace, it is warm today. How are you? I heard you were out in company again. About time, too.’
‘Sit, Elizabeth, and tell me your news,’ the Dowager Duchess said.
The woman collapsed on to the empty chair and dived into a discussion of people Rose had never heard of. Her gaze drifted off to the game of pall mall.
They did make a lovely couple. Rose wanted to take the mallet and bash Lady Alicia over the head with it.
The girl stumbled over what could not have been more than a pebble, or perhaps a worm cast. Rose glowered as Jake caught her before she fell to her knees and set her back on her feet. A trill of laughter wafted across the lawn to grate against Rose’s ear.
She could not bear to watch them, yet try as she might her gaze still wandered in that direction. He was her lover and while she accepted the fact that they could never be more...she certainly did not want to watch him flirt with another. It hurt.
She stared at her gloved hands gripped in her lap until there was a lull in the ladies’ conversation. ‘Is there anything I can get for you, Your Grace?’
‘Nothing at all, thank you, Miss Nightingale.’
‘Would you mind if I went for a short walk? I feel the need of some exercise.’ She needed to be as far from Jake and Lady Alicia as possible. At least until she got her emotions under control.
‘I do not see why not.’ The expression on the Duchess’s face held concern. Rose had the feeling the old lady knew why she needed to get away. Surely not? ‘Young people, always so restless,’ Her Grace said to her friend. ‘Stay within sight of the house, Rose,’ she added in a low voice. ‘And do not be gone too long. They are sure to serve food at any moment.’ Her Grace spoke louder. ‘Take your parasol. The sun is very bright today.’
Parasols and gloves and delicate little slippers not at all suited to walking conspired against anything but the daintiest steps, when she wanted to march off at great speed. As far away as possible if the truth were told. But she did not want to cause Her Grace any embarrassment, so she strolled towards the river. Fortunately the grass was dry and would not mire the hem of this very expensive gown. She shuddered every time she thought about the cost.
She wandered towards the bank. The Thames here was very different to the busy river running through the city. Here, there were boats, but none of the tall ships that docked south of London Bridge and none of the ferrymen shouting for custom. It smelled a great deal better, too. It was quiet and it was peaceful.
Slowly she began to calm. Seeing Jake with that other woman had been a painful tug on her heart, even though she had known it would happen. Perhaps she simply needed time to get used to the idea. After all, she was merely an employee. They could certainly never be more than lovers.
It wasn’t as if he’d made any promises. As someone abandoned as a baby, she knew better than to expect loyalty from anyone in her life, least of all a man. After all, only a woman lacking the support of a man would give up her child as her own mother had done. And while she might not be all that different to her mother when it came to Jake, she certainly was going to do her very best to ensure no unwanted children would result.
The day was too lovely for such dark thoughts. She took a deep breath. Tried to focus on her surroundings. The air here in the country smelled fresh, like a bouquet of flowers, and if this was not exactly the countryside, it was as close to it as she was ever likely to get.
And yet she couldn’t quite shake off her unhappiness or the need to avoid the company of those clearly enjoying the day.
* * *
When Jacob returned to his grandmother, after a very tedious forty-seven minutes with the vapid Lady Alicia, he was pleased to find her surrounded by a group of her cronies and having a grand conversation. Of Rose, however, there was no sign.
When his grandmother caught sight of him she waved him over. ‘Are you looking for Miss Nightingale?’
He smiled at the assembled grande dames and bowed. ‘Good afternoon, ladies. I see you are looking in fine fettle. Our debutantes should beware.’
They smiled with girlish pleasure and there were even a couple of giggles. ‘You always were a charmer, Lord Jake,’ one of them said, flailing her fan.
Her grandmother gasped. The lady who had spoken flushed. ‘I beg your pardon, Westmoor. I haven’t seen you since...the accident. My condolences.’
She lowered her voice on her last words. Was she another who doubted his honour? ‘Where is our dear Miss Nightingale?’ he asked cheerfully, as if he had not noticed the inflection in her voice.
‘She went for a walk.’ His grandmother frowned, looking around. ‘Quite some time ago, now. Not long after you left. I asked her not to wander too far, but I no longer see her.’
Jake’s heart gave an uncomfortable thump. She should not have wandered off alone. Nor should Grandmother have allowed it. ‘I’ll find her and bring her back to you safe and sound.’
Grandmother’s face paled. ‘She walked towards the river. I did not think to warn her about the current.’
