Page 50 of The Secret of Flirting
“Nothing. Just your promise that you won’t... press her into anything untoward.”
“Like a mésalliance with me, you mean?”
“Like a compromising situation.”
He stiffened. “I could certainly promise you that.” But he was playing with words. Hecouldpromise her that, but he didn’t intend to.
All the same, he would say almost anything to get Monique away from that arse Pontalba. Because he honestly didn’t trust the smarmy fellow.
As soon as they reached the knot garden, he moved away from Lady Ursula to approach Monique. “What do you think, Your Highness? Is it what you expected?”
She surveyed the garden with an odd concentration. “It’s... different.”
“From ones you’ve seen before? Probably. Some use box hedges to form the strands of the knot, but my mother uses rosemary. I think she hopes that the old saying ‘Where rosemary flourishes the lady rules’ will prove to be true if she plants enough of it.”
“Well, rosemary’s hardy stems make it a good choice. And the addition of purple lavender is delightful. I only wish I could see it when it’s blooming.” Monique sniffed the air. “Even so, it smells heavenly, as do the wild marjoram and sage. What a fine selection of plants. Your mother has a good eye for what belongs in a knot garden. Not to mention a good nose.”
Gregory cocked his head. She’d managed to startle him. Again. “Youdoknow your knot gardens.”
“My grandmother always dragged me to see them.” A wistful note entered her voice. “She loves—” Monique caught herself. “Used tolove them.”
He knew that Princess Aurore’s grandmother was dead. But not Monique’s, perhaps? He suddenly remembered the discussions at the theater three years ago about her aging grandmother. Damn, he wished he could reach Hart to have him pursue that line of questioning.
Although there really was no need. Hart would be sharp enough to cover it. He’d become quite adept at spying.
Apparently noticing Monique’s slip, Lady Ursula said, “You miss your grandmother terribly, don’t you, Your Highness?” She glanced at Gregory. “The princess still speaks of her as if she is with us, though she’s been gone ten years.”
Her “Highness” said nothing, merely gave him a sad smile. It twisted something inside his chest.
Hemusttalk to her alone. He offered her his arm. “Since you like knot gardens, Princess, I have something special to show you if you will come with me.”
She eyed him warily and didn’t take his arm.
Lady Ursula said, “Why don’t you two go on? I’m rather tired after our long trip today.” She turned to Pontalba. “Your Grace, would you accompany me back to the house? I’m afraid I might get lost.”
His lips thinning, the duke glanced from her to Gregory, but the Frenchman could hardly refuse. “Of course, madam. I’d be happy to.”
As soon as they’d gone, Monique stared him down. “What are you up to, Gregory?”
“How would you like to see a knot garden in process?”
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“Mother has laid out a scheme for a new one by our garden pavilion. She just hasn’t planted it yet.”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful!” Tucking her hand in the arm he offered again, she let him lead her on.
Now what? Asking her point-blank about her masquerade hadn’t worked heretofore, but Lady Ursula’s remarks had given him more ammunition for tricking her. Yet some small part of him was loath to do it. She looked so very pleased with the idea of seeing Mother’s newest garden project.
And she looked so fetching in that blue walking dress that made her eyes appear almost azure beneath the shade of the trees. He just wanted to stroll with her and pretend that they were not at odds, that she wasn’t an impostor whom it was his duty to expose.
As if she, too, was reluctant to discuss the elephant between them, she said, “I don’t understand why you never come here. It is so very...” She uttered a sigh. “Lovely. If I had these gardens—”
“Have you no gardens in Chanay?”
She shot him a veiled look. “We’re not talking about me. For once, can’t you just answer a simple question without turning it back on me?”
“I don’t like to talk about myself,” he said honestly.
