Page 207

H ECTOR FOCUSED ON Maddie’s feet as she showed him the style of the gentlemen’s bow that was in fashion.

It wasn’t his fault if the quick glimpse of her slender ankles and calves distracted him.

As part of his becoming a duke, he had to learn, or learn again, manners, and apparently, the way gentlemen bowed had changed in the past years.

Verity and Mr. Merriweather were both present.

Apparently, an entire entourage of peers was necessary to reacquaint him with the so-called civilisation.

“You move your left foot towards your right one.” Maddie did just that, lifting her skirts. The frilly lace of her petticoats made an appearance. “Then shift the right foot half a foot back. No, don’t move the left foot.” She stretched out a hand when he moved.

“Perhaps I should show him.” Mr. Merriweather stepped next to Hector. He made a few quick movements with his feet before bowing from the waist, balancing his weight on the front foot. “Your right hand rests on your belly, and the left is slightly pulled back. I’ll do it again slowly.”

Hector repeated the steps after him. Right, left, right foot back, weight on the right leg, bow. What a complicated deed.

“Excellent.” Mr. Merriweather patted his shoulder.

“If you meet a lady in the street, you won’t perform this complicated bow but a simpler one and remember to remove your hat but to keep its inner side towards you.

” He showed Hector the movement by using his tall hat.

“We don’t want to show the inside of the hat in case it’s dirty. ”

Hector nodded, memorising every detail.

Verity watched them, eating bonbons on the sofa. “It’s very decent of you, Lord Wentworth, to fight for your title to take care of those workers.”

“After what I saw and what Maddie told me about the prime minister, I couldn’t remain indifferent to their pain. I believe their lives are even worse than my years on the island. I had to search for food constantly, and the monkeys attacked me, but I wasn’t a slave.”

“I would have been terrified to live alone for so long, surrounded by wild animals,” Verity said, offering him a bonbon. “You’re so brave.”

“Desperate.” He took one and popped it into his mouth, savouring its sweet, fruity taste. He’d never realised how lucky he was when he’d been a foolish young man, taking food and shelter, title and wealth for granted. Never again. “Some of those monkeys were my friends.”

“Friends?” Mr. Merriweather asked, earning a glare of disapproval from Maddie.

“They would bring me fruits sometimes, and I returned the favour.” Hector practised the sequence of the steps again. “I believe they could be considered friends since we took care of each other.”

Maddie arched a brow at Mr. Merriweather as if challenging him to say anything. But he bowed his head in acknowledgement.

“Heavens, that painting is terrible.” Verity pointed at the bucolic landscape on the wall. “Sorry, Lord Wentworth, for my bluntness. I blame Maddie for having taught me what a good painting is. I’m afraid she ruined my enjoyment of mediocre art for good.”

He grinned. “I agree with your assessment. Quentin chose it.” He practised the bow again in front of Maddie.

She rewarded him with a smile that stopped his heart for a moment.

“Are the shoes too uncomfortable?” she asked.

He twirled his foot. “These larger shoes are better, and I?—”

The door swung open, and Quentin came inside with a lady Hector had never met and who clung to his cousin’s arm like an extra limb.

Her silk dress and velvet cloak were of the finest quality, and her large brown eyes and dark hair made her an attractive woman, but somehow her lopsided, smug smile ruined her beauty a little.

The sudden entrance caused Hector’s throat to tighten and his muscles to contract. He stepped in front of Maddie, almost blocking her view. Instead, Verity withdrew to a corner of the sofa and focused on its floral pattern.

“Merriweather. Will I ever get rid of you?” Quentin’s mouth formed a displeased line.

The solicitor didn’t flinch. “Only time will tell, your grace.”

“Cousin. I didn’t know you were here,” Quentin said. “Jones told me you left the house earlier today.”

“I went with Merriweather , here, to see the factory in Clerkenwell.”

A deep crease appeared between Quentin’s eyebrows. “For what reason?”

“To show Lord Hector in what terrible conditions your employees work,” Mr. Merriweather said with too much passion.

Quentin didn’t flinch. “I suggest you don’t talk about what you don’t understand.”

Mr. Merriweather opened his mouth, but the lady cut him off.

“Verity!” Her glossy black curls bounced on her rouged cheeks. “What a pleasant surprise.”

“Do you know Hector’s friends?” Quentin sounded shocked.

The lady smiled. “I know Verity, who always tells the truth, don’t you, darling?”

Verity flushed to the roots of her hair. “Annabelle, fancy that.”

Mr. Merriweather offered a stiff bow. “May I present Miss Madeline Debenham and Lord Hector Wentworth. I am Earnest Merriweather, Esquire.”

Annabelle dropped a half curtsy. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Merriweather. Verity has told me everything about you. I doubt she told you everything?—”

“Everyone, this is Miss Annabelle Fanshaw.” Verity sprang up from the sofa and let out a cheerful laugh.

Quentin wrapped an arm around Annabelle’s waist. “How do you and Annabelle know each other?”

Verity waved a hand. “We met here and there and at the piano concerts each week.”

“Indeed.” Annabelle propped her elbow over Quentin’s shoulder. “But Verity and I have other interests in common. For example?—”

“Does anyone want a bonbon?” Verity rushed towards Quentin and Annabelle but tripped on the carpet and fell forwards. The bonbons flew in the air and landed on Annabelle’s head and Quentin’s white jacket.

Annabelle raked a hand through her hair, smearing the chocolate on her curls, while a stain of mint cream splattered on Quentin’s chest.

Verity clamped her hands over her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”

Hector chewed his bottom lip. All that delicious food wasted.

“Miss Verity…” Clenching his teeth, Quentin brushed bits of chocolate from his clothes, making a mess.

“Let me help.” Verity went to use her handkerchief on the green stain on Quentin’s chest, but he took her wrist, blocking her.

“I believe you’ve done enough, silly girl.”

Mr. Merriweather sucked in a breath. “Don’t talk to my bride-to-be in that tone.”

Quentin tried to clean his jacket with his own handkerchief. “You and Miss Verity deserve each other. Troublemakers and stupid.”

“That’s enough!” Mr. Merriweather marched towards the duke who shot forwards, too.

Hector reacted on impulse. He stepped between the solicitor and Quentin but put too much strength in the process, ending up shoving both of them.

Mr. Merriweather staggered backwards, and Quentin bumped into Annabelle and together they tumbled onto the floor in a froth of petticoats and silk.

The scene would be comical if not for Maddie’s horrified face.

Quentin shot a burning stare at Hector. He was surprised he didn’t catch fire.

“I didn’t mean to push you.” Hector offered his hand to Quentin who ignored it and picked himself up, helping Annabelle.

She wiped smeared chocolate from her face. “You were right, Quentin. Your cousin is wild indeed.”

Quentin tugged at his jacket and brushed his dishevelled hair back. “There’s a reason the newspapers call him the Savage Duke.”

“That’s unfair,” Maddie said. “Hector is a perfect gentleman.”

He wasn’t sure about that and judging by Quentin’s pitched expression, he agreed.

“We should leave, Quentin.” Annabelle took Quentin’s hand, keeping her wide gaze on Hector.

“I agree.” Quentin stomped out of the parlour, followed by Annabelle. She lingered a moment to glance at Verity before shutting the door behind her.

Maddie exhaled when the two left. “Oh, bother.”

He turned towards her and frowned at her pale face.

“I’m sorry.” Verity picked up the empty box of bonbons. “What a disaster.”

“Yes, all those delicious bonbons.” He clicked his tongue, searching for a piece that could be salvaged.

“Not the sweets, Hector.” Maddie rubbed her forehead. “Your cousin is going to use this incident against you, and Annabelle is his witness.”

The bonbons were scattered on the floor, and Mr. Merriweather gathered them, muttering something Hector didn’t grasp.

“It’s done,” Mr. Merriweather said. “It’s no one’s fault. Lord Hector is a tad stronger than he looks.” He massaged his chest. “Definitely stronger. With due respect, you punched the air out of me with that shove.”

Maddie exhaled. “Even the duke seemed breathless.”

“I disappointed you.” He dared to close his fingers around Maddie’s hand.

“No, you didn’t. Really. Let’s think of our goal, which is to help those people.”

“And you.” He squeezed her hand. “Once I’m the Duke of Blackburn, I’ll help you realise your dream and become a painter.”

She didn’t have the enthusiastic reaction he hoped for.

He would love for her to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him.

Not that he’d made the offer only because he wished to be kissed.

He firmly believed she was a great artist. But a kiss would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?

She remained still, her lips flattening.

Damn. “Did I say something wrong?”

“I’ll help you no matter what I receive back because I believe you’ll be a great duke.”

“I want to help you in turn, and before you say I’m doing it only out of my sense of duty, let me tell you that’s not true. You’re an artist. The entire world must know it.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and he wasn’t sure if it was a good or a bad thing.

Verity sighed. “That’s so romantic, especially since Maddie will paint something a hundred times better than that horrible thing.”

“Perhaps we should leave them a moment.” Mr. Merriweather kissed Verity’s hand again before leaving the room with her.

Verity rested her head on his shoulder. “You’re right.”

The moment Hector and Maddie were alone, he took a deep breath. “I’m sorry if I offended you.”

The rest of his apology was cut off by Maddie throwing herself at him. She hugged him and rose on her tiptoes to kiss him. So, dreams do come true. Laughing, he kissed her tears away, gladly taking her weight and wrapping his arms around her waist.

“I hope you become the Duke of Blackburn and not because of your promise.” She cupped his face, making him feel like a king. “But because I can’t imagine a better man for the job.”

Had he been doubtful about him becoming a duke? Not anymore. If Maddie believed in him, he wouldn’t disappoint her.