Page 16 of Masquerading with the Duke
Both girls curtsied and encouraged their young female charges to follow their example. Jared became conscious of the younger girl watching him with obvious trepidation. Despite her dark complexion, her face had paled and her lips were trembling, and yet she didn’t seem to be able to look away from him. He wondered what he could possibly have done to frighten her, but was denied the opportunity to ask her when the children noticed Thor and descended upon him, tugging at his ears and demanding to know his name. Jared was obliged to answer them, hoping that Thor wouldn’t object to being pulled about. He wasn’t used to children, but he took their attentions in good part, rolling on his back on the dusty ground and waving his paws in the air.
When the girls finally managed to corral the children and steer them in the right direction Jared exchanged a few brief words with Martina, attempting to put her at her ease. She responded in a soft, lilting, heavily accented voice that Jared found alluring. Before he could think of anything else to say to her, she had moved away. She looked over her shoulder at him as she swept the smallest child into her arms and he saw genuine fear reflected in her eyes. What the devil…?
‘Sorry about that,’ Lord Amos said, as the two men continued towards the lake. ‘Keeping them occupied in this weather requires some ingenuity.’
‘They’re Spanish?’ Jared said, looking back in the direction the women and children had taken.
‘They are. Displaced by the war. Martina had a position elsewhere until yesterday. She returned here unexpectedly. Something went wrong, but we are yet to discover what it was. I expect Zach’s duchess will get to the bottom of it. It was she who recommended Martina to the Redrows, so she will feel responsible for any difficulties that might have ensued, I expect.’
Jared’s body jerked to rigid attention. ‘She left the Redrows’ employ under a cloud?’
Lord Amos shrugged. ‘Apparently so. Are you acquainted with the family?’
Jared used the magnificent sight of the lake to avoid responding, even though there was no reason to keep his acquaintance with Redrow a secret.
Except there was every reason.
‘The water levels look low even here,’ he said, nodding towards the dried mud on banks that had clearly not been covered for some time. ‘Even so, it’s quite something.’
‘Built in this hidden spot by an ancestor to make life harder for poachers.’
‘Is it swimmable?’
‘Yes. You enjoy swimming?’
‘Very much.’
‘Then feel free whenever you are here.’
Jared smiled as he watched a pair of curlews digging for worms on the far bank, their long, curved beaks buried in the mud. He wondered if it was the male he had heard calling earlier, and if so he was glad that he had found his mate. ‘Thank you,’ he said, feeling contentment consume him. ‘I shall.’
*
Zach was alone in his library shortly after Amos went off with Braden. The room was at least cool, its thick book-lined walls keeping the heat of the day out.
‘My dear,’ he said, affecting surprise when Frankie slipped into the room. ‘To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?’
‘Must I have a reason for stealing a moment or two alone with my husband?’ she replied, sliding onto his knee and wrapping her arms around his neck. ‘We are both of us so fully occupied that I sometimes forget what you look like.’
‘Nice try, your grace, but I’m sure you have an ulterior motive.’
‘Botheration! I so wanted to appear spontaneous.’ Her eyes came alight with mischief. ‘What is Mr Braden like? Do you approve of the acquaintance? Is he a gentleman? Can I invite him to dine?’
Zach laughed and held up a hand to ward off her litany of questions. ‘Yes, I did like him, but Max had already told me that he was impressed by his integrity and I trust Max’s judgement. Amos is showing him a horse at present and yes, he is very much a gentleman, so feel free to invite him.’
‘Good. I shall send a note. We are having a few people round the day after tomorrow, including Max and Sara, so he will at least know someone.’
‘You have no single ladies lined up for his inspection?’ Zach asked, raising a brow in playful enquiry.
‘You do me an injustice.’ She slapped Zach’s arm and her smile faded. ‘What are we to do about Martina?’ she asked.
‘Has she said why she left the Redrows so abruptly? I thought she was content with her situation there.’
‘I thought so too—and no, she hasn’t said and Ariana doesn’t want to press her. She’s still very fragile. Ariana and I both think it better not to make her return to the Redrows if she would prefer not to.’ Frankie tutted. ‘It’s a delicate situation. Those girls were born into wealth and privilege and never thought they would have to work for a living. It makes me so sad to think of everything they’ve had to endure. Now they are neither one thing nor the other. Not servants exactly, but not ladies either.’
‘You are very generous in that you insist upon Ariana dining with us.’
‘She needs to be seen and admired. I keep hoping that a well-placed neighbour will fall in love with her and relieve both her and Martina of the necessity of working at all.’
