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

The boy raked him up and down with a thoughtful look. “An imposter.”

Perceptive and blunt. “If I were to be that, should you be talking to me, an imposter? Would that not be dangerous?”

“A respectable point.” The boy pursed his lips. “But it’s too late now, is it not?” His eyes narrowed more. “You still cannot be a servant. I don’t recognize you.”

“Would you recognize me?” Oliver questioned the lad curiously. Most boys of his age and station wouldn’t give much thought to a servant. “I am but a humble gardener.”

Suspicion filled the youth’s eyes. “That can’t be. I know all the servants, including the gardeners.” His chin lifted a bit. “Their names and designations.”

Amusement filled Oliver. Quite commendable for a child his age—and certainly something he should be proud of. “What a smart young master you are.”

“Are you mocking me, sir?”

“Of course not,” Oliver said with a hint of a smile infused in those three words. Not many tricks would work on this child, but he thought he knew one that might. “Your sister hired me.”

Suspicion turned to outright skepticism. “Louisa hired a gardener?”

“The young master makes it sound as if she would never do such a thing,” Oliver remarked. The excuse would have to do.

The boy lifted his hand to his chin in a thoughtful manner, a gesture clearly borrowed from some adult he knew. He probably considered himself an adult as well. “It’s not that she wouldn’t, but it’s also not something she would. She certainly wouldn’t hire a gardener who just stares at the garden.”

“I was merely contemplating what to plant in that corner over yonder.” Oliver nodded to a patch that had no plant or flower. “Something that would resemble the lady herself since she has given me this opportunity.”

“My sister doesn’t like flowers.”

Ah. So that was why the young heir thought Lady Louisa would never hire a gardener. “Is that so? I didn’t realize.”

The boy nodded proudly. “I know her best.”

“I thought all women loved flowers.”

The boy instantly shook his head furiously. “Not all women are my sister. She sneezes at the mere sight.”

“I see.” Oliver swept his gaze over the garden, the roses blooming all around. He bit back a smile. So, the lady didn’t like flowers... “Well, young master, I am thankful for your insight.”

“Didn’t she tell you this when she hired you?” Suspicion crept back into his voice.

Oliver wanted to laugh. If all lawmen could be as skeptical, perceptive, and sharp as this boy, England’s criminals would be in sorry shape. “She must have told me, but I was so captivated by her beauty, I must have forgotten.”

A moment of silence before the boy slowly nodded. “That does make sense. Men usually act all strange when they first meet her.”

Did she point knives at those men as well?

“All her suitors have brought her flowers,” the boy went on. “She tossed them all away.”

Poor flowers. “Does she have many suitors?” Oliver asked in the spirit of inquiry. He imagined she had, and yet she had forsaken the activity of the London season to retire to Ashford. Far be it from him to understand the workings of the female mind.

“Of course. She is an heiress, after all.”

Oliver nodded, all too aware of that fact. “Then perhaps you can help me once more and point me in the direction of what she might enjoy?”

“Why would I tell you such a thing?”

Fair question. “I wish to show her my gratitude for... hiring me.”

“Oh.” The boy rocked on his heels. “In that case, do a good job and do everything she wants you to do. That will make Louisa very happy. She loves bossing people around.”

Of course she did. He was off to a bit of a splendid start, then. His very presence here went against everything she wanted. “What else does your sister like?”

“Scolding me.”

That brought a smile to Oliver’s face. He almost laughed outright.

He could easily imagine Lady Louisa scolding her brother for some mischievous act.

They even bore a striking resemblance. The boy had the same blue eyes, the same pale skin, and the same sandy hair.

They could have been twins, were they born in the same year.

“I believe that is a sister’s job—scolding you.” Oliver caught movement in the corner of his eye. “You shouldn’t be speaking to me right now, should you?”

The boy’s brows knit in confusion “Why not?”

“This is just a guess, but I suspect your sister might scold you.”

The boy’s lips parted to retort but was interrupted by Lady Louisa’s, “You are right about that!” She strode over to them, her brow furrowed deeper than a scholar puzzling over ancient Greek scrolls. “What are you doing, Leo? Are you distracting the servants from their work again?”

The boy puffed up at the reprimanding questions. “Your gardener was just standing about like a garden sculpture.”

“So? Does that mean you must accompany him in doing so?”

The boy scowled. “How come you hired him, then, if this is all he’ll do? Don’t you hate the outdoors?”

“When have I ever disliked the outdoors? I enjoy the outdoors very much!”

“Liar,” the boy muttered, his chin not dropping an inch.

Oliver bit back a smile.

“Who is the liar here?” Lady Louisa demanded, hands on her hips. “Didn’t you tell your governess you were going to read in the library? What are you doing outside fraternizing with the servants, heh?”

“I did read. Now I’m taking a break.”

“Seems to me you are just making excuses.” She pointed to the house. “Go find Mrs. Shire and report your reading.”

The boy pulled a face—almost like a small pout—but obeyed, casting Oliver a brief glance before striding back to the house at a leisurely pace, head high, arms clasped behind his back.

“Bright boy. Promising future.”

Her sharp gaze cut through him, eyes hot—no, blazing—with annoyance. “What, pray, are you doing here?”

Oliver arched a brow. “Keeping an eye on my interests.”

Her breath hitched, nostrils flaring. “What a provoking thing to say!”

Amusement, and a hint of temptation , unfurled in the center of his chest. “Offering my protection, then.”

She rolled her eyes. “The only person I seem to need protection from is you.”

“Then you shouldn’t have hired me as your gardener.”

“I didn’t hire you as my gardener!” She pressed her fingers to her temples, shooting him another annoyed look before darting a quick glance around. “We can’t talk here.”

“We can talk while you show me about the garden you so love.” As he thought, the boy had been exaggerating about her sneezing at the sight of flowers.

Her chin lifted. “Stow the mockery, it’s not appreciated.”

He suppressed his chuckle, though the edges of his mouth still twitched. “I take it you haven’t found the book.”

Her lips pursed, voice turning sour. “I am still searching.”

“Did you get some sleep?” His eyes flicked over her face, noting no shadows beneath her eyes.

“Surprisingly, yes.”

That was good, then. He knew the suffering that came from lack of sleep.

However, a hint of impatience clawed at him.

As expected. That hint, however, wouldn’t disappear until he had the book in his hands and was no longer standing on Talbot property.

Fortunately, Lady Louisa was nothing like the other Talbot family members he had dealt with over the years.

Nor was her brother. They were different.

A breath of fresh Talbot air. Perhaps, there was hope for the two families.

Then he thought of the Duke of Talbot.

Past sins.

Not a chance. Some resentment ran too deep.

Still, there was something about the day that seemed a bit brighter, in spite of it all. He gave into temptation and stepped closer, his voice soft, “You should smile, or it might look to others that you are scolding me.”

Her eyes widened.

So did his smile.

Challenge lit her whole face. “So, what if I am?”