Page 97 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke
“I noticed the change in behaviour between two of you today. You spoke like people who had known each other for a long time,” William said.
“I feel like I have known her for a long time,” Lord James responded.
“Are you serious about her?” William asked.
“I think I am. She’s the first lady to really interest me. All that aggressiveness and strong headedness is endearing to me. And I have shared many a conversation with her, we have similar views. I didn’t tell you because after you had told me about your issues with Miss Joane, I didn’t know how I and Emma would fit in. I didn’t want to sabotage what you had,” Lord James said.
“You are not sabotaging anything James. I’m happy for you,” William said.
He drew closer to his friend and tapped him on his back.
“She’s bold and can be feisty. But you have a cool head, you can handle that,” William said.
Lord James smiled.
“I am not so sure. While you were with Joane this afternoon, I gave her a wash down. I blamed her for almost everything and even though she tried defending herself, it wasn’t enough. By the time I finished my diatribe, she was almost in tears.”
Did I just hear right?
“Did you say tears? You must have said a lot,” William said.
“I had previously told her to drop this campaign of painting you in bad light. She doesn’t listen. So I blamed her for practically everything that had happened wrongly between you and Joane,” Lord James said.
“You will apologize to her,” William said.
“Yes, now that I can look at that episode in hindsight, I agree that I was a little too harsh. She was pained, her eyes held water when I was done. I need to get home first, there is some accounting I need to clear up and some documents that require my signature. But after that I’ll go to Buckingham to see her. I’ll take flowers, lots of them,” Lord James said
“They both do, she and Joane. There is a constant scent of flowers on Joane; I don’t just know what specie of flower,” William said.
“White roses, Emma says Joane loves white roses,” Lord James answered.
White roses.
“Do go visit her with flowers although when a woman loves you enough, all you need to do is to apologize. She will blame you then forgive you,” William said.
Lord James nodded.
“I hope so,” he said before he stood up.
“I need to get some much needed sleep. We will speak more tomorrow morning. Good night, William,” Lord James said.
“Good night,” William replied.
Lord James walked out and closed the door behind him. William shifted inward and lay down properly on the bed. The day had been tiring and the sleep came easily.
When he opened his eyes the next morning, it was because he heard a cock crow. William rubbed at his eyes with his left fist. His night was short and dreamless.
Just the kind of night I like.
He remembered the happenings of the day before. Lord James telling him about his growing love for Emma, the friend who would always protect Joane. He was not angry at her, never was, for all she had told Joane about him. Everything she told Joane was true so there was nothing to be angry about.
He didn’t sit up. He just lay there and closed his eyes, ruminating over his talk with Joane the day before. When he opened his eyes again, it was past dawn and the light flooded his room.
I slept off again, wow.
William walked to his door and opened slightly. A steward went past his door as he opened it; he opened wider and called the steward.
“Good morning,” the steward said.
