Her Muse, His Grace by Jane Charles

Author:Jane Charles [Charles, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-03-22T00:00:00+00:00

“What the blazes are you doing?” Thorn asked as he stepped into Mark’s parlor.

“Reacquainting myself with the violin.” After seeing Bianca home, he’d found a store to purchase the fine instrument he now held, as well as music. It had been years since he played, having let his own violin gather dust as he built his sugar plantation. He’d forgotten how much he enjoyed the instrument, though his skills were rather in need of practice.

“Why?”

“To assist Miss Valentine.” He put the violin back in its case, and that’s when he noticed the beautiful blonde woman beside his friend. “My apologies.”

“Mr. East, this is my wife, Anna.”

Mark eyed Thorn. Had he not told his wife the truth? It was one thing to keep a secret from all of society, but not one’s spouse. He nodded his head. “Mrs. Thorn. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

She curtseyed and blushed.

Mrs. Thorn knew the truth of who he was, or she’d not curtsey to him, nor so deeply.

Hopefully, she wasn’t the sort who would speak out of turn. “Please, have a seat.”

Thorn and his wife settled onto the settee, and Mark called for refreshments before taking the chair across from them.

“Why does Miss Valentine need assistance?” Thorn asked. “And, which Miss Valentine are we speaking about?”

Mark straightened. “You know the Valentines.”

“Yes.” He grinned. “Almost ruined one.”

“David,” his wife hissed.

“It was all very innocent, my dear.” He lifted his wife’s hand and kiss the back of it. “More of a misunderstanding and being in the wrong place sort of thing. As she’s happily married to Felding now, no harm was done.”

A footman entered a moment later and set the tea service in the middle of the table.

“May I?” Mrs. Thorn requested and Mark nodded.

He could pour his own tea, but as she was the only lady in the room, Mrs. Thorn must have felt it fell to her to see to the service. That, and she probably knew the truth about Mark’s identity and decided she should serve a duke and not the other way around.

Mark focused back on Thorn. Clearly, his friend knew the same family. “What can you tell me of them? The Valentines?”

Thorn lifted a brow. “First, tell me why you’re helping one. I find it most intriguing.”

“Do you take anything in your tea, Mr. East?”

“No. Thank you.” He took the cup and saucer from Mrs. Thorn and settled back. “Miss Bianca Valentine is my accompanist.”

Thorn titled his head in thought. “She is the eighth Valentine I believe.” He took the offered cup from this wife. “There is Demetrius, the solicitor; and Benedick. the investigator.”

“I’ve met them, but only them.”

Thorn nodded. “Orlando, the doctor; Mercutio, the pugilist; Petrucio, the actor. Rosalind married Felding, and then there is Isabella, Bianca, then Bertram, whom they lost at Waterloo, and finally Perdita.”

Mark simply stared at Thorn. How well did he know this family?

“Interesting names,” Mrs. Thorn said before taking a sip of her tea.

“Apparently, their parents liked Shakespeare.” Thorn shrugged. “But given their father was a missionary, I would have assumed he’d give his children Biblical names.

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