Page 18 of Sincerely, the Duke
Keeping his determined gaze tightly on hers, he said, “I can see you look quite well as usual. Why did you post the letter?”
Her eyes narrowed curiously from under the wide brim as she took in his serious expression. “Which letter are you referring to? I sometimes write three to four a day to various people.”
Rick unfolded his arms and shielded his eyes from the bright sunlight to watch every muscle movement in her face. Best he could tell, she wasn’t being coy or evasive. She truly looked as if she didn’t know what he was talking about, but he was convinced she had been the one at work to send Miss Fine to his door.
“Indeed, Maman. I am talking about you mailing the proposal I wrote to Miss Fine a week or so ago asking her to marry me.”
“What madcap nonsense is this?” She gave him a breathy laugh and moved her hands behind her back like an innocent young maiden being falsely accused of a ridiculous offense. “A proposal from you? I did no such thing. I don’t even know a Miss Fine. Why do you ask about it?”
Rick’s mouth twisted into a frown as he tried to ascertain if she was avoiding telling him the truth. They were both silent for a moment. He heard the soft noisesof spring buzzing around them. A light wind rustled the new leaves on the trees and shrubs, and a bird twittered as it flew overhead. Neighbors’ muffled conversations could be heard in the houses next door as they mixed with distant sounds of street traffic.
“She has the letter,” he said, the breeze fluttering the ends of his hair across his forehead.
“What letter are you referring to, Stonerick?”
Rick’s curiosity grew. His mother wasn’t faking ignorance. She really didn’t know what he was talking about. “Miss Fine has the letter I wrote at your house several nights ago asking her to marry me.”
The dowager lowered her lids over her eyes as if she were trying to get a better look at him to decipher exactly what his words meant. “Impossible.”
“I saw it, Maman. It was written in my hand and closed with your wax seal.”
“Mine?” Her mollifying tone changed abruptly with indignation. She retreated a few steps back. “It can’t be. There is no way she could have that letter and certainly not under my seal. I never even looked down at it when you handed it to me. I gave it right back to you and watched you throw it into the fire and then I walked away with my brandy.”
Strange as it was, that was the foggy memory he had as well, but Rick wanted the mystery solved. “It was mailed to her.”
“It would have to be a forgery, of course.” Alberta brought her hands around in front of her to cup the book to her chest as if to give validity to her words. “Who knew you wrote it?”
“You.”
“Pshaw,” she muttered in an agitated tone he seldom heard. “I would never have mailed that letter. I told youso that night. No one knows better than I that you are reckless beyond reason at times as you were to even think of writing such a proposal. You were basically throwing a dart against the wall and hoping for a good match.”
“It worked for Wyatt when he married Fredericka.”
“His solicitor had met her. I may not care who you marry but there is no way I want you to marry a lady neither of us have met. She might be missing a tooth, be walleyed, or have red hair and green eyes.”
That stopped Rick cold. He relaxed his arms to his side. “What’s wrong with red hair and green eyes?”
“Everyone knows women with those two features can read your mind and accurately tell one’s future.”
He blew out a gruffly murmured curse. “Please, Maman. That’s rubbish. This new group you have joined is taking you too far with superstitions.”
“No, no, it’s true,” she said with conviction, turning the front of the book over for him to see the title.
Rick looked down.Ten Superstitions That Have Been Proven True.
“Our Insightful Ladies of London Society read about it in this book. And, of course, I’ve heard stories from time to time throughout my life about such oddities.”
“What are you reading that rubbish for?” He scrunched up his face. “Queen Elizabeth had red hair and so did probably a host of other monarchs. I don’t believe they would have made some of the decisions that were rendered if they could read minds.”
“Of course they couldn’t do such things, Stonerick,” his mother agreed, walking over to place the book in a nearby chair. “They all had brown eyes according to paintings and writings. Which is the common color for redheads. It’s not just red hair or green eyes, but the two together.”
Rick looked at her in puzzled amusement, and then shook his head in dismissal of such a preposterous claim. If Miss Fine could read his mind, he would have never caught her unawares when he kissed her so suddenly and shocked her down to her unmentionables.
“Why is this irrational superstition of yours just coming to light now that you’ve joined this new group of ladies?”
“We’re studying a series of books on superstitions.” She nodded toward the book in the chair.
“Stop reading the blasted thing,” he mumbled. “And it would probably be best if you stayed away from that group too.” He didn’t care what color Miss Fine’s hair was. Or her eyes, which were beautiful. She was the first lady that had been able to attract him and hold his attention in a very long time. Considering his reaction to her, it no longer bothered him the letter had been sent. He only wanted to know how it happened. “For now, let’s get back to how Miss Fine got the letter.”
