The Duke of Defiance (The Untouchables #5)(3)

The earl looked over at Jo. His eyes were a deep, dark blue, almost indigo. His gaze was direct and intense, but only for a moment until he returned his attention to Evie. “If you’re invited.”

“Of course she’s invited!” Becky chimed from the corner. “I found the picture of the hawk, Evie. Come see!”

Evie hesitated until her father gave a slight nod. Then she disengaged herself from him and tore back to Becky.

Jo curtsied to the earl. “I’m Mrs. Shaw, the duchess’s sister.”

He executed a bow. “Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Cr—Knighton.” He shook his head.

“Your daughter is quite charming,” Jo said.

“Did she talk you into a soporific state?” His features were impassive. It sounded like it ought to be a joking remark, but she couldn’t find a hint of humor in his demeanor.

“Er, no. As I said, she’s charming. She told me about Barbados.”

He kept his gaze focused across the room, toward the girls. “She talks of little else.”

Again, she couldn’t determine the emotion behind his statement. Did that bother him? “It sounds lovely. Particularly the warm sand.”

“Yes, she misses that. She could never get enough of it, always burying her legs and rolling around in it.” He glanced at Jo. “Not terribly ladylike, I’m afraid.”

It reminded Jo of her adventures with Nora when they were girls. “No, but sometimes ladylike behavior is overrated. Often, actually.” Jo had spent eight years comporting herself with the utmost decorum as a vicar’s wife. And she’d been happy to do so. Until she’d learned what her husband had been doing behind her back.

She refused to think of Matthias. He didn’t deserve any of her time or concern. Not that she meant to think ill of the dead. No, she meant not to think of him at all.

The earl peered at her a moment, his gaze inscrutable, and she feared she’d misspoken. Perhaps he was terribly strict and didn’t appreciate her comments about ladylike behavior being overrated. She glanced toward Evie, who was a vivacious child. Surely she couldn’t be the product of someone who was rigid and stodgy?

The silence grew into something awkward, so Jo sought to break the tension. “Evie said you’re looking to hire a nurse.”

He glanced at her again, and maybe there was a hint of…relief? “Yes, I will be conducting some interviews, but what do I know of hiring a nurse?”

Nora breezed in at that moment. “Good afternoon, Lord Knighton. I see you’ve met my sister, Mrs. Shaw.” She smiled brightly and came to stand with them.

“Yes.” He only spared Nora a brief look, and Jo had the sense that he was maybe nervous. Yes, that could very well be it. Going from sugar plantation owner in Barbados with sun and beaches and baby turtles to earl in London, where there was far less sun and certainly no baby turtles except in soup had to be nerve rattling.

“If you wanted help locating a nurse, perhaps Nora can help,” Jo suggested, knowing her sister wouldn’t mind her making the offer.

“I wouldn’t wish to be a bother,” he said.

“It’s no bother,” Nora said. “I’d be delighted to help.”

“The interviews are day after tomorrow. Would you want to join me?”

“Certainly.”

“Excellent. I’ll have my secretary send over the details.”

Nora smiled warmly. “I’ll look forward to it.” She turned toward the girls, who were still bent over the book. “Oh, I hate to disrupt them. Girls!” she called. “Time for Evie to go.”

This was met with a chorus of protestations followed by both asking for more time.

“I promise you’ll get together again very soon,” Nora said. She winced as she looked over at the earl. “Provided your father says it’s all right.”

“He already said I could if I’m invited,” Evie said.

Nora laughed softly. “Then consider yourself invited.”

The girls hugged, and when they parted, Becky’s eyes widened. “I just realized… Aunt Jo isn’t married and neither is your father. They could get married, and then we would be cousins!”

Jo stiffened and willed the heat that was rising in her neck to stop before it reached her cheeks and they turned a mortifying shade of puce.

Evie pivoted toward her father. “Oh yes, Papa! You did say you should find me a mother.”

He frowned down at her. “Nonsense, I’m not going to marry the first woman I meet, Evie. I must ensure she meets our requirements.”

Jo wasn’t looking to marry but still tried not to feel slighted. It was an odd thing to say in front of her. She expected an apology or at least an apologetic glance.

He did neither.

Instead, he looked at Nora and thanked her again for having Evie over and for offering to help with his search for a nurse. He bowed to her and started to turn. Realigning himself, he gave a quick bow to Jo. “Mrs. Shaw.”

Then he took his daughter’s hand, and they left the drawing room.

Becky sighed. “I like her ever so much.”

“Me too, dear,” Nora said, bending to kiss her daughter’s head and stroking her dark reddish-brown waves. “Time to go upstairs for afternoon reading.”