The Wallflower Duchess by Liz Tyner

Author:Liz Tyner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-07-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

‘The cravat would pass any inspection,’ Edge said. He leaned, looking into the mirror. The simple tie Edge had managed worked well enough for the meeting with his man of affairs.

‘Are you sure you don’t want your hair trimmed?’ Gaunt asked for the second time.

‘I most certainly do not.’ Edge straightened, wishing his tone hadn’t been so harsh, but the valet would have been nudged out of the way by a snail that morning. Still, Edge should have maintained decorum.

Gaunt put away the shaving supplies and his eyes didn’t meet Edge’s.

‘I do appreciate your years of service, Gaunt.’

Gaunt paused suddenly. His lips turned up. ‘Thank you.’ But he didn’t raise his head.

Frustration stopped Edge from saying more. If anything, Gaunt seemed more distant, almost as though he was hiding inside himself, and now he took an extra moment wiping a cloth over the top of the mirror.

‘Is anything wrong?’ Edge asked, fighting impatience.

‘No, sir.’ This time Gaunt met Edge’s inspection. The valet’s eyes brimmed with mirth and then they darted to the window.

Edge’s stare followed and then he saw the handkerchief across the way, caught in the window, hanging to the outside. ‘Ah...’ A welcome warmth flourished in his body and he took a second longer to look at the handkerchief.

‘Does everyone in the household know?’ he asked, curious, not upset.

‘I would say you are the last person to be aware of it.’

‘Everyone?’ Edge read Gaunt’s face.

A nod.

Edge put the towel by the wash basin. It would be a long time until darkness. Hardly seemed worth waiting if everyone knew.

‘If they didn’t notice the first...’ Gaunt folded the cloth he used to dust, never taking his eyes from it ‘...they probably noticed the green one—on the broom leaning against the corner of the house.’

Edge jerked his eyes to Gaunt’s face, reading the truth.

‘Or the third. On the front gate.’

Edge’s grin tried to break through, but he kept it in check.

‘I will collect the lower two and return them to their owner,’ he said.

‘If you collect the uppermost one—’ Gaunt fought to keep his face straight ‘—I would take extra-special care.’ Gaunt took in a quick gulp of air. ‘Wouldn’t want you falling from a ladder.’

‘Your concern is taken in the spirit it is given,’ Edge said.

‘Thank you.’ Gaunt walked out. An ally.

Instantly, Edge changed his plans for the day. He had some handkerchiefs to retrieve, although the one at the window couldn’t be collected. Lily could bring that one to him later, after dark.

Edge walked into the sunshine, retrieved the linen on the broom. He kept himself from lifting it to his face, instead contenting himself to recall the mix of soap and springtime that made him think of Lily, of gardens and her childhood exuberance.

Then he folded the cloth and put it in his pocket. Next, he moved to the front gate and collected the one tied around the iron.

He took his time, fairly certain every window in his house had a face behind it watching him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.