Page 34 of His Duchess in Disguise
“Not usually, Your Grace. Begging your pardon, sir.”
“Then I will be honest with you. There are some things about Kathy Smith that you don’t know. But even setting that aside, there is she has an air that fascinates me. Something I can’t quite explain. I want to know her better, but her apparent station makes that difficult.”
“Her apparent station.” Hamilton stared at Leo for a long moment.
“Keep your speculations under your hat, my good secretary.”
“Oh, I will, Your Grace. I just hope that you are not about to run upon a reef and founder.”
“Let me say that training horses provides a chance for me to know her better. I’d like to judge her mettle, both as a horsewoman and as a lady.”
“I see,” said Hamilton. “Just as I said, Your Grace. Transparent as glass, but I’ll not betray your confidence. Just be careful. The upcoming duel will be scandal enough without adding to it.”
“Hamilton, there are times when you could dampen the most incredible party.”
“I believe that urging caution is one of my duties, Your Grace. Your reputation is of no little value.”
Leo sipped his tea gloomily. After a time, he finally said, “No doubt you are correct, Hamilton. I will be discreet. But there is just something about her . . . I want to know her better.”
Chapter 22
The following morning, Emma awoke with the feeling that great things were afoot. Her hand was much less painful. There were books on her nightstand, and good smells wafting out from the kitchen promised an excellent breakfast.
She rose, performed her morning ablutions and quickly dressed in a clean uniform, white, starched apron, and crisply ironed cap. She surveyed the young woman in the wavery old mirror in the laundry room. “Look at you,” she told her reflection, “Don’t you just look like the perfect maid.”
She then hurried out to the kitchen where Mrs. Chambers, and a maid Emma had not met before, were preparing breakfast.
“Down your tea and porridge quick,” Mrs. Chambers said. “The Duke has sent word that he wants you in his study no later than nine of the clock, sharp. Says he has another special duty for you.”
Emma looked at the cook, round-eyed with surprise. “Goodness! Another special duty? How can I do my work as kitchen maid?”
“I think we’ll not worry about that,” Mrs. Chambers said gently. “I’m not at all sure you are cut out to be a kitchen maid. But don’t you worry. Mrs. Noddicott says you are a dab hand with cleaning wood carvings and fixing old books. Goodness knows, that library hasn’t had more than a feather duster run over in years.”
“It is a wonderful library,” Emma sighed happily.
“I’ll take your word for it,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Never did hold too much with a lot of reading, ‘cept for my receipts and accounts. But it takes all kinds, and if you can make sense out o’ that moldy mess in that room, then I truly wish you well.”
“But what does the Duke want this morning?” Emma asked. “I had hoped to finish sorting through the schoolbooks. Mrs. Noddicott is now satisfied that I understand how to take care of fragile manuscripts, and I am eager to get to the real books.”
“I have no idea. But no doubt he will tell you. I do know that whatever it is, he sent for Mary Higginsby.”
“Who or what is Mary Higginsby?”
“She’s a spinster lady who sometimes does day labor here at the manor. She’s a good deal of fun when she gets going, but she always turns in a full day’s work and more besides.”
Now Emma was beyond curious as to what the Duke had in mind. She didn’t quite gulp her mint tea or gobble her porridge, but she ate and drank with efficient concentration. As soon as she was finished, she rinsed her dishes and added them to the growing mound waiting for Matthew Blank’s attention. She allowed herself a little twinge of satisfaction at adding to his chores, just because he had such a supercilious air about him.
When she entered the Duke’s office, he was seated behind his big desk. Hamilton was at his small desk, and a lean, raw-boned woman was seated in one of the audience chairs.
“Ah, there you are, Miss Smith,” the Duke greeted her. “Allow me to make known to you Miss Mary Higginsby. Miss Higginsby, Miss Kathy Smith.”
“Pleased ta meetcha,” Miss Higginsby said, extending her hand.
Emma clasped it briefly. Miss Higginsby had a firm handshake, not too hard, but not limp or shy. “Very pleased to meet you, too.”
“Now to business,” the Duke said. “Miss Smith, how well do you ride?”
“Well enough for general use. I’ve not had a lot of practice.”
