Font Size
Line Height

Page 5 of Defying the Duke

“I’m not accustomed to having someone put on my pelisse.”

“What type of men don’t jump to your aid when needed? I hope you send them scurrying on their way when they call upon you.”

As she buttoned the pelisse, she wondered if she should remind him they were of different classes. Yet that wasn’t the issue in her case. No, needing help with one’s coat meant being inside with a man somewhere other than the butcher’s or fishmonger’s shop. She and Chrissy attended parties and occasionally had supper with family friends, but she’d never been courted, so no one had ever paid those small attentions to her needs. Her face grew warm at the thought of saying that to this breathtakingly handsome man.

When she didn’t reply, he walked to the door and opened it. “Well, it’s not my place to tell you with whom you may associate. Forgive me. Shall we go?”

Dinah walked out into the hallway and waited while he locked the door. Since he was so full of questions, perhaps he’d be willing to answer a few of hers. “Why didn’t you instruct a servant to see me home?”

He turned to face her, studying her for a moment, making her wonder if he’d answer. His inspection of her features unnerved her. What was he looking for? Eventually, he said, “I want to be certain you are safe.” He began to walk toward the staircase.

She fell into step beside him. His answer told her nothing. While Abingdon and the other owners of Sutcliffe’s were known as champion pugilists, she knew they hired most of the footmen from among the students of Gentleman Jackson. Theoretically, any of those men could protect her from the duke’s brother, Mr. Hill. Feeling antagonistic, she said, “He must be quite the fighter, your brother.”

Abingdon frowned. “Why do you say that?”

“Well, it would appear you don’t trust any of your employees to keep me safe.”

“Perhaps I prefer to deal with my family personally. On the one hand, I don’t believe he’s foolish enough to bother you again. On the other, he might hate me enough to do something foolish. There’s no need to involve anyone else in the matter.”

Dinah wondered what could have happened in his family to cause such a heated relationship between the brothers. Her sister Chrissy was her best friend. She couldn’t imagine wanting to upset her over anything more than eating the last of Grandmama’s lemon scones.

The street was as crowded as the night before, and Abingdon’s hand came to rest on her back often as they maneuvered their path. As much as it comforted her to think someone was looking out for her, she reminded herself the man was her boss, and this concern of his was temporary. “How long do you believe you’ll have to do this? Walk me home, or have someone do so?”

The smile he offered her could have charmed the most frigid matron. “Why, do you grow tired of my company so soon?”

She laughed to shut off the fluttering in her belly. “I know you have more important things to do.”

“His Majesty will simply have to put his meeting on hold until I arrive.”

Dinah laughed again, then studied his profile. “You’re joking, aren’t you?”

Now the duke chuckled, to her relief. “Yes. I just came from my meeting with the King. My time is my own, now.”

“Your meeting with the King. I see. And how is His Highness?”

“As witty and obstinate as usual. He’s asked Gentleman Jackson to recommend a few men from his club to attend the coronation, and I’m one of them. Dainsfield and Nomansland, too.”

“As guards, do you mean? The King has the entire military at his beck and call. You’re being silly. I’m not that naïve.”

“I said much the same thing when asked to attend the meeting,” Abingdon admitted. “He has concerns of disruption and doesn’t want to distract from the traditional pomp and circumstance.”

“What nonsense. Disrupting the coronation won’t stop him from becoming king, since he assumed the title when his father died. Why would anyone cause a commotion?”

“The Queen has not taken lightly not receiving an invitation to attend.”

“The Queen?” Dinah tried to determine from the duke’s expression if he was teasing her again.

He nodded. “She wants her share of the pomp. He wants her to remain in Hammersmith. Or Brunswick.”

“More likely, he wishes her to go to the devil,” Dinah said.

Laughing softly, Abingdon agreed.

They’d reached her building, so Dinah said goodnight. “Thank you for your concern, but I’m sure I’ll be safe tomorrow.”

The duke’s lips thinned as he pressed them together. “I wish I shared your certainty. Have a pleasant evening,” he added before turning away.

Dinah watched the crowd part around him, no one jostling him or looking to catch his eye as he walked. Life was so different in their worlds.

Ad If ads affect your reading experience, click here to remove ads on this page.