Page 71 of Once Upon a Devilish Duke

Every duke wanted to hear such a metaphor. “I see.” Of course, the servants had talked. It was not as if it were a whispered argument they’d had. “Thank you for your honesty.”

“I will always be honest with you, Your Grace.” He bowed. “When asked.”

“What do the servants say about Lady Rose?”

Jameson looked surprised for a moment. “Well, they say she is very nice. She always thanks them and never scolds them if they make a mistake. They say she is very pretty and…that they hope she finds a handsome husband to have handsome babies with.”

“Handsome babies?”

“Do you want the whole truth of what they say?” his valet asked.

Edward stared at the man for a moment. Did he? “Let me hear it.”

“They hope that you will marry her so that she can become the new duchess.”

He frowned. “Why would they think I would marry her?”

Jameson tugged at his cravat.

“Out with it,” Edward demanded.

“They have seen you kissing her in the breakfast room. And they know that she visits you at night in your study.”

“Bloody hell and damn,” he said and stood to pace in front of the fire.

“Surely, you know that they see and hear everything. It is only a matter of time, Your Grace, before the whispers extend above stairs.”

“It is of no matter. The liaison is concluded.”

Jameson seemed surprised by this news. Maybe the servants did not know everything. “She has found another?”

“No. We just lost our wits for a moment; that is all. Now we have regained them, we realize it was folly to continue. No one is to utter a word about…the breakfast room.”

“That is a shame,” Jameson said.

A shame? Did Jameson think they were a good match? Were they? Perhaps in passion, but he knew better than most that it took more than mere desire to make a marriage work. His valet took the clothes in his arms and deposited them into a basket and then disappeared through the small door to the dressing room, returning a moment later with His Grace’s nightshirt.

“You remember how it was with my first marriage. What would make you think I would consider doing it again?”

He laid the nightshirt on the bed. “Honestly, Your Grace?”

“Yes!” It made him wonder how many times Jameson had told him what he wanted to hear instead of what he honestly thought.

“Lady Rose has a completely different way about her. She is not spoiled or petulant. She cares about people other than herself. Her demeanor is sensible and appropriate. Everyone likes her, peers and servants alike. She would, I believe, make you a very happy man. She has an energizing effect on you, and you share a lot of the same interests.”

He sat back in his chair. “Good lord. It is almost like you have put some thought into this.”

“I wish only your happiness, Your Grace.”

“How would I continue my work if I were married? Not that I am contemplating it.”

“I could not say, but I believe she helped her father with his work. I would imagine she would be qualified to help you with yours as well.”

“Hmm. I do not like this side of you, Jameson. It is most annoying. You are far too sensible and honest.”

“It is one of my many flaws, Your Grace. Would you like some brandy before bed?”

Edward nodded, his mind a whirl. A good valet was invaluable and, in this case, a reliable source of gossip. Now that he knew, he wished he had not asked.