Page 53 of The Enigmatic Governess of Buford Manor
“That said, Nicholas, that does not mean they are good men or even pleasant men.”
The younger Frampton’s head moved up slowly to meet his father’s eyes and for a moment, neither man spoke.
“I was quite impressed with how you handled yourself against the blatant attack Balfour administered against your young lady.”
Nicholas was genuinely stunned, and his face expressed his shock.
“You seem perplexed,” the duke laughed. “Is it so strange that I would think my son a man of integrity in the eyes of adversity?”
“I–I do not know what to think in this moment, Your Grace,” Nicholas replied truthfully. “I daresay, I was not expecting such a statement from your mouth. And may I add, Miss Rose is not my young lady.”
Not for the moment…
“Oh Nicholas,” the duke sighed. “Perhaps this is why I have always been so concerned for you. Your propensity for falsehood leaves much to be desired and I fear in politics, you require a much better gambler’s expression.”
Nicholas snorted.
“If my ineptitude for fibbing is the most of your concerns for me, father, I daresay you have much smaller problems than many of your peers.”
“I concur, son. And in your situation, that is my most major concern. If only that was the only worry which plagues me…”
The duke trailed off, his eyes falling into a faraway look which troubled Nicholas.
“Father? What is it?”
“I digress,” the duke said, returning to attention. “What I mean to say, Nicholas, is that you are both a good man and a pleasant man. I am proud of who you have become, someone who will turn the other cheek when your opponent lunges carelessly in your direction. You must know when to fight and when to simply allow your enemy to tire himself with his own endless rhetoric. You displayed your ability to do that in the face of what Balfour was saying. And Nicholas…”
The marquess leaned closer to hear his father better.
“There were moments when I wished to land a cork on him myself.”
The father and son snickered in unison but stopped as Theodore cleared his throat to announce the men arriving. It was nothing more than talk; the duke hadn’t a violent sense about him.
“You have made a difficult choice with Miss Rose,” the duke whispered. “But the ends justify the means and she will thank you when you are a powerful duke with respect, not merely a doting husband who can tend to her bedside.”
Pride swelled in his chest and he nodded at his father.
“I agree, father,” he replied softly as the worse for wear men stumbled to their seats, muttering in a sea of profanity to bemoan their pain.
“Good morrow, gentlemen!” The duke called much louder than need be. There was a cry of protest as they reached for their water cups.
“I had Peter work into the night, establishing our teams,” Duke Buford continued. “He will pass along a copy to each of you as you are all much too rotten to recall anything I might say in these next moments.”
Peter materialized, hurrying along the tableside to leave the schedules with the men who grunted rudely. Nicholas reached for his and exhaled with relief as he saw he was not teamed with Balfour that day.
“Eat your hash and eggs, men,” the duke boomed. “We have a hunt to pursue!”
“Hear hear,” they muttered, banging their cups on the table before burying their heads back into their arms. Nicholas could not stop himself from laughing aloud at their misery.
These important bad men,he thought, smirking slightly as his eyes travelled around the table from one sorry face to the next.The future of England in a sickly pile of vomit.
Yet when his gaze rested on Captain Balfour, his smile faded and a chill shot through him when the icy slate eyes rested on his face.
Perhaps I should not be too hasty,Nicholas thought refusing to break the silent battle of wills between them.Daniel Balfour most certainly has qualities which we discussed; he is both important and bad.
Chapter 19
Rose could hear a slight disruption outside her window and she sat up, and blinked in confusion. She was unsure if she had dreamt whatever faint noise had aroused her from sleep. For the moment, she heard nothing again.
