Page 15

“Did you manage to sleep at all after breakfast?” he asked, knowing he had to stop thinking of kissing Ailis again.

Kiss number four would have to wait. He needed to turn the heat down between them, not stoke it.

“I tried to close my eyes and rest, but couldn’t. So I read instead.”

“More gossip rags?”

“Yes,” she said with a light laugh as they settled at the table. “These last ones had lots more to say about you.”

He frowned.

“It was all about that betting book on you, of course. But as part of the story, they dug up names of all the young ladies you had escorted in the past.”

“Anything to sell their bloody newspapers.” He sank into his chair and poured each of them a cup of cocoa. “I’m sure most of those ladies are married now.”

She cleared her throat. “Yes, and some of them were already married when you ‘escorted’ them around London.”

“Are you chiding me, Temple?”

“No, Your Grace. I am keeping my opinion to myself because it is not really any of my business, is it? But it has not stopped your peers from placing bets on which of their husbands will be cuckolded now that you are back on the prowl.”

“I am not on the prowl,” he said in frustration. “I am not even in London. They must be low on news if I command so much attention in these latest scandal sheets.”

“You seem surprised. Unpleasantly so, I might add. Have you not read these already?”

“No, didn’t get around to these latest ones. Seems I had better catch up on them today. Not much else I can do while the snow has brought everything else to a halt.”

“They say you like brunettes.”

He arched an eyebrow as he handed over her cup of cocoa. “Is that so? What do you think, Mrs. Fitch? Does my taste run to brunettes?”

Mrs. Fitch had been fussing about the chamber, tidying up items that were already neat and did not need to be put in order. But Jonas expected she was too fidgety to sit still and pretend not to listen in on their conversation. “I am certain you favor blondes, Your Grace.”

He stared at Ailis. “Perhaps I do.”

“I’m sure you don’t,” she said, and took a gulp of the steaming cup. “Ooh, too hot.” She set it down and blew on it to cool it.

“Perhaps I have no idea what I like,” he murmured, “and this is what gives rise to gossip.”

Ailis cast him a challenging look. “And whose fault is that?”

Mrs. Fitch coughed, no doubt to stifle a chuckle.

His staff liked Ailis. She spoke to him as no one else dared. He allowed it because she was always honest, even if some of her comments irritated him.

She suddenly gasped and shot to her feet. “Look! The snow has stopped.”

Jonas rose along with her and went to the window to peer out. Disappointment overtook him when he saw that she was right. The sky remained overcast and gloomy, but appeared to be turning a lighter shade of gray.

How long before the cloud cover disappeared altogether and the sun came out?

Ailis looked relieved. That third kiss had scared her.

To be precise, her response to the kiss had frightened her because she had liked it too much.

How was he to fix this?

“Will you permit one of your grooms to escort me home, Your Grace?”

The idea did not please him, but he gave a curt nod.

“Tomorrow, assuming the weather holds up and depending upon the condition of the roads. I won’t risk my horses injuring their legs on an icy patch.

Nor will I allow you to ride your mare even if the roads are clear.

You cannot possibly manage it while nursing a dislocated shoulder.

I’ll take you in my carriage. Again, not before tomorrow and weather permitting. ”

He had barely gotten out the words when the sky darkened again and the snowfall resumed.

Ailis groaned. “Drat.”

He silently cheered. “Seems we were premature in making plans to get you home.”

She glanced out the window again. “In all my years, I have never seen such a snowfall. Some of those drifts must be above my waist.”

“Probably higher. Come, Temple. Finish your cocoa and we’ll make a list of all you’ll need for your Christmas festivities.”

“I hope your mother and her party will make it to Langford Hall safely. Do you think she is already on her way?”

“Yes, knowing how determined she can be. I’m sure she gathered her party and took off for Langford Hall as soon as she sent her letter, not caring that my response would be to tell her not to come out here.”

Ailis grinned.

“However, she is also a sensible woman and will not put herself in danger by riding on perilous roads. She’ll find a comfortable inn to wait out the storm with her party of friends. My brother will not be so cautious.”

“What do you mean?”

“I would not be surprised if he shows up here before any of the others do.”

Her eyes widened. “Then he cannot find me here. What will he think?”

“My staff and I will set him straight about you.”

“What if he does not believe any of you? Forgive me, Mrs. Fitch,” she said, turning to the housekeeper. “I do not mean to cast aspersions on your character, or that of anyone on the staff. But is it not likely he will believe the worst about me and think His Grace ordered all of you to lie to him?”

“No,” Jonas replied, even though the question was addressed to Mrs. Fitch. “My brother will believe what we tell him because he knows I will never lie to him.”

“Even about something that appears as bad as this?”

“Temple, you are worrying over nothing.”

She tipped her chin up. “My good name is not nothing.”

He sighed. “I realize it is precious to you, and I will do all in my power to have it remain so. Even if my brother does not believe us, he does have a smidgeon of sense and knows to keep his mouth shut. I would not worry about him.”

“Easy for you to say. But this possibility firms my resolve to leave here as soon as possible.”

“Not before the snow lets up,” he insisted.

“As it just did,” she pointed out.

“But it has now resumed,” he pointed out in return.

But this got him thinking about what he would do if Ailis’s good name was tarnished. The blame for her downfall would fall squarely on him, would it not?

He shook his head, not wanting to give thought to the consequences. Surely she would be gone before any of his family or their party arrived.

And if not?

Despite his Silver Duke reputation, he could never abandon Ailis to ruination.

Her good name was priceless to her.

Would he mind all that much giving up his freedom to marry her?