Page 6 of Duchess By Accident (The Matchmaker’s Scheme #5)

Chapter Six

“ A nd what exactly are you doing under there?” Adrian asked, peering under the desk in his study, a few hours after his talk with Lady Natalie.

Melody peered back at him, clutching a small doll to her chest. Adrian had spent the last hour looking for his daughter, checking all of her usual spots and growing more and more concerned.

He let the wave of relief wash over him, and kept his face as neutral as possible as he knelt down beside her.

“Hiding.” Melody replied simply.

“Why?” Adrian asked.

Melody shook her head. “It is Thursday. You are supposed to be home on Thursdays.”

“I had some urgent business to take care of.” Adrian explained. “I have been away on Thursdays before now.”

“But not for a long time,” Melody pointed out. “Nanny Green says I must get used to change.”

“She is right. Change is a part of life.”

“But I do not like it.”

“Sometimes, we have to do things we do not like. And sometimes change can be good.”

“Like what?”

“Well, you know that I did not remarry after your mother… passed away.”

Melody nodded. “Nanny says it is good for men to have a wife. And that I need a mother.”

Adrian suppressed the stab of irritation. “And what do you think?”

Melody paused. “Well… I think maybe a wife would be good for you. Everyone says a man needs one, so you should have one.”

“Then you will be pleased to know I have found one.” Adrian said.

“Are you in love?” She frowned at him.

Adrian always tried very hard not to lie to his daughter, and decided to sidestep the question. She is too young to learn the truth of the world. “I think she will be a wonderful addition to our family. And that it will be good to have a woman’s touch about the house.”

“But Mrs. Hawthorne is a woman.” Melody pointed out.

“A younger woman than our housekeeper.” Adrian explained, tugging at his collar.

“Mrs. Hawthorn is very old.” Melody nodded sagely.

“Do not let her hear you say that, she will be terribly offended.” He glanced over his shoulder as he added in a stage whisper. “She is rather sensitive.”

Her frown deepened. “But it is true.”

“I know, but women do not like to be reminded of this fact.” Adrian explained.

“Is this the kind of thing a mother would teach me?” Melody asked.

“I suppose.” Adrian shrugged. “We shall just have to find out.”

Melody contemplated his words, chewing on her bottom lip. “Is she as young as Cook?”

His cook was in her late thirties, younger than Mrs. Hawthorne, but still older than Lady Natalie by a significant margin. Adrian shook his head.

“She is closer to my own age.” He said. “A little younger than me.”

Her eyes widened. “Will she understand about hug days?”

“Of course.” He nodded. “I will make sure she understands.”

There were several long moments of silence. Adrian watched his daughter carefully as she tugged at a loose thread on her doll’s dress. She was clearly thinking.

Eventually she said, in a voice so small he almost could not hear her. “What if she does not like me?”

“No one could dislike you.” He replied, ignoring the twist of pain in his heart.

She said sadly, “Timothy does not like me.”

“The baker’s boy?” Adrian clamped down hard on his anger. Vile child.

Melody nodded.

“That boy was eating a pie made out of mud the other day. I would not trust his opinion on anything.” He made a dismissive gesture. “I am sure she will love you, as you will no doubt love her.”

“And like you love her.” Melody added.

Adrian smiled, swallowing his discomfort “Actually, you have already met her. So I know she likes you.”

“I have?” Melody canted her head towards him.

He nodded, grateful that she was still talking to him. “Do you remember the woman you met yesterday, who you bumped into?”

“You knew about that?” She shrank further under his desk.

“I know everything.” He replied simply.

“Am I in trouble?” Melody asked.

Adrian paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. “Well, you are not supposed to talk to strangers. I have told you that it can be dangerous.”

“I know.” Melody bit her lip. “But other people talk to strangers.”

“And are they the daughters of powerful dukes?” Adrian gave her a hard look.

“No.” Melody frowned.

“Exactly.” Adrian shook his head. “The world is not a kind place, little one. And you must learn to be more discerning with your trust.”

Melody nodded. “I will try.”

“We shall forgive it, just this once.” Adrian held out his fingertips and she pressed hers against his, looking relieved.

“Thank you.” Melody said. “Is Natalie Rokesby who is coming to live with us?”

“Yes. Lady Natalie will be my wife.” Adrian nodded.

“Will I have to call her Lady Natalie? Or should I call her mother?” Melody asked.

“I suppose you shall have to ask her.” Adrian smiled, wondering how Lady Natalie would react to his daughter calling her mother.

“She was very pretty. And nice.” Melody said.

Adrian felt relief wash over him. “Then you will not mind her living with us?”

“Will I have to share my room?” Melody asked.

He shook his head, running a hand through his hair. “No. She will have her own rooms.”

“Oh. Good.” Melody tugged at another strand on her doll’s dress. “What if you love her more than me?”

“I could never love another more than I love you.” He said emphatically. And are you not worried you will fall in love with me?

Lady Natalie’s words floated into his mind. There was no fear of him loving her. He saw no use for it, but he was not about to tell that to Melody.

“Will I have to go to church?” she asked.

“No. We thought we would get married here.” He gestured around them.

“In your office?” Melody frowned.

“We shall erect a tent in the garden. I think it will be too crowded in my office.” Adrian smiled encouragingly at her. “And you will get a lovely new dress. That will be exciting, won’t it?”

“I suppose.” Melody said. “Will I have to go to the modiste?”

“I can have her come here.” Adrian offered, sensing his daughter’s hesitation.

She nodded thoughtfully. “I think that would be better.”

“Do you have any other questions?” he asked.

Melody shook her head.

“Shall we stop hiding under the desk?” Adrian stood up, stretching to relieve the knot in his shoulders.

A moment later his daughter appeared. She looked up at him and for an instant, he thought she would ask for him to hold her. But she did not.

The ease and light of their conversation faded, and he watched as she seemed to draw in on herself. She let out a yawn, and glanced towards the door.

“You should go to bed.” Adrian ruffled her hair affectionately. “I will see you in the morning.”

“Good night father.” Melody pressed her finger tips to his again.

“Good night, Melody.” He moved back to his desk, and then said, “would you ask Nanny Green to come and see me after she has tucked you in?”

“Yes.” Melody nodded and departed.

A short while later, there was a knock at the door, and then the familiar face of his daughter’s nanny appeared.

“Lady Melody said you wished to see me, your Grace?” the woman curtseyed.

“Yes, I do.” Adrian stood up and moved towards the woman. “Why was my daughter talking to the baker’s boy?”

“Timothy? He often joins his father when they’re delivering bread.” Nanny Green’s brow furrowed. “You’ve encouraged her to do so many unusual things, I did not see any harm in them speaking.”

“Clearly you did not, or the little cretin would not have been able to be so rude to her.” Adrian ground his teeth.

“He was rude to her?” Nanny Green looked shocked. “He is a little grubby to be sure, but I have always found him to be a delightful child.”

“Are you suggesting my daughter is a liar?” Adrian’s voice was dangerously soft.

“Of course not, Your Grace. Just… Well, sometimes children can misunderstand things.” Nanny Green caught sight of his face and hastily added. “Though if he was rude to her, I shall talk to Tom and ask him to make him apologise.”

“I do not want him anywhere near my daughter.” Adrian made a dismissive gesture. “And I expect you to have greater care with the kind of riff raff you expose her to.”

“Yes, your Grace.” Nanny Green swallowed.

“I do not want her in the kitchens, not when the baker is making his deliveries.” Adrian scowled. “She should not be in the kitchens at all if no one will keep an eye on her.”

“But I had hoped it might encourage her to eat.” Nanny Green said.

“And clearly it has not.” Adrian retorted. “I do not want to keep hearing about my daughter interacting with every Tom, Dick and Harry under the son. I have told you more than enough times that she should be kept away from strangers as much as possible. If you are incapable of watching her, then I may have to think about finding someone more capable of the task.”

“She is young, your Grace. She needs to be allowed to stretch her wings.” Nanny Green said.

Adrian fixed her with a hard look, his voice full of ice. “No. She is a child. And I will not risk any harm coming to her.”

Nanny Green opened her mouth, but Adrian continued before she could say anything. “You know what the wagging mouths of the Ton are like. You know how they circle about like vultures. Desperate for something to write in their gossip rags. Would you like to see her name plastered all about the town to see?”

“Of course not, Your Grace.” Nanny Green shook her head. “But they have no reason to do so, Lady Melody is a child.”

“She is my child.” Adrian gave her a significant look. “How many men like me have had their children used against them? I do not care about my own reputation. But I do care what they might say about her.”

“Of course, your Grace.” Nanny Green nodded.

Adrian could hear the confusion in her voice but he did not care. He did not need to explain himself, did not care if he seemed paranoid.

“You may leave, Nanny Green.” He waved her towards the door.

“Thank you, your Grace.” She curtseyed and left.

“Oh, and Nanny… You will be pleased to know I have found myself a wife.” Adrian watched as the woman froze, like a deer in headlights. “Apparently you have been telling Melody how much I needed one.”

The woman said nothing and Adrian continued. “In future, keep your thoughts and opinions on my personal life to yourself. I would hate to need to find a new, more circumspect governess.”

“Of course, your Grace.” She left the room without saying another word.

Adrian leaned back in his chair and poured himself a whiskey.

Everything is exactly as it should be.

I am the one in control.