Lord Love a Duke (6 page)

Lady Miranda got up from her stool and
peered into the pot that had been removed from the fire peg. She
dipped the spoon and tested the viscosity. With a shout of joy she
declared it thickened and the ladies both sighed in relief.

"Then we shall hide the brandy and bugger
with Jonas' port so it will be the only available spirit. Now, you
snuff the fire while I gather our supplies," directed Miranda.
Juliet grabbed the basin of water and poured it over the glowing
coals. The dying fire hissed as smoke billowed out of the hearth
and into the cabin. She jumped back from the grate and turned to
her friend.

"Oh, Jules! Your face is covered in soot!
What a lark! I wish we had a looking glass."

Juliet smiled ruefully and futilely wiped an
equally sooty hand over her grimy cheek. "Be glad we do not,
dearest, for you are flushed red as a rose and wet as a cat in the
rain. I imagine we both like quite pitiful." Her brow suddenly
wrinkled and her mouth formed an 'o' of alarm. "I just realized
something. How are we to get past any guests or servants looking as
we do? We are in complete dishabille."

Miranda licked the syrup-covered spoon then
looked panic-stricken over Juliet's thought of an unforeseen
complication. Their families believed them at Belle Rèverie,
ostensibly retrieving forgotten items for Juliet. As they had been
traveling the paths between the two homes for so many years their
lengthy absence this afternoon was likely to go unremarked. To
return with their appearance in shambles would not. Juliet moved
about the cabin, shutting windows and returning things to rights,
when she remembered the stream that ran along part of this property
line.

"I have it! Let us go for a dip in Cobble
Creek and blame that for our disarray." Juliet grabbed the pot and
poured the syrup into a small bowl then used water from the cistern
outside the door to rinse off the pan and spoon.

"That's perfect," exclaimed Miranda. "We
shall kill two birds with the one stone and allow the syrup to
cool.” She looked around the cabin. “I think everything has been
returned to order. Are we ready for a swim?"

Juliet looked at Miranda and began to laugh
in earnest, holding her sides. “Miranda, have you been eating our
syrup?” she asked when she caught her breath.

Miranda's face fell with the realization of
what she did. “Oh no! I licked the spoon! Is my mouth the color
that I think it?” She stuck out her tongue and Juliet began
laughing anew. Miranda's tongue and teeth were a shocking shade of
violet-blue. Juliet told her friend as much and Miranda ran to the
cistern and began to vigorously scrub her teeth with a clean cloth,
rinse her mouth with the fresh water, then swish and spit like a
sailor.

“Now that's some dignified and ladylike
behavior! Too bad your brother is not witness to this, or better
yet, your potential suitors. I shall be sure to extol throughout
the week your ability to spit prodigiously.”

Miranda looked up from her ministrations and
glared hotly at her friend. “You most certainly will not. I
remember a time, as I know your poor mother will, when you spat
from the terrace onto unsuspecting guests below at a garden party
at your Town house. It was not that many years ago, if memory
serves.”

Juliet flushed involuntarily at the reminder
of her past ill behavior, and stuck her tongue out at her friend
for reminding her of it. Miranda returned the action back and
Juliet noticed that the blue had faded to a much less shocking and
paler shade, and she informed her friend thus.

“Well, thank heavens. I only wasted half the
contents of the well to clear it up. At least we know the syrup
works, and that it will come off with copious amounts of scrubbing
and rinsing.”

“There is that small accomplishment, I
suppose.” Juliet glanced around the cabin that her father and
brothers had used to clean fish and as refuge during sudden storms.
It looked as if their presence had never been, save for the
remnants of the fire in the hearth. Juliet was not going to clean
that mess, but she did move some wood and kindling into the kitchen
area so it would be dry for anyone needing to use the cabin.

Miranda laid a cloth over the syrup bowl and
carried it out of the door. Juliet followed, securing the latch,
and they made for the stream. Not even bothering to remove any
clothes, as they had been completely sweated through, the ladies
eased into the water. They proceeded to scrub their faces and
remove the soot, and any other evidence of their previous
activities. The water was almost painfully cold to their overheated
bodies, but they quickly acclimatised and floated on their backs in
a deeper stretch of the stream, enjoying the coolness of the water
as it seeped into their clothing. They were blissfully unaware of
time and situation until the loud snort of a horse alerted them
they were no longer alone.

"I say, I seem to have found two lovely sea
creatures," rang out the voice of Lord Aylesford. The ladies were
startled and dropped to their knees in the shallow water. Juliet
was pleased to notice the Earl kept a proper distance and averted
his eyes respectfully. Miranda was less accommodating of the
presence of brother's friends.

"Well, if it isn't the esteemed Lords of
Oxford." The gentlemen collectively winced at the sobriquet. "If
there is a damsel in peril of ruin you all cannot help but to
ferret her out, it seems. Jonas!” she yelled, “Call off the pack!
There are ladies enjoying a swim, and we require your presence
elsewhere, if you please."

The Duke rode up from the back at the sound
of his sister's voice. Taking in the scene he could not refrain
from responding in kind.

"I did not think ladies enjoyed such
pastimes as this, that ladies were more inclined toward embroidery,
flower arranging, and shopping. Swimming in streams has always
seemed to be the occupation of boys and hoydens."

A startled gasp was wrenched from Juliet and
she stood, hands on hips, heedless of the picture her plastered
gown and dripping tresses made. She gave a mocking curtsey. "Your
Grace. My lords.” She made the titles sound like accusations. “You
go too far with your speech. Be the gentlemen your titles bear
witness of and remove yourselves."

The gentlemen had the decency to look
abashed at the set down while the Duke was struck mute by her wet
form. Jonas was suddenly aware that not only did he not want his
friends to see his sister, he did not want them to see Juliet, but
it was not brotherly protection that he felt for the latter. He
turned his mount and indicated they would acquiesce and leave. He
looked back over his shoulder to see Juliet still glared in his
direction. He tipped his hat in acknowledgment.

"My lady, we beg forgiveness. We will leave
but shall remain close enough to see you safely returned to the
manor.” He addressed his sister but Juliet felt the heat from his
gaze on her alone. “Please prepare yourselves and head for home,
Random."

"Lady Juliet, a message has arrived from
Belle Rêverie." Hastings held out a silver tray bearing a missive
on ivory paper. Juliet and Miranda had hastened home from their
cooking adventure. Having washed in the creek, they opted to dress
quickly in an effort to be present for lunch. They reached the
dining room in time to enjoy a light repast of sandwiches and fruit
before the ladies and gentlemen separated for the afternoon.

Most of the ladies sat on the front lawn,
under the pretense of doing needlework but actually covertly
watching the gentlemen playing billiards inside. The chairs had
been placed on a grassy knoll overlooking the gardens, which served
as the perfect vantage point to see and be seen. Juliet broke the
seal on her missive and immediately her silver eyes sparkled with
pleasure. She jumped up, relating the contents of her note to the
group before returning to the house to approach the Duke. He was
absent from his friends and instead she found him working in his
study.

"Your Grace, I sent for my horse and she has
arrived outside. Might I trouble you for a stall to house her
during my stay?"

Jonas looked up from his ledger and papers
and studied her excited countenance. "But of course you may have a
stall. Allow me to accompany you to the stables."

"Oh, that is quit unnecessary, I assure you.
I can instruct a groom to assist me." She immediately turned to
leave.

He rose from his seat, laying aside his
work. "I insist, my lady." He indicated with his hand for her to
lead and he followed her out of the library and into the hall. She
stopped, turning to make a request of a nearby footman.

"Thomas, will you please fetch my riding
gloves?" The footman nodded and departed per her request. She faced
the Duke again. "Please, Your Grace, I do not mind to go
unaccompanied. I am perhaps as familiar with your grounds and
stables as my own."

He looked at her with an expression she
could not identify before he responded. "I assure you I do not mind
the task. In fact, I was looking for just such an opportunity to
assuage my boredom from work. But as you have stated twice now that
my company is unnecessary, I must ask if it is also unwanted. I
would by no means wish to make you suffer my presence."

Juliet looked shocked at the idea then
flushed with embarrassment. "Your Grace, I must apologize. I only
meant you need not concern yourself with such a mundane task. I
would be happy to provide you some entertainment, although you may
find your boredom will not be alleviated thus."

Jonas laughed but gave her a quizzical look.
"Lady Juliet, you continually surprise me. I have never met a
female so disinclined to flatter herself as you. I am confident I
shall survive the ennui of your company. The truer question is
whether you shall survive mine."

She chuckled in return and some of her
obvious discomfort eased, although her heart pounded with
anticipation, the cause of which she could not fathom. "It seems we
both offer such low expectations that we are sure to surpass them.
If you are determined to come then I am determined to allow it."
She gave him a saucy smile as Thomas arrived with her gloves. The
Duke stepped in front of her and returned her bonnet to her head
from its resting place hanging down her back. Juliet thought her
skin felt scorched where his hands briefly brushed her neck as he
retied her bow. She murmured her thanks and moved toward the
door.

Hastings opened the door and they walked
down the short stairway to the pebbled drive. Juliet greeted the
groom from her stables, thanking him warmly and passing him coin
for the delivery. She turned to the Duke with a contented
smile.

"Your Grace, may I present the finest horse
in all of Sussex. In truth she is both wickedly smart and shrewd,
and fast as the wind as she leaves others in her wake.” She paused
and chose her next words carefully, finally opting for teasing
sarcasm. “I am sorry to imply the occupants of your stables are
inferior, but it is a sad truth, as I am sure you must now agree."
She reached out to rub her mount's velvety nose and received a
nickering response. The mare nudged her mistress and was rewarded
with a sought-after rub on her muzzle.

The Duke appraised the spirited Arabian with
an experienced eye, noting the sleek coat and mane, and her
majestic stance. Although appearing white in color, pure Arabians
were called gray, yet Juliet's horse was without any discoloration
or markings. "I will admit that she seems a pretty piece of
horseflesh, but I will reserve judgment as to the veracity of your
claims against my stables. In truth, I cannot verify your claims
without seeing your mare in action."

Juliet straightened to her full height and
took several steps to stand in front of the Duke. He was again
reminded how she tall she was, the top of her head nearly coming to
the tip of his nose. He glanced over her frame, quickly calculating
her long slender arms likely meant she possessed long, slender
legs. He took a step back at the heat that washed over him at that
conclusion, silently cursing his wayward thoughts. He raised his
eyes to her and saw a hint of bravado in their depths.

"That sounds very much like a challenge,
Your Grace, and I am afraid that I am very fond of challenges. Do
you fancy a race, good sir?" She quirked a single eyebrow up, her
eyes wide with adventure.

Good lord but she's beautiful
, he
thought. He gave himself a mental shake at the improper thoughts he
was entertaining toward his sister's best friend and decided a good
race was exactly what he needed. "I, too, appreciate a challenge. I
believe you have offered me a respite from my boredom, my lady." He
grabbed her hand and raised it to brush a light kiss across her
knuckles, immediately regretting his actions as he felt his lips
tingle from that slight contact. She had removed her dainty lace
gloves but had not yet donned her leather riding gloves. The
contact with her bare skin was enticing and unnerving.

Juliet felt a shiver race through her at his
delicate kiss, her eyes widening with surprise at his bold contact.
She schooled her face to remain lighthearted, hoping he could not
see the effect his touch and proximity were suddenly having on her.
"When and where shall we run? The beach? The back meadows?" She
took several steps back and focused her attention on her mount,
running her fingers through her mare's glossy mane.

He again contemplated her mount but was
immediately distracted by the gliding caress of her fingers on her
horse. Would that he could feel that same gentle touch of her
fingers. He cleared his throat. "The beach. It is low tide in the
early morn, which will provide ample ground to run." He was
dismayed to hear the gravelly timbre of his voice.