Page 64 of Her Duke By Accident
“Once the duke hears of this—” Miss Ayles repeated, as though Alicia hadn’t heard her the first time.
“Youdarethreaten me with the wrath of my husband?” Alicia snapped. “Where wereyou,Miss Ayles, when the girl you are supposed to be looking after is flying off a horse outside? Where were you, besides sulking in a room, thinking the entirety of Garvey was against you?” Alicia breathed heavily from exhaustion and anger. “I’d think more about what the duke might say when I tell him ofyou.”
Alicia spun around on her heel and continued marching toward the bedroom, leaving Miss Ayles alone in the hall.
At Lucy’s bedroom, Alicia jumped inside, gingerly setting the crying girl down on her bed. Ms. Crawford ran to the girl’s side within a second, more and more servants filtering in and out of the room. Alicia collapsed into a bedside chair, her arms aching and swollen from the weight they carried.
The housekeeper finally met her eyes. “You are a bloody miracle.”
Alicia’s eyes fluttered shut in exhaustion.
CHAPTER 16
Lew’s and Crake’s bustled with chatter and merriment that early evening. Once again at the table furthest from the rowdy gamblers and drinkers, Matthew held a glass of brandy in one hand, and tapped his fingers irritably against the wood with the other. Danvers leaned against the back of his chair lazily, droning on and on about his current predicament with too many ladies to court in the ton.
“My search for a wife remains to be a spectacle for the entire ton,” Danvers remarked with an annoyed tone. “All must watch and blubber at my dwindling fortune.”
“Is it truly that terrible?” Matthew asked, tuning back into the conversation.
“No, Your Grace, it’s far worse.”
Matthew stifled an amused laugh. “How can it be so difficult, Danvers? Pick one and get on with it.”
“Easy for you to say! You were lucky and landed on a good lady.”
Stiffening under Danvers's gaze, Matthew pressed his lips together in a firm line.
Alicia.
Her face grew apparent in his mind’s eye, as though she always lingered and haunted him. Those emerald eyes, judging and poignant, eager to peel back his layers and see what he had buried beneath the surface. He bristled and shook his head. The image of her faded and rippled like a stone skipping over a quiet lake.
Danvers barely paid any attention. “Not only is Her Grace lovely to walk beside,” he continued, “but her family is well off enough. Good crop.”
“Do you know the Caneys well?”
“I know them as much as society does,” Danvers replied. “The marquess is a good gentleman, and an even better business partner. I’m sure your pockets are doing well with them under your belt as well.”
Matthew downed the rest of his brink, gladly accepting the burn it left on his throat. “Mhm,” he muttered.
“Now,” Danvers popped up, “the ladies I court struggle to show their good upbringing. They know less than they should, theirparents know even less, and don’t even ask me about their music.”
“Sure, Danvers.”
“Why don’t you and Her Grace attend more festivities this Season, Your Grace?” Danvers asked in a playfully accusatory manner. “Your backing and companionship might better me in my own endeavors.” He reached, clapping a hand on Matthew’s unsuspecting shoulder. “And you might do well with me at your side!”
As Danvers laughed heartily, patting Matthew’s shoulder, the duke flinched, shooting the baron a glare before giving a half-hearted nod.
Giving him a concerned look, Danvers waved over heads at the barman for another set of drinks. “Tell me, my friend,” he said, leaning over to the duke to talk more quietly, “what bothers you? Is it Garvey?”
Matthew glanced at him, taken aback. “What makes you ask such a thing?”
“You look to be someplace else, Your Grace.”
“I’m always someplace else these days.”
“Company as great as mine is hard to come by,” Danvers proudly joked. “Perhaps I might help you solve the predicament that haunts you so.”
“There is no predicament, Danvers,” Matthew said.
