Page 28 of Unmasked By a Captivating Lady
“Go to her,” he whispered. “I will make my way out the back. Tell her that I had to leave quickly, on important business.” He paused, gazing at her ardently. “Until the next time….”
“Ara!” Her mother’s voice was petulant now. “Where the deuce are you?”
“Coming, Mama,” she said, her voice croaky.
He leant down and kissed her on the forehead, before slipping away, into the darkness.
Ara felt as if she had just awakened from the strangest dream. Slowly, she walked back through the stable. Her mother was almost to the stable gate. Ara took a deep breath, smiling, and waving her hand.
“Here I am, Mama,” she said, in a slightly disjointed voice.
Her mother gazed at her, looking beyond her. “Where is the Duke? And why do you look so flushed?”
Ara took another deep breath. “It is hot in the stables. And the Duke had to leave, Mama. A previous appointment.” She paused. “He said hello to Pem, then departed.”
Mrs. Nott looked disappointed. “Oh! That is bad luck! I was going to invite him to dinner. I had just made arrangements with Cook to go to the markets, to procure a fine ham…”
“Maybe another evening,” said Ara, in as steady a voice as she could muster. “I feel quite tired, Mama. May I go to my room to rest awhile before dinner?”
Her mother smiled indulgently. “Of course, my sweet. Things are coming along nicely between you and the Duke, are they not? You deserve a little lie down, after so successful a day…”
Ara nodded, making her way out of the stable, almost stumbling in her haste to get back to the house and be alone. To process the amazing thing that had just happened between her and the Duke.
Chapter 14
Ara put down her knife and fork decisively, staring with distaste at the roasted goose meat lying on her plate. She couldn’t eat much more. It had been like this for the whole week, since the incredible thing that had happened between her and the Duke, in Pem’s stable.
“Have you lost your appetite again, Ara?” asked her mother sharply, frowning. “This is unlike you, to eat so little!”
Her father glanced up from his own plate. “You shall fade away to a shadow, my girl. Are you feeling quite well? You have been awfully quiet as well, now that I think about it.”
Ara smiled weakly. “I am perfectly fine! Just a bit out of sorts being in London, you know…”
Her father frowned. “You have not been riding Pem, either. I brought the horse all this way to give you something to do that you love, and the poor horse is languishing in his stable, neglected.”
Ara flushed a little. It was true that she had been neglecting Pem. She felt guilty about it. Tomorrow, she thought. Tomorrow she would go to the stables, and arrange a ride through Hyde Park with him. And then she would spend the entire day with him in the stables as well.
Her mother picked up her knife and fork again, spearing her goose. “I must say, it confuses me why the Duke has not been back to call on you, Ara.” She frowned. “He seemed so enamoured, and yet we have not seen him in a week!”
Ara trembled a little. “I daresay he is busy, Mama. There is no understanding between us, after all. He is free to do as he wishes…”
“I am sure he will make it up to Ara at the ball,” declared Ruth.
Mrs. Nott smiled tightly. “Yes, indeed, I am sure you are correct, dear Ruth! The ball is almost here, and we shall see then how he treats our Ara, won’t we?”
Ara smiled tightly. She didn’t like being discussed as if she wasn’t present, but she didn’t have the heart or the will to say anything. She could see from the darting sideways looks her family were giving her that they were worried about her.
Let them worry, she thought. I am only doing what they have always told me to do. They wanted me to become a compliant, proper young lady, who does not speak her mind. Why should they care that they have suddenly got their wish?
Suddenly, she couldn’t stare at the plate, a moment longer. Fiercely, she pushed it away, standing up.
“May I be excused?” she asked quietly.
They all looked at her. It was so silent that she thought she could surely hear a pin drop.
“Of course, Ara,” said her father eventually. “I hope that you rest well and feel more yourself tomorrow.”
Ara nodded. Suddenly, tears sprang unbidden into her eyes. She needed to get away from them all, this very minute.
