The Captive Duke by Grace Burrowes
Author:Grace Burrowes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Twelve
âI WISH YOU COULD STAY LONGER,â GILLY SAID. SHE walked with St. Just in the rose garden while ChristianâHis Graceâand Lucy gamboled ahead with the puppies.
âMy family would not understand did they get wind I was tarrying in Surrey,â St. Just said, âthough your household here is a wonderful excuse for tarrying.â
âHis Grace has been more animated for having another fellow to racket about with, like the two puppies are more active than one would be. I thought heâd never stop plaguing you last night about your stud farm.â
âAs much land as he controls, heâs smart to gather knowledge where he may,â St. Just said, âand support.â He put an emphasis on the last two words, confirming Gillyâs suspicion that the dark-haired colonel had a fine grasp of the subtleties.
âWhat need has the Duke of Mercia for support?â Gilly paused to pick a nearly blown damask rose, forgetting until sheâd pricked herself that what they boasted in scent, the damasks matched in thorns.
âAllow me.â St. Just produced a folding knife with startling ease, sliced her off a half-dozen pink flowers, and wrapped them in a monogrammed white silk handkerchief. âYou know what need he has for support.â
St. Just was a handsome man, in a large, soldierly sort of way, with laughing green eyes many a debutante would envy, though his perception was in excellent working order. Gilly accepted the flowers from his hand, handkerchief and all.
âMercia is doing much better,â she said. âHeâs a great deal stronger, gained flesh, resumed his dutiesâ¦heâsâ¦â
âLonely,â St. Just said. âHeâs a soldier home from war, and heâs lonely and wondering if he endured all that suffering merely to balance ledgers, count lambs, and swill tea with the parson. I think, Countess, you might be lonely too.â
His words held an unspoken suggestion, and Gilly was abruptly not sorry at all the man was leaving. Yes, heâd distracted Christian from his preoccupation with her, but the cost was apparently these pithy insights from theirâHis Graceâsâguest.
âIs Lucy lonely as well, do you think?â Gilly put flippancy into the question.
âI have five younger sisters, so I will say yes, I think the child is also lonely, though less so with you and Mercia and the dogs underfoot. You will accept my thanks for your kind hospitality, my lady, and my sincere wishes that your loneliness will soon abate, for you are entitled to your supporters too.â
He bowed over her hand and sauntered off, calling to Lucy to demand a parting boon of her. He scooped the child up, whispered something in her ear, and had her dimpling and smiling the most coy smile Gilly could recall the girl producing.
Being the oldest of ten had indeed informed St. Justâs approach to command.
By the time St. Just put Lucy down, the grooms had brought around his horse, a big roan gelding with a coarse head and a sweet eye. St. Just and Christian walked off a few paces, speaking quietly, while Gilly tried to distract the puppies from sniffing about the horseâs feet.
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