What the Duke Wants(49)
“No! I insist! You must attend Charles, he’ll be ever so lonely.”
“I’m sure his grace—”
“Needs you,” Lady Southridge completed, her voice suspiciously strong.
As if realizing, she coughed. Twice.
“But—”
“Ah! Here is Tibbs, I’m assuming the carriage is ready?” she asked.
“Indeed.”
“Please escort Miss Carlotta to the carriage. Is his grace waiting?”
“Indeed. Miss Carlotta.”
Carlotta tried to protest, but found herself all but pushed into the hall by Lady Southridge who promptly closed the parlor door and left her standing quite dazed with Tibbs.
“Surely I should—”
“Attend his grace,” Tibbs completed. It seemed as if no one wanted her to complete her own thoughts any more.
Or make her own decisions seeing as she soon found herself sitting with the duke in the open carriage on their way to Bath.
Alone.
Actually, a driver and two footmen, but it felt alone.
To alleviate her own tension, she nodded to the duke then turned to stare at the scenery.
“Where, might I ask, are the rest of our party?” the duke asked as they made their way down the lane towards Bath.
“Pardon?” Carlotta turned her gaze towards him.
“The girls, Lady Southridge? Why are they not attending us?” he asked mockingly.
“You weren’t aware?”
“Apparently not.”
“Lady Southridge came down with a sniffle.” Carlotta explained.
“Hm. And the wards?”
Carlotta felt her eyes narrow. However, knowing he said that simply to spite her, she chose not to rise to his bait.
“They elected to stay with her. They seem quite attached to her.”
“Or simply overwhelmed and obedient.”
“Excuse me?”
“Lady Southridge is far from sick, I assure you. Disease doesn’t dare interfere with her plans. Illness itself shakes in fear of that woman. I’ve never seen her sick a day in my life. It’s unlikely she started now.”
“She appeared quite ill.”
“Odd, I saw her earlier and there seemed to be nothing amiss.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, indeed. Oh.”
“What do… that is… why would she—”
“Because she is of the mind that you are the very woman to save my blackened soul from my previous life of a wastrel.”
“Oh.”
“I believe you said that already.”
“Indeed.”
“We’ve used that one too. For a governess you’re surprisingly narrow-minded on your use of vocabulary.”
“I’ll disregard your insult in light of the situation.”
“How noble of you, Miss Carlotta.” He nodded as he said her name, as if communicating his effort to respect her wishes.
She smiled a thank you.
“Why would Lady Southridge consider me your salvation?” she asked, immediately regretting the question. All it would do was open the conversation she had so neatly closed the night before. “Forget I asked that.”
“If that is what you wish.”
“It is.”
They continued on in silence for a few minutes. Carlotta tried to think of intelligent conversation but kept drawing a blank.
“Tell me, how far away is your home from Bath?”
“It’s a morning’s ride by carriage.”
“I see. Did you travel there often?”
“Depending on the season.”
“Must you always answer so succinctly? Can you not elaborate in the slightest?”
“To what end? That part of my life is no longer.”
“Be that as it may, it was still a part of you at some point. And because of that, has contributed to the woman you are today.”
“The contribution you mention is obsolete.”
“Your tone smacks of bitterness, Miss Carlotta. What are you not telling me?”
“Forgive me, I’m not bitter. Truly. It’s somewhat difficult, being close to where my home once was, only to have it be my home no longer,” she answered honestly, repentant at her short tone earlier.
“That would indeed be difficult.” He paused. “So tell me your favorite sights in Bath.”
They carried on that conversation in various veins throughout their quick tour of Bath till they ended up in Sydney Park. The duke’s hand was warm as it covered hers, helping her alight from the carriage. The thrill of his touch was a pleasure she allowed herself to enjoy for only a moment before she released his grip. They strode to the river’s edge and watched the languid water flow softly.
“We shouldn’t tarry long. Your guest will be wondering about us.” It was a pathetic excuse but she was desperate. At this point, she felt her resolve to keep distance between them crumbling.
“Without eating? Your ladylike appetite might be able to withstand our journey back, but mine will not!” he teased, his clear eyes crinkling around the edges with humor.
“Then far be it from me to cause you to suffer,” Carlotta teased as she began to lay out their meal.
“My stomach thanks you.”