Page 66 of An Innocent Maid for the Duke
‘Poor Parrot,’ Eleanor said.
His grandmother’s dresser was older than his grandmother.
‘Not at my request,’ his grandmama said. ‘She was upset about dropping it.’
‘I told her all is well before I came down,’ Rose said, going to the sideboard and filling her plate before taking her seat.
Eleanor poured tea for her. It pleased Jake no end to see Rose being treated more like family than employee. More than it should.
‘Rose, my dear,’ Grandmama said. ‘Jake has offered to look after Lucy while Eleanor and I go shopping, since Nanny is ill. May we impose on you to help him for a few hours?’
As predicted by Eleanor, Rose looked doubtful.
Jake frowned. He hadn’t expected that from his Rose. His Rose. He liked the sound of it in his head. If only... He shook the thought off.
‘It is not that I mind, your ladyship... I mean, Eleanor,’ Rose said with a regretful smile. ‘But I have very little experience with the needs of young children.’
‘No need to worry about that,’ Jake said, smiling at her. ‘I practically raised Eleanor single-handedly after Mother died.’
With Father and Ralph busy with the dukedom, the two younger siblings had been left to manage for themselves.
‘You were a wonderful big brother, Jake.’
Jake felt stunned at his sister’s compliment. He felt heat sting his cheeks. ‘Well, I helped Nanny a bit, anyway.’
‘You help me.’ She turned to Rose. ‘It is all right if you don’t wish it, Miss Nightingale. Indeed, it was wrong of us to ask. You have your own duties.’
‘It is only for a couple of hours, Rose,’ Jake said quickly, then winced. ‘Unless you would prefer to accompany Grandmama and Eleanor to the shops?’
Rose shook her head. ‘I thought to catch up with my mending.’
‘You prefer mending to time spent with Lucy and me?’
‘Enough, Jake,’ Eleanor said. ‘If Rose—’
Rose put up a hand with a smile. ‘His Grace is right. Mending pales in comparison to spending the morning with Lucy in the schoolroom. Truly.’
Jake raised his brows at her. ‘The schoolroom? Really? What sort of uncle would that make me? We are going out.’
‘It needs to be something educational,’ Eleanor said sternly, ‘If you intend her to forgo her lessons.’
Jake made a face.
‘What about the Elgin Marbles?’ Grandmama suggested.
Jake winced. ‘Some of those might be a little too risqué for an uncle to be explaining.’
‘I know the very place!’ Eleanor said, her eyes alight. ‘Lucy has been learning about famous explorers. The Panorama in Leicester Square is exhibiting the North Coast of Spitzbergen. We talked about it just the other day. Would it interest you, Miss Nightingale?’
Rose looked fascinated, the way she looked fascinated when she discovered a new word.
Mentally he grinned. There was no way her natural curiosity would let her allow such an offer pass her by.
She glanced his way, but he kept his gaze fixed on Eleanor. ‘Educational, Eleanor?’
‘I would like to see it,’ Rose said.
‘Everyone should visit Barker’s Panorama,’ Grandmama pronounced with a stern look at Rose. Dear old stick. If he hadn’t known better he might have thought she was championing his cause with Rose. Really? He narrowed his gaze on her, but her expression was completely innocent. Suspiciously so.
