Page 60 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

He wanted to see me. Yes, the timing of his overtures is rather auspicious if he has any bad intent but can a man dictate his emotions? I feel his response to me when I touch him, his skin quivers, just like mine does.

Emma was now on a mission to find out what he truly wanted. How she was to do that she hadn’t disclosed but Joane was sure her friend would find out the truth. She just hoped the truth would be what her heart demanded.

Chapter 15

Please take me.

William woke up with a smile on his face. As he opened his eyes, his mind immediately went to the events of the former day. He could still see Joane in his mind. William remembered her waving to him before he turned his horse and rode out of her house. He wished he never had to leave her.

But you must leave her, not because of her but to hurt her father by disgracing and hurting his daughter.

William remembered the look Emma had given him. Emma didn’t like him.

She would probably be advising her friend against associating with me.

William felt like going back to Buckingham to see Joane but he shook his head.

My heart wishes to see Joane, my head tells me I should go see Esther at Norfolk.

William got up from his bed and looked out his window, it was not yet close to noon but the sun was already high. Everywhere was bright.

It’s going to be a lovely day. Where is James nowadays anyway?

William remembered sending his stable boy to Lord James the day before. Lord James had not been showing up to visit him lately; William was starting to get worried. He walked to his wardrobe and picked a thin white cotton shirt and a small leather shorts. He wore them before walking out of the room, down the corridor and out into the courtyard. He turned around, looking left and right but didn’t see the boy so he went to the stable. He heard the boy before he saw him. The boy was speaking to the horses as he cleaned and fed them. Immediately William came in, the boy looked up and stopped talking.

“Good morning sir,” the boy said.

“Good morning Francis, did you see Lord James at Eusten yesterday?” William asked him.

The boy squeezed his face. He raised his index finger to his mouth, apparently trying to remember exactly what happened the day before.

“Yes sir, I did,” he finally said.

“Are you sure?” William asked him.

“Yes, I am sir. When I got there, Lord James had readied a horse and was about leaving. When he saw me he didn’t even wait for me to speak before asking if I was from you or came for another assignment. I answered that you asked for me to check on him and to ask him how he is doing. He said to tell you he is very well and will show up today or tomorrow.”

“Did he tell you where he had been all this while?” William asked.

“No. I didn’t inquire too sir,” the boy answered.

William nodded and walked out of the stable. Lord James would usually come in the morning, a few hours before noon. If he hadn’t come by then he probably wasn’t coming that day, William decided to wait for him till that time, if he wasn’t around by then he would go to see Esther.

What could be so important it’s taking all his time nowadays?

William walked back to the house; he was going to his father’s room. He needed to check on him. He walked past his door through the long corridor, till he got to his father’s door. He knocked once, a sharp rap of his knuckles against the Victorian styled wooden door.

“Come on in,” he heard his father say.

William walked in slowly, prying the door apart inch by inch till he saw his father.

“William, good morning.”

“Good morning, pa,” William replied.

His father was the only one in the room. William could not remember the last time he entered the room and didn’t meet his mother. She was committed to the man. Her not being here must mean he was getting better even faster than William anticipated.

“Your eyes are dancing around like you are looking for someone else, your mother?” his father said.