Page 54 of It's All About the Duke
“No, I’m sorry,” Marlena said, honestly. “I was thinking about the embroidery sample I was working on when you interrupted me for a dance. What did you say?”
Justine continued playing the practice tune. “If you’d had the good sense to agree to move into the duke’s home in Mayfair we both would have—”
“Thank you, Justine,” Marlena said, interrupting her. She would rather dance than hear her cousin complain once again about not getting to move to Mayfair. Marlena turned and walked back over to the center of the room to wait for her cousin to give her the prompt to start.
“I’m ready whenever you are.”
“Perhaps you will marry well. A man who has a home there and he’ll allow me to move in with you.”
“Would you really want to do that? Give up your home here?”
“That, or if it were possible, to continue to have a coach like the duke has provided for us so I could visit with my friends there anytime I wanted.”
“You could walk. It’s really not that far.”
Justine sighed heavily. “Still so much to teach you. I can’t be seen walking around Mayfair with all my friends now that I have the duke’s coach. Appearances are so important to Society. I’ve received so many invitations since the duke has become your guardian, I feel as if I’m the diamond of the Season again.”
That Marlena did know.
After playing a few more moments Justine said, “One. Two. Three. Begin. Step forward, left, left, back on the right, forward on the left, twirl, clap, and curtsy. That’s right. And again. Step—”
“Excuse me, Mrs. Abernathy.”
“What is it, Mrs. Doddle?” Justine asked, but she didn’t stop playing or turn to face the housekeeper.
“Begging your pardon, but the Duke of Rathburne is here to see you and Miss Fast.”
All ten of Justine’s fingers landed on the keys at the same time, making a dreadful sound.
Eager anticipation gripped Marlena. She rose very slowly from her curtsy, suddenly more out of breath than she should be. The duke was here. Every sensation she’d felt when he held and kissed her came rushing back to excite her.
“Oh, how absolutely wonderful!” Justine jumped up from the stool and walked away from the pianoforte. “I must have been playing so loud I didn’t hear the door. He was just here a few days ago. I thought for certain it’d be weeks before we’d see him again. He’s such a rogue.” She lifted her breasts to make sure an ample amount of flesh showed from beneath the neckline of her silk dress, and then pressed her hands down the front of her skirt. She looked over at Marlena and said, “How does my hair look? Is any of it out of place?” She touched the sides, top, and the back of it. “Are there any wrinkles in my clothing?”
“You are very presentable,” Marlena said, having no doubt how she must look after an hour of skipping, twirling, and bowing from one end of the room to the other.
“Good. You may show him in, Mrs. Doddle, and then please make tea for us.”
Justine turned to Marlena. “Some of your hair has fallen out of your chignon but I suppose there’s nothing for us to do about that now. You’ve not time to completely redo it. Quickly brush it behind your ears and we’ll hope it will stay.”
Marlena was far more worried about how her insides were jumping than about her unruly locks. It wasn’t the first time the duke had seen her with tangles in her hair, as he’d reminded her. She doubted it had been combed at all the morning she’d first seen him all those years ago. Now she was older and should be able to keep her hair under control, but some days it was as if it had a mind of its own. She tucked the loose strands behind her ears and moistened her lips.
Seeing the duke again shouldn’t make her feel this happy. Thrilled even. But it did.
The Duke of Rathburne strode into the drawing room as if with a purpose in mind. His gaze settled immediately on Marlena and she felt as if her heart melted in her chest and slowly flowed all the way down to her toes. The way looking at him made her feel couldn’t be explained by words. It was more comforting than a blazing-hot fire on the coldest of nights. There was a rich and lush appeal to him. He was devilishly handsome dressed in his coat of deep-ocean blue, boots that covered his knees, and an expression that told her he was pleased to see her, too.
After greetings were appropriately taken care of, the duke said, “I heard a melody when I came into the house. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“No, not at all,” Justine said, walking closer to him. “I was playing for Marlena so she could work on her dance steps. The Season isn’t far away now and she still has much to learn.”
Marlena had known the steps to every dance since she was sixteen. She opened her mouth to contradict her cousin but the duke spoke first.
“The Season is why I’m here. But first”—he extended a box to Justine—“I brought you some sweets.”
Justine’s face lit up as if a thousand candles were shining on it. Marlena couldn’t help but think her cousin’s heart was melting, too.
“For me?” Justine took the box with one hand while the other flattened on her ample bosom. Her lashes fluttered. “How lovely. Thank you, Your Grace. Look, Marlena. Something sweet for us to enjoy.”
Marlena watched Justine tear into the package and murmured, “Lovely indeed,” though his gift to her cousin irritated Marlena beyond sensible reason.
