Page 39 of Never Second Guess a Lord
“If you think it might be the Duke of Argyll, my lady,” Agnus’ eyes brightened, “I would say that is a safe assumption.”
“Good God, he listened to my summons?”
Agnus bit back a smile. “If that was in the last missive you allowed me to send, then it certainly seems so.”
Never so excited, she flew downstairs only to stop short at the door when her butler blocked the way. His finely plucked eyebrows furrowed. “My lady.”
She frowned. “Yes, Mr. Fenwick?”
“Whatever are you doing?” His mouth flattened into an uncompromising line. “For surely a lady of your stature does not intend to rush out this door when royalty approaches.”
“Actually, I did.” And she would have.
His brows lowered sharply. “Yet you will not.”
Some might say he spoke out of turn, given he was under her employ and she a lady, but she had come to realize Fenwick was on a quest. Or so Agnus had claimed. It seemed, despite his stalwart, haughty manner, he really was quite fond of Prudence and would see her keep her manners despite where they had moved.
Despite how remarkable the change in her.
“I should like to go outside and greet the duke,” she repeated. “So please let me by, Mr. Fenwick.”
“Not quite yet.” Agnus nodded at Fenwick that he had done well stopping her and started barking orders at the staff to revive the hearths and ready food. Then, with the precision of the soldier Prudence knew she could be, Agnus busied herself with Prudence’s appearance.
“If you intend to run down icy stairs, which I highly discourage,” Agnus muttered, “then it will be in more sturdy and fashionable boots than what you currently wear, my lady.”
Prudence thanked Fenwick for his supportive arm as Agnus, foot by foot, yanked off her shoes and replaced them with something more appropriate.
“Very good, then,” Prudence said once properly attired. Ready to race outside, she grinned at Fenwick, only for him to frown and shake his head. Agnus shot him another thankful look as she brushed lingering snow off of Prudence and smoothed her hair. To top off the look both seemed to be striving for, Agnus pulled one of her finer fur-lined coats out of what seemed like thin air and helped her into it.
So impatient she could scream, she glanced from her maid to her butler as they eyed her over. “Do I meet your approval now?”
“Yes, I do believe—”
“Good.” Making her way past them, she rushed out the door and flew down the stairs, only for them to follow. She bit back a sigh and looked back and forth between them when they fell in step beside her. “What now? I thought all was well.”
“And it is,” Fenwick granted.
“As long as you remember where this all began with the Lord of Argyll, my lady,” Agnus finished for him as Jacob’s coach pulled up. “And it was not with you acting as anything less than a lady.”
“Because youarea lady,” Fenwick reminded. “Might you never forget it.”
Where she had intended to bypass Jacob’s footman and make her way into his carriage, much like Maude had when Prudence first arrived at MacLauchlin Castle, she realized they were right.
She was acting impulsively.
Inappropriately.
So she ignored her racing heart and folded her hands neatly in front of her when the carriage stopped. When Jacob stepped out, and their gazes connected for the first time in what felt like ages, her breath caught.
Just like that, everything faded away, and all she could see was him. She knew Fenwick and Agnus curtsied and bowed. Knew they said, “Welcome, Your Grace,” but it all seemed to come from a great distance away. As though she and Jacob were alone all over again on the MacLauchlin Castle battlements, and the pleasantries around them but an echo on the wind.
“My dear Lady Barrington.” Jacob kissed her gloved hand, his gaze lingering on her face. “I cannot tell you how good it is to see you again.”
Finally finding her tongue and good manners, she curtsied, her voice a bit hoarse even to her own ears. “Welcome, Your Grace. I did not expect your arrival.” She glanced from the darkening sky to him. “Especially with such inclement weather arriving soon.”
The corner of his mouth inched up. His tone turned teasing, and a twinkle lit his eyes. “Was I not summoned then, my liege?”
She might have let Fenwick and Agnus take the reins of good propriety up until now, but she was no longer the sort who avoided banter. So she certainly would not with Jacob.
