Page 1
Langford Hall
Yorkshire, England
“G rimes, tell her to go away.”
Ailis Temple heard the Duke of Ramsdale’s deeply resonant grumbling as she stood behind his butler, who had told her to wait in the visitor’s parlor while he informed the duke of her presence.
Ailis was through waiting for the surly duke to be at home for her.
Did he not owe her more courtesy considering how bitterly cold it was on this winter’s day?
Not to mention there was a snowstorm about to converge on their quiet village, and she needed to get back to the vicarage before the snow began to fall in earnest. “I have no intention of going away, Your Grace.”
Your Graceless was the more apt term for this oaf of a man.
“Ah, Miss Temple. I am in no humor for your visit today,” he said, frowning as he set aside some correspondence he had been reading that seemed to have displeased him.
He rose from his chair and came around his massive desk that was piled high with more correspondence, invitations, and documents, to greet her with noticeable reluctance.
“This is the third time I have called upon you this week. Each time, you have turned me away. But I cannot allow it this time, for you are never in good humor,” she remarked, trying not to shiver.
The shiver had nothing to do with him but with the cold that had settled into her bones, a result of spending too much time outdoors on this raw day.
Fortunately, the duke had a lovely fire blazing in the hearth. She wanted to edge toward it, but his big body blocked her way as he stood beside her.
He stared down at her.
She smiled back at him. “I can see you are busy, so let us get straight to the point.”
He sighed and nodded to Grimes. “Bring tea for Miss Temple. Her nose is an alarming shade of pink and in danger of falling off.”
“It is nothing of the sort,” Ailis muttered, touching the tip of it.
He then had the temerity to grin as he reached out to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. “Her ears are also pink and in danger of falling off.”
Ugh.
This man was such a churl.
Of course, he was an impossibly handsome churl, and ladies could not look upon his dark eyes and dark hair that held a dash of silver at the temples without falling into a swoon. Fortunately, she was impervious to his charms…or lack thereof.
She was also undaunted by his impressive height and brawn.
“Have a seat beside the fire, Miss Temple,” he said once his butler had gone off to attend to the task of ordering her tea. “The dangerous chill outside is no jest. What is it your uncle wants from me now? And why does he not have the courage to ask me himself?”
“As you well know,” she said, settling in the comfortable leather chair he had offered and enjoying the warmth of the blaze upon her cheeks, “Vicar Temple has pressing duties about the parish and relies on me to handle the church’s financial matters.”
His snort was dismissive as he sank into the chair beside her.
Despite its ample breadth, his broad shoulders were almost too large for the chair.
“He thinks your pleasing smile and emerald eyes will soften a man and encourage him to open up his coffers. What is the dire need this time? Leaking roof? Crumbling stones?”
“Meals and other essentials for the poorest in the village,” she said, clenching her fists in frustration. “You do remember the widows and orphans, the sick and disabled, who reside in this parish. A parish that rests within your demesne. Or are you too busy to think of anyone other than yourself?”
He chuckled heartily. “By heaven, you are as frosty as today’s weather.”
Sighing, she apologized. “I do not mean to sound waspish, but you sorely frustrate me. How do I get through to you? How do I convince you of the importance of caring for others when you seem to disdain everyone?”
He was spared a response when Grimes returned with a tea cart laden with cakes as well as a teapot and cups.
This surprised Ailis, for she did not expect to be treated as courteously as he might treat a guest of rank. Obviously, Grimes had misunderstood the duke’s request. Yet the duke did not appear to be angry or the least put out.
Instead, he regarded her thoughtfully. “Grimes, hold on. Take Miss Temple’s cloak and gloves. Her hat and scarf, too.”
Did this mean he would allow her to stay and discuss the contributions he would make? Would he also agree to participate in the St. Augustine’s Christmas charity ball? It wasn’t really a ball so much as an all-day festival with games, baked goods, gifts for the children, and musical entertainments.
“Thank you, Grimes,” she said, smiling up at the elderly retainer who had always been kind to her.
“Always a pleasure, Miss Temple,” he said, taking her cloak and other items.
She hoped she had not made a mistake in handing them over. It would not take her long to complete her business and then be on her way.
However, the cup of tea and ginger cake were most welcome. She had been making her rounds to the needy all morning long. As a delicious heat seeped into her bones, she had to admit that the day’s activities had left her cold and tired.
The afternoon sunlight had failed to chase the chill from the air.
The duke said nothing as she drank her tea and took a bite of the ginger cake.
“All right, Miss Temple of Virtue,” he said once she appeared to have warmed up, “tell me what is on your mind.”
Temple of Virtue, indeed.
Did he always have to be so rude?
The first thing on her mind was that she wanted to hit him over the head with the teapot.
He seemed to take particular delight in riling her.
What was so wrong with remaining respectable while holding out for a love marriage?
And not liberally giving out her favors in the meanwhile?
Not that she was likely to marry now that she was just shy of thirty years old and considered firmly on the shelf.
Worse, she had never been kissed.
He knew it, for rakish beasts like him seemed to sense these things. This was why he mockingly referred to her as Miss Temple of Virtue. Fortunately, he saved his mockery for whenever they were alone.
She appreciated that small regard, but he was still an unpleasant curmudgeon and a completely arrogant oaf. It did not matter that he was handsome and seemed to grow handsomer with each passing year. Other women might find him irresistible when he graced them with one of his devastating smiles.
She certainly did not.
“That spine of yours will crack if it stiffens any further,” he remarked, finding her indignation most amusing.
He resembled a dark-maned lion toying with a helpless mouse before eating it. Big. Powerful. Daunting.
She did not like to think of herself as a helpless mouse. In truth, she was not easily daunted.
“I find it hard to feel at ease around you, Your Grace. Why do you purposely rile me at every turn? What have I ever done to you? If you do not wish to help out those to whom you owe a duty, then just say so and I will be on my way. Frankly, I have had enough of your high-handed manner. I refuse to get down on my knees and beg you for crumbs.”
“Down on your knees?” He was giving her that intensely smoldering look again, that “beast amusing itself with its prey” regard that made her want to reach for the teapot again and crack it over his head. “Much as I would enjoy having you in that position before me…”
Why did he make this pious gesture sound dirty?
He cleared his throat. “Here is what I propose…”
Ugh.
He was going to bargain with her now? Why could he not simply give her the money and allow her to be on her way?
“This has all been a waste of time,” she muttered, getting to her feet and glancing out the window.
“The snow is falling harder. I do not have time to knock heads with you. Pray, do not exert yourself by seeing me out.”
He rose too, looming quite large beside her even though she was not a short woman. “I have not dismissed you, Ailis.”
She glanced up, startled he was using her given name. It sounded soft upon his lips.
“I really must go, but thank you for the tea, Your Grace. I shall rule you off the charity ball committee, put you down as having offered nothing for the needy, and will never trouble you again. Enjoy your cold and lonely holidays.”
He burst out laughing and gently grabbed her hand. “Sit down. Gad, you are impudent. I won’t keep you long, for I realize the weather is turning dangerous. Despite my ogrish reputation, I do not ever wish you to come to harm.”
“That is remarkably thoughtful of you. Quite out of character.” She frowned at him. “Why not show similar care to those in the village who truly need it?”
“Perhaps I ought to be more tolerant,” he admitted. “But everyone always seeks to take from me.”
“As I am doing now?”
“At least your cause is selfless. I get fed up with all who come to me with their hands outstretched merely for their personal gain. Do you realize how many requests I receive daily? I would be impoverished if I said yes to all of them. I seem to be particularly hounded at this time of year. The takers are out in force right now. And to make matters worse, there is a betting book now on me going around the ton , as though I required even more attention.”
A blush ran up Ailis’s cheeks as she realized how awful she must have sounded.
“Oh, I see your point. I should have come to you offering something in return for your beneficence. It never occurred to me that a man with all your bounty would be in need of anything. And I am sincerely sorry you are now the talk of the ton . I know how private a person you are and how distressing opening up your life to one and all must be. Your Grace, is there something I can provide for you? Just ask. You shall have it, if it is in my power to give it.”
A devastatingly attractive smile spread across his lips, and it was to be noted that he still had gentle hold of her hand. “Now that you mention it, in fact there is.”
Table of Contents
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