Page 59 of Ruined By the Northern Duke

Then, seeing as he finished eating, she collected the tray.

“We have servants who can handle this,” Tristan told her with a frown. He’d said it several times already, though she always ignored him. “You’re not a servant, but my wife.”

“I know. However, if this is the only part of the day where I can corner you into spending time with me, then I shall keepcarrying the tray. It’s much easier when you eat everything,” she added with a playful wink.

His cheeks flushed, and he glanced away.

The first few trays he’d carried out himself, refusing to let her take them. But then he’d given in when she kept insisting. Part of him expected her to ply him with food to convince him to give her something. Money, clothes, horses—anything.

But she’s only asking for my time.

“Perhaps tomorrow,” he said while slowly rising to his feet, “we can do something more enjoyable. A stroll?”

“Shall we promenade?”

Her eyes lit up, as if he’d stoked a fire that brought her right to life.

He stopped to study her. He looked at those beautiful eyes of hers and tried to understand if this was a trap. If she meant anything by it.

Everyone in the ton only ever went on promenades in the Park to see and be seen.

“I haven’t been to Hyde Park yet, and I heard it’s lovely.”

Then it wasn’t much of a trap, he supposed.

“Very well. We can go early on the morrow, since I have supper plans.”

He didn’t. But it would provide an excuse to ensure that they left once people started staring at them.

Verity gave a nod. “Very well. Tomorrow afternoon, then. I shall meet you in the entrance hall.”

And then she was gone.

Moving to the space she had just vacated, Tristan inhaled the lingering scent of lavender. He’d seen her in the gardens that morning with their gardener, elbow-deep in the mud. The old man had made her laugh.

I forgot to ask her what he had said. Perhaps I can ask her tomorrow.

Although Tristan would have liked to remember such a detail the following afternoon, he could hardly think straight.

He paced about the entrance hall and checked his pocket watch for the fifth time in the last three minutes. Time must have slowed down because Verity was late. She had to be. He could cancel today’s plans because going out at the social hour was surely a terrible idea.

“I’m not late,” Verity called.

He jerked his head up, slipping his timepiece into his waistcoat, to see her coming down the stairs with a parasol in hand. She beamed and walked over to him, her dress brushing his pant leg.

“You’re not nervous, are you?”

He eyed her narrowly. “Why would anyone be nervous about a promenade?”

She tilted her head to the side. “Then is it business that has you watching the time? I had two minutes to spare, and I think your eye is twitching.”

Raising his hand to his eyelids, Tristan asked, “Which one?”

Her smile widened. “Does it matter? But never mind, my dear Duke. You have promised me a promenade in Hyde Park, and I will not let you dishonor yourself. I have been looking forward to this all day.”

“Why?”

“Because I shall have you on my arm, of course.” She chuckled as she fixed the bow on the bonnet that framed her sweet face so well.