Page 54 of Her Duke By Accident
Despite her offering to help, Alicia felt a pit in her stomach. “Have you seen the duke today?”
“No, Your Grace,” she replied with a shrug. “I figured he’d be off already.”
“As did I.”
“Is there something of importance to discuss with the duke?”
Alicia gave her a thin smile. “I wish to end our bickering with a conversation if only I can catch him.” She bowed her head. “So, if you’ll excuse me, Miss Ayles.”
“I don’t think that is so wise, Your Grace.”
Alicia paused at the threshold of the drawing room. “And why would you think that?”
“The duke has never been described as a civil man,” Miss Ayles said. “Not even his father.”
Intrigued, Alicia walked closer to the governess. “Did you encounter his father before his passing?”
“Not quite,” she replied. “But all the ton knew of him.”
“Knew of him how?”
“To be stoic and cold,” Miss Ayles explained. “He was fair and just to his tenants, but never considered to be a societal man. Even a duke can be plagued with scandal, and the ton made sure he was aware of it.”
Alicia gave the governess a look. “Duke’s cannot be truly affected by scandal.”
“Perhaps it does not affect their standing,” Miss Ayles said. “But it does not mean scandal ceases to exist.”
Alicia sat on the sofa. “What scandal?”
“Oh,” the governess sighed. “I’m not quite sure about the specifics.”
“Of course,” Alicia muttered under her breath.
Miss Ayles eyed her. “If I can ask, Your Grace, why do think you can change him?”
“I never said anything about changing him.”
“But you are trying, aren’t you?” Miss Ayles leaned towards her. “You want the duke to open up to you, to trust you, and treat you as his companion, but he is not built for that. He never has been.”
Alicia narrowed her eyes at her. “How could you possibly be so sure of that?”
“Well, I’ve been here, haven’t I?”
“You are Lucy’s governess,” Alicia said, “not the duke’s.”
“Of course not,” she snapped. “But I have dined with him more than you. I have walked the gardens alongside him more thanyou have. I have even attended balls alongside him, whereas, you attend balls… beneath him, I suppose.”
Alicia gaped at her. “Miss Ayles.”
“Forgive me, Your Grace,” she laughed, covering her mouth. “I only meant to jest.”
“I don’t want to change him.”
“Wanting him to treat you differently is changing him,” Miss Ayles said. “Same goes for how he treats Lucy. It is just the way he is. Why does it need to be changed? Because you are now the duchess? Because you wish it to be so?”
“Because it is what’s right,” Alicia snapped. “Lucy deserves better.”
“Oh,” the governess said with a mocking glint in her eye, “were we talking about Lucy?”
