“Of course I did.” Lady Whitmore invited her to sit next to her on the settee. “Even a woman of my years has an eye for handsome men. And the Duke of Vexen is every bit a charming and commanding specimen.”
“Specimen?”
“Yes, like a science experiment.”
That made Sarah relax, and she let out a sigh of relief. “I did not know how to respond to his inquiries. He swore we had met before.”
“Well, you have!”
“I know.”
“You are a hard girl to forget, Sarah.”
“Am I?” The observation surprised her.
Lady Whitmore turned in her seat to get a better view of her. “You have reverted back to the unsure girl I met a year ago. Does this duke possess such power over you, my dear?”
Sarah gazed down at her unsteady hands folded on her lap. Yes, he does. “Perhaps.” Her voice trembled.
“Listen to me.” Lady Whitmore lifted her chin gently. “You are a beautiful girl, Sarah. Witty, talented, physically appealing, and very young. Men will naturally respond to your very presence in a room, much more so if you engage them in conversation. You must learn to control your emotions. Never let a man see you squirm—if you do, he will take advantage of you, even the best-intentioned gentleman.”
“Even a duke?”
“Especially a duke.”
Chapter Four
Leonard eyed the sea with deep admiration. To think Vikings had crossed that body of water centuries ago in open longships and landed in a strange, inhospitable country and taken it so easily. It intrigued him, almost made him wish he had been born at a different time.
“Your Grace.” Mr. James’s voice broke his concentration. “If you look up that embankment, I believe you can see an unnatural shape in the landscape. A slope that is too perfect.”
Leonard followed his secretary’s gaze and squatted down to get a clearer view. Yes, he believed the man was right. Waves, wind, and rain would have abraded the slope over the centuries. Something underneath the layers of soil provided protection for the mound. “I am in agreement with you, Mr. James. But is it worth investigating? We would need to hire local men to help excavate a large portion of the hill. That could lead to us spending more time than I had planned here.”
“I have nowhere else to be, Your Grace.”
Leonard gave him a lopsided smile, ever the jester whether intentional or not. “Then it is settled. The day after the exhibition, we will begin to assemble a team.” He picked up a handful of silty soil and smelled it. Rich with nutrients and damp from the wet air. Sometimes Leonard thought he would have made a better gentleman farmer than a duke, for he appreciated every aspect of nature—every facet of the human spirit.
It was why he supported the arts, and why he took deep interest in history. Or maybe he and his ancestors were lacking any memorable talents and instead spent their wealth to surround themselves with people and objects that made them feel important and useful.
He shook that doubt aside. Leonard possessed natural talents—he had a sharp eye for beauty, an ear for music, and a voracious appetite for women. That took great stamina. And a few other unsavory skills. He smiled.
“What is it, Your Grace?”
“Just a private thought, Mr. James.”
His secretary nodded. “Is it the nameless beauty you encountered at the assembly rooms?”
Why had he given his secretary the right to speak freely with him? No one would dare challenge a duke as he did. But it was yet another of many qualities he admired about his secretary. “Yes, Mr. James, she is on my mind.”
“I could see that without getting confirmation from you, sir.”
“Indeed.”
Leonard stood and waved toward the castle. In need of a bath and perhaps a short rest before the formal dinner tonight, he started to walk back, followed closely by Mr. James.
“Why not ask our hostess about the girl?”
“It would be most improper, I think.”
“Why, sir?”
“What if she is related to Lady Whitmore? I do not wish her to think I am ogling the young lady.”
“But you were.”
Mr. James stopped in his tracks and shook his head.
“What now?”
“You are a confusing man at times, sir.”
“And you live vicariously through me, your employer.”
The two men laughed and continued the trek back to the castle.
***
From the window seat, Sarah glimpsed two men stride across the courtyard, deep in conversation. At first, she thought they were her ladyship’s servants, for the taller was in his shirt sleeves, his coat slung carelessly over one shoulder. But something in the impetuous grace of his stride caught her attention, reminding her suddenly of the young man who had leapt out of his coach as she threw apples at it.
Her heart lurched. She actually pressed her forehead to the glass in an attempt to see better. Laughing, he clapped his companion on the back, and they both disappeared from her view.
“It is,” she blurted. “It is him! My lady, is the duke staying here in the castle?”
“Why, where else would he stay?” Lady Whitmore asked, amused.
“But…you mean he will join us for dinner?”
Lady Whitmore lifted one eyebrow. “It would be odd if he did not. You appear distraught.”
Sarah pulled herself together with an embarrassed little laugh. “Of course not. I welcome the challenge.”
“Do you?”
“Of course! It’s just… making plans while hundreds of miles away from him is not quite the same as being face to face with him.”
Lady Whitmore smiled faintly. “Certainly, he is an imposing young man, a man of distinction and power whom it would be foolish to take lightly.” She hesitated, then beckoned to her. “My dear, there are many ways in which gentlemen can take advantage of a woman. The law regards us as inferior to men, but we are not powerless, and we should never throw away such power as we do have. So, you have to decide. Do you want power over him? Do you want him at your feet? Do you want to be friends? Will you just walk away from your revenge? You still have total freedom to choose.”
“Of course, I will not walk away,” Sarah said at once. She straightened her back. “He took me by surprise, but I shall be ready for him now.” I am an educated lady of culture, accomplishments, and refinement, she told herself severely. I am easily a match for him.
The door opened then, but only to admit Hammy and Miss Frobe, Lady Whitmore’s companion, who had been discussing potted plants in the latter’s sitting room. This gave Sarah additional time to compose herself, and by the time the duke appeared, she was ready for him.
Which is not to say the mode of his arrival did not surprise her, for though now immaculately groomed and dressed for dinner, he strode impetuously into the room, exclaiming, “My lady, your library is truly magnificent. I dared not hope—.”
Abruptly, he broke off, his eyes widening as they discovered Sarah.
She met his gaze with tolerant amusement.
He recovered quickly. “My fair unknown!” He smiled and bowed before turning to Lady Whitmore. “Forgive me, ma’am, I did not realize you had other guests. My enthusiasm ran away with me.”