Page 66 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

“You didn’t tell me you love topiary so much. You only told me your father loves it,” William told her.

Esther smiled and held William’s hand.

“Of course I do, I just stated that my father was the reason why we had them. Now I love them just as much as he loves them,” she replied.

The gardener was done and bowed playfully to Esther’s excited clapping. The rabbit looked very real. It looked like a giant green rabbit with fur of leaves. William chuckled at the thought. The gardener was done with that and moved to the other figure but William was tired of looking at topiary.

Where could Joane be now? If I knew I would go there immediately.

“What are you thinking about?” Esther asked him, shaking him from his dreamy gaze.

William smiled.

“I have to get going Esther. I need to get home,” he said.

A look of suspicion fleeted passed Esther’s face but William didn’t care. He was tired of staying there with her. She was good company but she wasn’t Joane, she didn’t make his member throb. She couldn’t bring up sensual thoughts in his mind with just one innocent look. He was starting to feel bored.

“So when next will we see?” she asked him as they walked hand in hand back to the courtyard.

William wasn’t sure; he didn’t think he would come back here that week. He wasn’t going to tell Esther that of course.

“I do not really know but I do know I’ll be at the ball, surely we will see there,” he replied.

“Are we not going to see before then?” Esther said, turning to face him.

“I’ll try to come but I cannot make empty promises,” he replied.

They had gotten into the courtyard. William could see the Earl at the foot of the staircase, talking to a damsel. The lady was facing the Earl with her back to William and Esther. William felt Esther tighten her grip on his fingers.

She wanted them to look as affectionate as possible.

William noticed a familiarity in the lady talking to the Earl. He couldn’t lay his hand on it but he felt vaguely familiar to her, like he had seen her somewhere.

Maybe she has a similar shape to someone I know.

William walked closer to the Earl. He meant to greet the man before he left. The Earl raised his eyes above the shoulders of the chit he was discussing with. The Earl walked towards them, leaving his visitor at the foot of the stairwell. When he got to them, he smiled broadly.

“Are you leaving already William?” he asked.

William nodded.

“Yes sir, I am. I need to attend to some official duties back at Wellington,” he said.

I want to find Joane Hardwater. I can’t seem to think about anything else but her.

The Earl nodded; he seemed satisfied with William’s answer. William bowed to the Earl and turned to Esther, kissing her on her left cheek. He walked to the end of the courtyard and gestured to the steward to bring his horse. When the boy brought it, he mounted it and turned back to face Esther. The Earl had turned back and was walking back to his visitor. William nodded slightly to Esther before riding out of the compound. He was going to Buckingham.

I need to see Joane. My heart will find no rest without me laying my eyes on her.

*******

Joane walked back to her room, the book she had been reading still open in her hand. She had started to feel sleepy as she read the book in the library. She just wanted to have a short siesta.

Emma would probably come and wake me up even if I didn’t plan to have a short one.

She entered her room, noticing the emptiness of her flower vase.

Eunice had better replace those.