Page 10 of An Unforeseen Kiss (Captivating Kisses #4)

“I will join them for tea today, but I will speak with Lady Traywick and help her to understand the circumstances are different here than at Traywick Manor.”

“It would be best if you did,” the housekeeper agreed.

The housekeeper started up the stairs, and Eden followed her, her belly churning violently.

She prayed that the others had started tea without her.

Keeping a duke and his family waiting was the last thing she wanted to do.

This incident would only draw unwanted attention to her.

She wished she would have thought to talk to the girls about this.

They reached the drawing room. “Slip inside,” Mrs. Quigby advised, and Eden did so, heading across the room to the far side where the large group was gathered.

She saw Lady Traywick and Her Grace seated together.

Verina and Justina sat on a settee, as did two other girls, whom she assumed to be Lady Tia and Lady Lia, the cousins and sisters to the new duke.

On another settee sat an incredibly handsome man.

He caught sight of her, watching as she walked the length of the room as the others chattered away.

Then he rose, and the others noticed her as she arrived.

“Miss Snow,” the duke said. “Won’t you join us?”

Nerves flitted through her as she saw the only place to sit was beside him.

“I should not be here, Your Grace,” she said firmly, letting her governess persona out in order to remedy the situation. “I was having tea in the kitchens with your cook. The ginger cake is lovely.”

His eyes gleamed, giving her a sick feeling. “I have always been fond of ginger cake myself. But you must stay. My aunt and cousins say you always take tea with them. Dine with them, as well.”

Her heart fluttering now, Eden knew she must stand her ground, even if this man were a duke. She had let one nobleman take advantage of her before. She would not show any sign of weakness with this one.

“I should have explained to my charges that while we are a more relaxed household at Traywick Manor, especially when Lady Traywick is in town for the Season, things are vastly different here at Millvale.”

His gaze pierced her. “And how would you know how things are at Millvale, Miss Snow? Please, stay.”

In that moment, she understood that despite the fact he had used the word please in his request, she was being given a command. Not wishing to appear to rock the proverbial boat, she nodded.

“Of course, Your Grace. Thank you kindly.”

Eden took a seat, and the duke sat beside her. He was a large, muscular man, and he smelled heavenly. A clean, crisp citrus scent that filled her nostrils and made her almost giddy.

The duchess handed a cup and saucer to her, and she thanked her.

“We told Val that you always have tea with us,” Justina told Eden. “That it would be wrong to keep you away.”

Trying to keep her hands steady so that she did not dump tea on herself—or the duke—she said, “Remember that we spoke of formalities, my lady.”

Justina brightened. “Oh, Val does not wish us to call him His Grace. Verina and I told him you had instructed us on the correct forms of address, but he simply wishes to be Val to us.”

She couldn’t help but turn to look at him. “Your Grace, I know you are new to your title, but your cousins should be more respectful of—”

“You are right, Miss Snow, in pointing out that I have not been Millbrooke for long. I am already weary of hearing Your Grace a hundred times a day. When only my family is present, I wish to be called Val.” He paused, smiling at her.

“For Valentinian. You see, our parents named each of us after emperors and empresses.”

“Yes, I am well aware of your family’s tendency to do so. My charges and I have even studied various Roman and Byzantine rulers and their wives, becoming familiar with those each of the cousins have been named after.”

He smiled at her, his teeth white and even, his cheekbones sharp and prominent. “I might wish to sit in on one of these history lessons. I have always enjoyed learning.”

She felt her face flush with heat and quickly looked back to her tea, taking a sip, willing herself to calm down. He was a terrible flirt, and she was having none of it.

“Well, I shall address you as Millbrooke,” Her Grace said. “It is simply how things should be. A mother should use her son’s title. It is a point of pride.”

“I find I am growing comfortable calling you Millbrooke, as well,” Lady Traywick said.

One of the duke’s sisters smiled at Eden.

She had auburn hair and deep, blue eyes.

“We have not been introduced yet, Miss Snow. I am Lady Lia, short for Cornelia.” She indicated her sister, whom Eden recalled was her twin.

The other girl favored Lady Lia in the face, but she had strawberry blond hair and eyes as blue as a summer sky.

“This is my twin, Lady Tia, a diminutive for Thermantia,” Lady Lia concluded.

“It is a pleasure to meet both of you, my ladies,” she said.

“I think only we young people will be calling my ducal brother Val. And then, it will only be in private at occasions such as tea.” Lady Lia smiled. “My cousins insisted you join us this afternoon. I hope you are comfortable doing so.”

Her head held high, she merely said, “I appreciate the invitation.”

Eden remained quiet the rest of tea, letting the others talk as the cousins got to know one another.

She was very aware, however, of the duke sitting next to her.

He was so large that he took up a good deal of the settee, causing their thighs to press together every now and then.

He generated an enormous amount of heat, much as if she sat next to an open fire, and she wished she could fan herself.

Having no fan with her, she suffered in silence.

As tea concluded, Verina and Justina asked Eden to accompany them to their room so she would know where it was located.

“We can see if you are close to us, Miss Snow,” Verina said.

“I have yet to be taken to my room, my lady. We shall see.”

The duke rose, so they all did. “I have some business to attend to. I will see you all at dinner.” Then he looked to her, and Eden felt her cheeks heat.

“You should be given a bedchamber next to my cousins, Miss Snow. They seem to depend upon you a great deal. If Mrs. Quigby has not done so, see that remedied.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” she replied, afraid to meet his gaze, much less tell his housekeeper which room she should be given.

“That would be more convenient,” Justina said. “And where are we to have our lessons, Miss Snow?”

“After I have seen your bedchamber, we can go and look at the schoolroom.”

“That won’t do,” said the duke, frowning. “My sisters have not used it for years. It is set up for much younger children than Verina and Justina.”

Boldly, she asked, “Then where would you suggest I hold lessons, Your Grace?”

He smiled. “Why, I believe the library would be appropriate, Miss Snow. In fact, I will show it to you now before you take off with my cousins. Come along.” To his cousins, he added, “I will send Miss Snow to you directly once she sees if the library is an appropriate place for your lessons.”

Turning, he held his hand out, indicating for her to leave, and she stepped from the settee, walking beside him the length of the room.

When they reached the corridor and were out of sight, however, Eden said, “I prefer not to go anywhere with you, Your Grace. Please give me directions to the library, and I will determine its suitability for my charges.”

“You are a prickly thing,” Then ignoring what she had just said, he said, “The library is this way, Miss Snow.”

The duke moved away from her, and Eden followed him, walking a good ten feet behind him, determined not to show weakness and assert herself once and for all.