Page 42 of Never Beguile a Duke

“Nothing else has worked,” Winifred replied, glancing at the door.

Exhaling a deep breath, Winifred placed her mouth to the space between the door and the frame. “Miss Juliette? If you’re listening, Miss Wilmington and I are going to occupy our morning with the activity of your choosing. You only need to open the door to claim the one in which you wish to participate. I’ll begin. I suggest… playing an instrument.”

No sound came from the other side of the door.

Miss Wilmington leaned over Winifred’s shoulder. “Playing cards?”

Winifred twisted around and, eyes wide, shook her head. “The Duke of Beaufort was quite angry when he discovered Miss Juliette playing Brag yesterday; no card games.”

“Oh! I wasn’t aware.” Miss Wilmington blushed, her skin turning dark pink. “Painting… or drawing. Either one is acceptable.”

They turned toward the door, waiting, but again, silence answered them.

“Perhaps something more adventurous?” Miss Wilmington twisted a loose dark blonde curl around her finger. “An outdoor activity?”

A muted creak slipped under the door.

Winifred grinned and tapped her temple with her fingertip, indicating Miss Wilmington should follow her lead. “Let’s go sledding! I noticed some fantastic hills yesterday when the Duke of Beaufort and I were searching for Miss Juliette.”

“If only you knew where we could find some toboggans,” Miss Wilmington said, interjecting an excessive amount of despondency into her reply. “I suppose we’ll have to spend the day staring at Miss Juliette’s door and imagining the fun we’d be having.”

The door latch clicked, and the door opened a hair’s breadth. “There are sleds in the stables.”

“Delightful!” Winifred wove her fingers together to prevent her impatient hands from slamming open the door. “Would you care to join us? It would be much more fun with three people.”

“We could race,” Miss Wilmington said, her eyes shining. “And the winner can choose a hair ribbon from each of the losers.”

The door moved an inch.

“I only possess the two ribbons Miss Fernsby-Webb gave me,” came Miss Juliette’s soft voice.

“By the end of the afternoon, you could own two more.” Miss Wilmington’s face melted into a coaxing smile. “Imagine how many combinations you could make with four different colors.”

Miss Juliette’s mousey-brown head peeked around the door’s edge, her uncertain eyes seeking Winifred. “Will Father approve?”

“Sledding and hair adornments are both acceptable activities for a young girl,” Winifred said, holding out her hand. “The Duke of Beaufort won’t be angry with this decision.”

At least she hoped he wouldn’t. She couldn’t imagine sledding would make him cross, but she also didn’t expect such a severe reaction from him after he learned his daughter had been playing cards.

“When did you visit the stables?” Winifred asked as Miss Juliette emerged from the chamber.

“After Father retired last evening,” Miss Juliette replied, wrapping her gloved hand around Winifred’s. “I couldn’t sleep, and since no one was awake, I decided to explore the estate.”

Winifred exchanged a glance with Miss Wilmington, then knelt, drawing Miss Juliette closer. “In the future, should that occur again, swear you won’t leave the main house. It’s too dangerous to wander around outside, in the dark, without a guardian.”

Miss Juliette’s lower lip trembled. “If I make that promise, will you still inform Father of my late-night expedition?”

“I don’t recall hearing anything about your whereabouts last night,” Winifred said, her gaze flicking upward. “Miss Wilmington, do you?”

“Not at all, Miss Fernsby-Webb,” she replied, placing a gentle hand on Miss Juliette’s shoulder. “It was by mere accident that we discovered the toboggans hidden in the stables.”

Her face lighting, Miss Juliette squeezed Winifred’s hand. “Should we invite your sister to come with us?”

“Because three hair ribbons are better than two?” Winifred teased, immediately plunging into guilt as Miss Juliette’s face fell. “I’m only jesting. Of course, you can ask Nora. However, she is currently caring for our mother, who’s still recovering from her ordeal yesterday, and may not be able to join us.”

Scrunching her face, Miss Juliette appeared to consider Winifred’s words. Then she nodded, released Winifred’s hand, and darted down the corridor, screeching to a halt in front of the Webb chamber. Rapping three times, Miss Juliette hopped from one foot to the other as she waited for Nora to open the door.

As soon as the door cracked, Miss Juliette blurted out, “Would you like to go sledding with me?”