The Duke's Seduction of Lady M Page 22

  From above the laughter Cissy Meadows voice could be clearly heard. ‘That’s a bloomin’ shame that is. You can share my bits, Y’r Grace, no worries.’

  Brody grinned and turned to Mary so he faced away from the audience. ‘I’d rather savour your bits, my dear,’ he said quietly, but emphatically. Her gasp was most satisfactory and he chuckled as he spun around to address Cissy. ‘That’s very kind, Cissy, but I do believe they made sure there was more than enough for everyone. And I haven’t really had boring food, I don’t believe cook and Mrs Loveage could produce such fare. I’ve just lusted after the cakes I saw being prepared. Now I can taste them.’ He bit back the aside he wanted to say to Mary – “as I have lusted after you and wish I could taste you” – and escorted her off the stage.

  ‘Will you show me around, my dear?’ Brody spoke in a bland voice and ignored Mary’s narrow-eyed suspicious glare. He resisted the urge to move her forward by patting her bottom. ‘Miss Grey needs to be available for everyone to question. We, however, can make time when it is needed and perhaps you can show me what you think is needed here. I have already decided a library is a must, but chose not to mention it yet. I doubt we can accomplish anything until winter is over anyway. However, is there anything specific you have noticed internally?’

  Mary stared at him as if he had two heads. ‘Why me?’

  ‘Why not?’ he countered smoothly, as he touched her shoulder and indicated where he thought they ought to go. ‘You come here every week. You must notice things. Do we need slates? Parchment? Quills? Pencils? New desks or chairs?’

  ‘Yes to all of those,’ Mary said promptly. ‘I believe everything here has been in use since you created the school.’

  ‘Good lord,’ Brody rocked on his heels, aghast at what he’d just heard. ‘Really?’

  She nodded. ‘So I believe. And things get lost, broken or sadly purloined. I do know some things Miss Grey has replaced out of her own pocket.’

  ‘And you.’ It wasn’t couched as a question.

  Mary nodded. ‘And me. Children cannot write without slates and pencils. I believe though, the school was very well equipped when it opened.’

  ‘But that’s ten years ago.’ Brody was aghast. ‘Why hasn’t my mama kept up with things here? Surely she must have known that as children use things they get broken or worn out. I cannot believe she thought everything was as it should be.’

  ‘As for that, you’ll need to ask her.’ Mary said composedly. ‘I can only report on what I was told when I asked why there were not enough desks and chairs to go around. Yes I do believe there are more children who attend now, but even so, two to a chair seems somehow wrong to me.’

  ‘And me,’ Brody said grimly. He changed his frown to a smile as Cissy Meadows, as ever hopping around like an excited sparrow, stood in front of them and bobbed a hasty curtsey. ‘Hello Cissy, what can we do for you?’

  ‘Um, I’ve been told to say Your Grace as how the tea and cakes are ready in the classroom.’ She grinned and showed a gap where one of her front teeth should be, ‘And I’ve saved you a big lot,’ she said in a loud whisper. ‘It’s not fair otherwise. Oh and you Miss Mary. I made sure you got some of that pound cake, cos I know it’s your favourite.’

  ‘Thank you Cissy,’ they said in chorus as she beamed and danced off.

  ‘I hate pound cake,’ Mary muttered as they followed in Cissy’s wake. ‘Once, just once, I ate some at Miss Wishlade’s and praised it, as you do. Now it seems it is given to me at every opportunity and I have to grit my teeth and force it down.’

  ‘Then it’s just as well I like it and I will endeavour to eat yours without being noticed eh?’ Brody said and was rewarded with her first genuine smile directed at him since they met that day. He hoped it was a good omen. ‘And if there is any spiced loaf you may eat it or put it into your reticule for the birds. That is my bête noir.’

  ‘It’s a deal, Your Grace.’

  ‘Am I no longer Brody?’

  She waggled her finger at him, seemed to realise what she was doing and dropped her arm hastily. ‘Not here and maybe not elsewhere. I don’t know.’

  ‘Then I must do what I can to persuade you. Now lead me to the pound cake.’

  She laughed, as he intended, and led the way into the next room.

  Half an hour later, she sighed and rolled her eyes. ‘If I eat anything more I will explode and that would be the scandal of the century. Now I must take my leave of you, and go home before it is dark.’ She stood up, brushed her skirts down and smiled.

  This time Brody reckoned it almost reached her eyes. He took a deep breath. It was now or never. ‘Let’s both make our farewells and I’ll escort you to your… your what, horse? I would like a moment to speak with you, if you are agreeable.’ Good lord I sound like I have a stick up my arse. ‘Please, Mary,’ he entreated. ‘It would mean a lot to me.’

  She looked at him for so long his heart tattooed a message. “Too little, too late….” Then she sighed and nodded very briefly. He hoped it was her assent to his request, but he wasn’t sure. When she wanted to be, the lady could be as poker-faced as he.

  Her eyes crinkled up at the corners and she laughed.

  ‘Sadly no horse. I had too much to carry, so I came in the gig, which is not my favourite form of transport. Nevertheless, it was better than by foot or with mixed up cakes on horseback. But now I have to get the thing back before dark. I’d best get a move on. Tulip, the horse most suited to the gig, is not the liveliest of animals. I think she has two speeds, slow and stop.’

  Brody laughed. ‘Tulip?’

  ‘I didn’t name her. She was called that evidently because her ears curl. At least she wasn’t called Speedy. That would be a misnomer if there ever was one. As I said, slow and stop.’

  ‘Let’s hope she can find a third speed of trot eh?’

  Mary rolled her eyes. ‘She never has so far, but I do live in hope. Now I must do the necessary.’

  He stood by and waited until she made her farewells of Miss Grey. Then, without intimating he was going to escort Mary, who had indeed left the room, Brody thanked the schoolmistress for all her hard work and promised to instigate the prizes as soon as possible. Even so it was several minutes before he was able to take his leave and he chafed at the bit, as he assumed Mary would be long gone.

  To his utmost delight she was chatting to one of the parents by the door. He saw the minute she noticed him and wound down the conversation in such a way no one would guess it was intentional. As he reached her, she turned towards him very smoothly. ‘Ah, Your Grace, are you leaving?’

  He smiled suavely. ‘I need to get back. May I escort you to your transport?’

  She curtseyed very properly. ‘I would be so grateful. I have these baskets to load into my gig.’ She pointed to the three baskets by her feet. ‘I do not want to take anyone away from what they have to do. Mrs Layton here offered, but I know she has her elderly father to attend.’

  Brody smiled at the lady mentioned. ‘I trust he’s keeping well?’

  Mrs Layton bobbed a curtsey, looked gratified and went red as he addressed her. ‘Fair to middlin’, Your Grace. But I always goes before tea to check.’

  ‘It does you credit,’ Brody said, honestly. ‘Tell him I’ll pop in soon for a chat. I’m slowly working my way around the estate. I have to return to town for a few days, but then hopefully I’ll be back at Welland for the foreseeable future. Now if you’ll excuse us, I’ll help Mrs Lynch. He bowed, turned to Mary and hoped only she could see the humour in his eyes. ‘It will be my pleasure, to be of service, my dear.’ He took up two of the baskets and then picked up the third. ‘Where to?’

  She blinked and he realised she hadn’t understood he was providing a smoke screen. Then her expression cleared. ‘Ah, Church Farm. I’ve stabled Tulip, my horse, and left the gig there.’

  ‘Then we’ll be on our way.’ He nodded to Mrs Layton who curtseyed and bustled away, then turned back to Mary who watched his every move
with a faint smile playing around her lips. ‘Luckily my mount is also with the Colsters. Sadly, my dear, I can’t take your arm so lead on.’ She stood still for a second and looked him up and down. Then she smiled and took the single basket from him.

  ‘Now you can.’

  Brody didn’t know what to say. It was the last thing he expected.

  ‘Cat got your tongue?’ she asked as she tucked her arm though his. ‘Town? I thought you had only just returned?’

  Her touch seared his skin and his cock, so long quiescent, perked up.

  No not now.

  ‘To vote,’ Brody said as they made their way along the dusty street. ‘Lord Bennett and I discussed our thoughts on the bills in question and decided we needed to be there. They are all a close call we believe. So many peers are set in their ways and see no need for reform and change. We both know that to keep the country healthy and thriving chance is as necessary as money and people with the nous to do what is needed. That apart, it is my unexpected pleasure to serve you thus.’ They left the school grounds and made their way down hill. ‘I wonder, does this gesture mean you have forgiven me?’

  She slowed and looked him in the eyes. ‘Whatever for?’

  Brody smiled ruefully. ‘Ah, Mary don’t be like that. I upset you and hurt you, which was never my intention.’ They reached the gate into the farm and Brody bit back an epithet, he needed more time. Being so close to her, smelling her perfume of roses and sweet woman was pure torture and his skin tingled at the scent and their closeness. How he’d missed her. Her wit, and intelligence. Her sense of enjoyment of the world they lived in and, he realised, her enthusiasm and acceptance of what they had enjoyed together.

  Their relationship that he destroyed.

  The relationship he wanted to get back, somehow, and worried there was no chance he’d get the opportunity.

  If he could have thought of a way to detain her he would have, but Mary led the way towards the spot where a smiling Jed Colster had her gig ready for her.

  ‘Here we are, your Grace. Many thanks for your help.’ She curtseyed and turned to Jed who watched them avidly. ‘His Grace was good enough to help me get these baskets back. I would have thought empty they would be easier to manage but it seemed not to be.’

  Brody cussed under his breath at the hawk-like scrutiny he and Mary were subjected to, hefted the baskets into the gig and turned to her. He bowed over her hand and spoke rapidly. ‘May I call on you tomorrow? Please? Around eleven?’

  He waited, hardly daring to breath, for her answer.

  Seconds ticked by as she fussed with the horse until she eventually turned back to him. ‘Of course,’ she said quietly, before she raised her voice. ‘Thank you, my lord. This afternoon was a pleasure.’

  He helped her into the gig and stood back. ‘I agree, it was. Jed you wait until your youngsters are ready for schooling. I suspect this is now an annual event.’

  Jed chuckled and relaxed. ‘Ah, not long now. Young Alice is fair chafing at the bit to go. Right then, I’d best be off, the cows won’t milk themselves.’ He tipped his cap and turned back towards the cowshed.

  Brody waited until Mary was safely settled in the seat of the gig and raised his voice. ‘Until the next time. Drive safely.’ He stood back and watched as she drove out of the farmyard. How he wished he were with her. Brody muffled his sigh and turned to the farmer, who had turned around to watch Mary leave. ‘I’ll have my horse, Jed, but no need to help. I can manage, and I better get a move on, I need to get back to the castle.’ He didn’t say why and, as he expected, Jed didn’t ask.

  That suited Brody because as he well knew he’d be hard pressed to answer why. In a contemplative mood, Brody rode back up the hill and into his stable yard. He really needed to practise what he wanted to say; he knew he’d only have one chance and much rode on it.

  My life. How melodramatic that sounded. However, he decided emphatically, it was true. His future life was riding on it.

  Brody brushed down his horse, handed the animal over to his groom, and entered the castle. There, he went through the motions of someone without a care in the word for the evening, and retired to his bedchamber as soon as humanly possible without give rise to comment.

  If he got any sleep it would be a miracle.

  ****

  Mary tossed and turned and as the first rays of dawn showed over the horizon gave up the struggle. She dressed rapidly, in garments that she needed no help to don. No chemise or petticoats, and a plain soft green cambric gown that tied at the front. She’d walk in the dew and get rid of her fidgets before Brody arrived. Hopefully.

  If only she knew what she wanted. Or indeed what he wanted to see her for. A thought struck her. Maybe he was about to be polite and tell her just who and when he was marrying so it would not be a shock to her. That thought was depressing in the extreme. She found a warm shawl, wrapped it around her shoulders, and put on sturdy half boots. As much as she’d like to go barefoot, it was late autumn, and no doubt she’d shiver and likely catch a chill. Not that she wasn’t hardy, far from it, but she had no intention of tempting fate. A red nose wouldn’t be a very pleasant sight and certainly wouldn’t project the epitome of cool, calm and collected she hoped to present to Brody.

  Mary let herself out of the house via the French windows in the dining room and made her way across the damp lawn before she headed uphill to the gazebo. As it was Brody who had set her wondering and on edge, it seemed fitting she should chose the gazebo to go and think in.

  The sky was that pearly, iridescent colour which signified a clear, even if chilly, autumnal day. The dew was heavy and she lifted her hem as she strode out, and took several deep breaths. It seemed that even just knowing Brody wanted to talk made her heart lighten. She could only hope he wasn’t coming to warn her who his wife-to-be was.

  Oh lord, please no, not that. Not yet.

  That thought made her footsteps falter. Fool, it has to be. He’d announced he was to be married. Even if it were public knowledge, surely he wouldn’t compromise either her, or his relationship with whoever his Duchess was to be? It went against all she knew of him. Somehow she knew that would go against all he held dear, as it did to her. Mary understood she would never be the person who took a married lover to the detriment of his wife. So why on earth was she so alert? Surely this was a proper farewell. His time to tell her not to worry, he wouldn’t bother her again.

  She stopped dead at the foot of the slope that led to the gazebo, and put her hand to her chest. Her skin was clammy and pin pricks of something she didn’t understand dotted it. Stars danced in front of her eyes and she swallowed deeply. Surely she wasn’t going to faint.

  I will not swoon. I will not. She had more backbone than that, surely? Mary took several more deep breaths and began the climb upwards.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Brody had never taken so much care over his toilette, ever. To look smart but not dolled up to the nines took a lot of thought, especially when he had no valet. He supposed he really ought to find one, now he was back and he’d taken up the ducal reins, but he’d managed on his own for so long he really wasn’t sure how he’d cope with the interference, well meant though it would be. He stood back and inspected himself critically in the mirror.

  He’d do.

  His shirt was whiter than white, his cravat perfectly though simply tied, and his waistcoat a subdued brown and gold stripe to compliment his chocolate brown jacket. Buckskin breeches and polished hessians, his fob and watch completed his dress. He looked, he decided wryly, a duke in the country.

  That’s what I am, get used to it.

  With a last, critical look, he tweaked one cuff, slid his signet onto his finger and picked up a slim box he’d had couriered post-haste from London. He was as ready as he’d ever be.

  Brody left the house without being seen, or at least remarked on. He was sure someone, somewhere, would have taken note of his dress, and commented to the others. Nevertheless, he reached the stables,
found Jason, his horse, saddled and bridled as requested and no one around. Or at least, he thought to himself, no one on show.

  He trotted out of the stable yard and grinned to himself. He might not keep a lot of staff, and indeed needed to look into employing more, but it was rare nobody was around. Anyone would think the castle and its surrounds empty apart from himself.

  He whistled tunefully as he encouraged Jason into a canter. Sadly not along the back drive where, although work had started on replacing the surface, a lot of work was still needed to bring it up to the safety level he insisted on. Instead he used the more formal front drive and then cut down one of the bridleways, which lead steeply down the escarpment. He chose one that, although longer, brought him onto the lane outside the village near to Mary’s house. Brody intended to keep speculation to a minimum.

  Even so he made good time and it was a few minutes shy of eleven o’clock when he clattered into the tiny stable yard behind Mary’s house and was greeted by a smiling stable lad.

  ‘Morning, Your Grace. Miss Mary said for me to take care of your horse for you. My he’s a beauty ain’t ‘e?’

  Brody swung his leg over the horse’s back and dropped to the ground. ‘This is Jason. Generally sweet tempered as well, with a soft mouth.’

  ‘Rest assured Your Grace, I’ll look after him proper. Miss Mary would have my hide otherwise.’

  Brody nodded. ‘Thank you. I’m sorry, I feel I should know you, but for the life of me, I cannot place you.’ How he hated that. He should know everyone who lived on his estate and in the surrounding area.

  The lad blushed and shook his head. ‘Foster, Your Grace. My dad works as cowman at Long Hill. But you’d not remember me, I wasn’t much more than eight or so when you went away.’ He grinned. ‘I’ve only been here a week or so. Miss Mary wanted someone to help out and Dad said it was best I came. There are too many of us on the farm and…’ He stopped speaking abruptly, and put his hand to his mouth. ‘Sorry, Your Grace, it’s not your worry.’