Page 23

“And you would have lied to me, Ramsdale. Admit it. You were never going to tell me about Miss Temple.”

“Because it is none of your business. It is no one’s business,” he shot back. “And now, I need to get her out of here and back to the vicarage with no one the wiser. If I hear so much as a whisper bandied about her among your entourage, I shall toss you all out in the cold.”

“No one is going to hear about Miss Temple from me,” his mother assured him. “She’s a delightful young lady and explained her circumstances to me. Yes, I agree she must leave as soon as possible and keep well away from here. Now, how are we going to sneak her out?”

The duke raked a hand through his hair. “I haven’t quite figured out a plan yet.”

“I have one,” Ailis offered, and told them about her mobcap idea and slipping out with the maids. “I could carry a pillow and use it to hide my face if anyone looks too closely.”

The duke growled. “You are not to carry anything.”

“But then—”

“Men!” his mother said with a sniff. “Here’s what we are to do. Once everyone has come down to tea, Mrs. Fitch shall escort Miss Temple down through the servants’ stairs into the kitchen. From there, Grimes will be summoned to escort her into your study.”

“Why?” Edward asked.

His mother rolled her eyes. “Because Miss Temple has only just arrived to collect the charity donation Ramsdale has promised her uncle for the Christmas charity ball. Seeing he had company, she went around to the kitchen door so as not to interfere with the entertainment of his guests. Of course, Ramsdale will order Grimes to see Miss Temple into his study, where he will hand over the donation.”

“But he has already done that,” Ailis interjected. “I have his bank drafts in my reticule.”

“My dear, hand them back to my son. Ramsdale, you are to make a show of handing them over to Miss Temple. After which, you will instruct Grimes to have your carriage readied.”

“Why?” Edward asked.

“Because Miss Temple has foolishly walked here and your kindly brother does not want her walking all the way back to town on her own.” The dowager turned to the duke, the situation completely under her command.

“You shall instruct Edward to see her safely home. You may also inquire in the presence of company about her injured shoulder and admonish her for coming out in this bad weather to collect your promised donation. But that is all you will say to her. You are then to completely dismiss her from your mind and attend to your guests.”

The duke once more folded his arms across his chest, which looked quite massive as he stood there puffed up and glaring at his mother. “You are telling me what to say and do?”

“Yes, Ramsdale. I am. There. Done. Miss Temple is safely out.” She tipped her chin into the air. “No need to thank me. I do it freely, and with a mother’s loving heart.”

“First of all,” the duke said, his expression only a little less fierce than before, “stop referring to me as Ramsdale. You know I hate it.”

“But you are the duke, no matter how much you refuse to acknowledge the fact. You have a duty to the Crown and to your family to maintain our good name.”

“Second of all, I have no intention of putting on a show for the amusement of our guests.”

“But you will do it for the sake of protecting Miss Temple’s reputation,” his mother retorted, matching his glower with one of her own.

Ailis liked that his mother appeared to be just as implacable as he was. The pair looked so much alike as they stubbornly stared at each other.

Edward noticed it, too, and grinned.

“The show , as you call it,” their mother insisted, “is for the sake of Miss Temple. Everyone has to believe she has just arrived, that it is strictly business, that you have efficiently addressed it, and you are now sending her on her way.”

She took a moment to study Ailis. “My dear, you are too pretty.”

Ailis did not know how to respond to the remark, for it did not sound like a compliment.

Both sons snorted.

Ailis did not quite understand what their snorts meant, either. But Lord Langford was once again grinning, and the duke’s lips were twitching as though he were struggling to squelch a smile.

“We’ll have to dig up a silly hat for you to wear. Something hideous that hides much of your face. Edward, have Mrs. Fitch find something appropriate. A black hat, since black matches with everything. It is quite a useful color.”

The dowager gave another pointed look at her sons, then slapped her hands to her thighs and rose.

“There, all solved. I shall enjoy pretending to make your acquaintance, should Ramsdale choose to introduce you to his guests. However, I advise against your making too much of a show of it, son. Better to treat Miss Temple as one of the many tradesmen who call at your door.”

Ailis readily agreed. She had no desire to be introduced to any of the Upper Crust currently populating his parlor.

The duke did not look pleased, but he nodded.

“And I further suggest you return downstairs now,” his mother added. “I shall take over from here.”

He growled.

She ignored him. “And do be witty and charming, Ramsdale. At least keep up the pretense of enjoying your guests until such time as Grimes draws you aside.”

He growled again.

Ailis coughed to smother her laughter. He was a man, fully grown and powerful, and yet was having his ears boxed by his mother.

He turned to Ailis. “Give me the donations.”

“Oh, yes.” She rose and scurried to her reticule, finding it difficult to draw them out with just one available hand.

“Here, let me do it,” the duke said, coming to her side and making her insides melt again because he was being gentle and protective as he set aside her hand and dug the bank drafts out himself. “I’m sorry about this, Ailis.”

“Not at all your fault, Your Grace. I am immeasurably grateful for all you have done for me.”

He tucked the bank drafts in an interior pocket of his jacket. “I may not have time for a private word with you later, not if this farce of a donation exchange is witnessed by one and all. Take care of yourself. Will you promise me?”

She nodded. “I will.”

“Do not overdo it, for your shoulder is not yet healed.”

She smiled at him. “I will be very careful not to strain it.”

He cast her a wry smile, not quite believing her. “I’ll send a maid and a footman down to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, rely on Mrs. Curtis for your needs. Do not attempt to lift anything heavier than a lacy handkerchief on your own.”

She placed a hand over her heart. “My sacred oath.”

Only then did his smile turn full and broad.

But it lasted only a moment before he turned away and called to his brother. “Let’s head downstairs and set up Miss Temple’s prison escape. Mother? Or should I refer to you as Napoleon Bonaparte?”

“Do not be so insolent, Ramsdale. You are not too big to drag to the woodshed and thrash. Yes, I’ll follow you down in a moment.” The dowager turned to Ailis once the two men had walked out. “My son might invite you to dine with us or take tea with us during our stay.”

“I fully expect he will,” Ailis replied. “He has already suggested it. I thought it was a nice idea at the time.”

“But no longer,” Jonas’s mother insisted. “Please, my dear. It is important that you decline his invitation. Please do so for the sake of the dukedom. I would not ask this of you were it just the family in residence. But you do understand my concern, do you not?”

“Yes, it is time for him to…move on.” Ailis felt an acute disappointment, but knew the dowager was right.

“Then do I have your promise? If he invites you to dine with us, you will refuse him?”

“Yes, I promise. I would never do anything to interfere with his choosing the right sort of woman to marry.”

But Ailis was curious about the ladies the dowager duchess had brought along with her. She expected they were beautiful and quite accomplished, but were their hearts just as beautiful? The duke required someone willing to stand by him and support him, yet also challenge him when necessary.

The duke needed someone who made him smile because he did so little of it now.

Would any of these diamonds make him happy?