Page 11 of The Duke and his Muse (Wayward Dukes’ Alliance #32)

Graham had not addressed the subject of traveling to London with the dowager. He’d been occupied with not only writing but finding and hiring an estate manager.

Mr. Doyer had been recommended by the Duke of Suffolk, another member of the Wayward Duke’s Alliance, as the man was the son of the duke’s estate manager. With the estate business in capable hands, Graham had spent the last two days writing and spending time with Daniel.

“Cat?” the boy asked his father several times a day.

“Daniel wants a cat?” The dowager frowned over luncheon. “When I finish reading his books now, the boy babbles constantly of a cat, Leopold and the forest.”

He smiled. “Miss Hayward has a cat. She told Daniel the cat is a friend of Leopold’s.”

“And the forest?”

“Miss Hayward lives beside the very forest in her father’s books.”

“Graham. My son. Finish this book quickly and get yourself to London.” The dowager stared at him, her expression unfathomable.

“Her mother was the daughter of a baronet,” he replied quietly.

“That explains her exemplary manners.” The dowager sniffed. “What can you be thinking?”

“I’m thinking that I’ve never been so happy to see a woman as I am to see her. I didn’t love Caroline. I didn’t know what love was.”

“And now you do? Because of this, this artist?”

“I care for her. She is brave, and strong. She wants nothing from me. She isn’t looking for a title or money to save her family.” He blew out a breath. “She has her own money. Her own house.”

“And seems content with her life. What makes you believe she would leave her cozy cottage to be a duchess? She would be under scrutiny from not only the peerage but these villagers she lives among.”

Her words left him speechless. Miss Hayward seemed quite content as she was. What could he offer her that she didn’t have. Companionship? She had her maid, Maisie. Love? Did the young woman want love?

“Don’t declare yourself, Graham. Remember her needs. Her happiness.” His mother shook her head. “You rushed in before. That didn’t end so well.”

* * * * *

The week before she was to visit Bartlett House passed slower than any Jane could recall. She’d finished all the sketches for the book, in case the duke did want to finish the book quickly.

She donned an older dress for the visit to Bartlett house, concerned the dowager duchess might read something into Jane’s appearance if she took too much care in her toilette.

“You should wear your best, Miss,” Maisie tutted. “You’re just as good as them, you are.”

In the end, Jane changed into the other new dress Maisie had fashioned for her from a new cotton found at the local haberdashery. Let the dowager think what she would. The duchess had wanted her son to go to London and seek a wife. Jane had spent hours thinking of impossible scenarios as to why.

Was the dowager afraid of Jane’s presence in her son’s life? Surely not. Jane was nobody. Surely not a candidate for duchess.

The woman in question waited for Jane in the parlor as she had all previous visits. Her eyes widened as she looked Jane over.

“Good afternoon, Miss Hayward.”

“Good afternoon, Your Grace.” She curtsied and took her usual chair as the duchess was seated.

“Your hair is quite lovely today.”

She felt heat on her cheeks. “My maid saw the style in a copy of Ackerman’s.”

“The same maid that is a baking wonder?”

Jane chuckled. “The same. Maisie is a treasure I could not do without.”

“Perhaps she could share some of her receipts. My son tells me her cinnamon buns are not to be equaled.”

The son in question entered the room at the same time a maid brought in a tea tray. The cups were sorted and as before, the duke and Jane exchanged work.

“You’ve completed the sketches for the whole book!” The duke looked up from the pages in his hand. “You have been busy.”

“I thought that perhaps the project was taking up too much of your time,” she replied with a weak smile. “You have so many responsibilities.”

“As have you.” The duke added, “You run your own home as well.”

The dowager made a soft sighing noise and rose to her feet. “I have a book I’ve left unattended for too long.”

The duchess strolled across the room, picked up a tome from a side table and proceeded to recline on a settee, book in hand.

Jane concentrated on the next few scenes the duke had written. “Very good. Very good. The reader will understand that Leopold could have saved himself. This is perfect.”

“So you agree that our normally dour blackbird, Iris, should be the one who wholeheartedly welcomes Daniel into the group?” The duke had his attention on his sketches.

“I think the reader would like to see the most disapproving member of the group of friends finally approve of our little hedgehog,” she replied tongue in cheek.

The duke glanced toward his mother and then met Jane’s gaze, a grin on his lips. “I wholeheartedly agree.”

There was a short silence before she asked, “How is Daniel?”

Before the duke could answer, the little boy ran into the room and straight to Jane. “Cat! Cat!”

“Good afternoon, Daniel.”

The boy grasped her hand. “Cat! Forest! Leopold!”

“I think he is happy to see you, Miss,” the boy’s nurse said with a soft smile.

Daniel pulled on Jane’s hand. “Forest! Forest!”

She looked helplessly at the boy’s father.

“He wants to show you the stump in a little wilderness by the house.” The duke smiled. “Would you mind?”

“I should be delighted to see his forest,” she replied truthfully.

The nurse sent a maid upstairs for Daniel’s outerwear while Jane donned her bonnet and pelisse in the entry hall, the duke his hat and coat. When Daniel was appropriately attired, their party, to include the nurse, exited the house for Daniel’s forest.

The boy insisted on holding Jane’s gloved hand as they made their way down the front steps of the house and along a gravel lane to the west of the mansion. They passed through a walled garden to a large open wilderness. A stump did indeed stand in the center of a cleared area.

When they came to a halt near the stump the duke said, “Daniel found the stump on one of our walks so I had the gardeners cut the grass around it to resemble your clearing, Miss Hayward.”

Daniel released her hand and rushed to the stump, tripping once along the way.

“Be careful!” The duke ran to the boy’s side and helped him up.

Daniel brushed his father off and placed a hand on the stump. “Forest! Leopold!”

“And Daniel,” she said, her eyes wet. What was wrong with her? Smiling widely, she looked about her, realizing the nurse was watching her.

“It isn’t as nice as your forest, Miss Hayward,” the duke said solemnly, “But I hope you see it as the tribute it is meant to be.”

Lost for words, Jane merely nodded, relieved when the nurse stepped forward to check on her charge’s well-being after his fall.

The duke turned his attention to Daniel and she felt as if she’d been released from a spell. Dear heaven, she’d fallen in love with a duke!