Page 28 of Only a Duke (Ladies Who Dare #6)

The boy’s head whipped up to him, and he pursed his lips, brows furrowing, before asking, “Are you going to marry my sister?”

Oliver nearly choked on air. Of all the all the blasted questions... His gut tightened at the bluntness of it. He ignored Helgate’s snicker, and measured his words. “Will you marry Miss Hale if you sleep in the same bed as her?”

This time it was Helgate who choked.

The boy hesitated.

Oliver pressed more. “Why do you want to sleep in the same bed as Miss Hale?”

Leo didn’t hesitate this time. “Because Louisa did it with you!”

“Oh? And why do wish to do what your sister does?”

The boy paused again, but not for long, “Because it’s only fair.”

These two... The siblings truly doted on one another. There was no other explanation for it. Even if it sometimes expressed itself in odd ways.

“Fair?” Oliver chuckled. “Then if she did it with me, as you say, shouldn’t she be the one asking me to marry?”

The boy suddenly nodded his small head. “Yes, she should take responsibility for you.”

“I doubt your father would agree.”

Leo cocked his head. “Why?”

At the boy’s innocent question, Oliver froze.

Would Leo tell Talbot about the gardener—which Leo was fond of calling him despite knowing he was not—that Louisa had hired?

That she had slept in the same bed as him?

Whether Leo called him a gardener, footman, or Bow Street Runner, it was enough to get her into all sorts of trouble.

Would this become a problem for her in the future? He hoped not.

“You should ask your sister about that.”

“Ask me what?” Louisa asked, striding into the kitchen like a breath of fresh air.

Her hair hung loose, and she wore a dress of soft lavender that made her seem too delicate for the world she willingly strode into.

He had seen her weather storms, defy expectations, and yet she carried herself like a woman untouched by hardship.

Her independence never seized to surprise him, seizing each day as it came, without the aid of anyone.

Many women would already have lamented the lack of a maid.

She had paused in the doorway, one brow arched in humor, but there was something else there too. A flicker of curiosity? Suspicion? Had she overheard them? A flush burned his ears, but he still said, “Why your father wouldn’t allow you to assume responsibility for spending the night with me.”

Again, she surprised him by laughing. “That is because Papa does not like our gardener, footman, Bow Street man.”

The boy sent them both wounded looks. “You are taking me for a fool.”

Louisa reached out to pat his head affectionally. “I shall tell you more when we get back the book you handed over to ruffians. Or have you forgotten why we are here?”

The boy’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and he hurried over to plop himself down into one of the chairs, arms folded stubbornly.

“Lady Louisa,” Helgate greeted. “I’m glad to find you in good spirits.”

“Yes, well, we accomplished our mission so there is little that can dampen the mood,” Louisa said with a bright smile, settling herself beside her brother.

Oliver swallowed his smile as he watched her. Louisa was a force of nature, and he was only beginning to understand how she moved through life without fear. He found her distressingly admirable.

Helgate nodded. “Please, take a seat and help yourself. The water should be ready soon for tea.”

“I thank you,” Louisa said.

Helgate continued, “Miles sent word that your friends from Brighton are scattering to find you.”

“Speaking of which,” Louisa started, “just where are we?”

Helgate chuckled. “Still on the outskirts of Brighton but on the other side.”

“That seems rather devious,” Louisa said, then she laughed. “Oh, those Furys must be positively furious.”

“Well, even if they do rule the seedy parts of Brighton, they still need to be taught that we don’t all bow to them,” Helgate mimicked Oliver’s thoughts. “Besides, they are nothing but tiny little jackals nipping at the heels of those above them.”

“A tall statement,” Louisa mused.

Oliver took a seat across from her, casually resting his hands on the table. “Tall but entertaining.”

She laughed again, her eyes sparkling. “That is true, and though they may nip at heels, they do seem like the sort to bide their time and bite when you remove your boots, and even the tiniest creatures can have a painful bite.”

Helgate filled a big pot with tea. “Then I shall just have to remove their teeth.”

“What a vivid image,” Louisa murmured.

Leo nodded. “Very vivid.”

“So what do we do now?” Lousia asked. “Wait for them to find us?”

“Exactly.” Oliver filled her cup with tea and pushed it towards her, then did the same for the boy. “We have what they want, so they can come find us now.”

“I shall never understand the machinations of men.”

“It is not for you to understand, sister,” Leo intoned in his wisest voice.

Oliver chuckled as Louisa shot a glare at her brother and pinched his cheeks. “It’s not for boys to understand either.”

“But it is for them to learn,” Helgate offered slyly.

“Do not put such thoughts in his head!” Louisa redirected her glare to their host.

Helgate gave an innocent shrug. “I believe it might be instinctual to us.”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Oliver said to his friend before the lady across from him leaped up to box some ears. “It all depends on the man.”

“That is true as well,” Helgate relented, placing the spread on the table before taking a seat, and the kitchen fell into a pleasant silence as they busied themselves filling their stomachs.

After a moment, Leo asked, “Shall we go fishing again today?”

“Sure, why not?” Helgate said. “It’s not as though we are hiding.” He looked to Oliver. “What about you? Will you and the lady be joining us?”

Oliver glanced at Lady Louisa, who shook her head. “Me, fishing? I do not torture myself in such a manner. Besides, I’m not sure I need to be here waiting alongside you for those rough fellows to return.”

Oliver frowned. “You wish to return to Ashford?”

“No!” Leo exclaimed. “I wish to go fishing.”

Louisa exhaled, reaching for her tea. “You can go fishing, I shall not stop you. That is,” she glanced at Helgate, “if Mr. Helgate doesn’t mind your continued presence in his home. Otherwise, you can go fishing in the pond at home.”

The boy pouted, sending a pleading look at Helgate. “Of course, you are welcome to stay as long as you want, Little Leo.”

The boy beamed at his sister.

Oliver almost felt sorry for his friend, but he felt certainly sorry for himself.

If Louisa insisted on returning home, there was no way he would allow her to do so alone.

Those brothers were looking for them, and while they might have a bit of the upper hand now, if the Furys found her and decided to take her as leverage— kidnap her for leverage—Oliver didn’t know what he would do.

There would be hell to pay.