The raven-haired charmer shook her head. “If I know Drew, he would rather get it over with. Once he makes up his mind, he doesn’t like to dally. It is his mother who is likely to throw impediments in your way.”
“Oh, do you know the duchess?” Roslyn asked curiously.
Eleanor nodded. “I fear so. She is quite the terror. She makes me quake in my slippers every time I encounter her.” When Roslyn raised a skeptical eyebrow, Eleanor laughed. “Well, perhaps I don’t actually quake, but I have never met anyone colder or haughtier in my life. I suspect she will attempt to persuade Drew to delay the nuptials.”
“Why?”
“Because she won’t fancy being relegated to dowager after she has lorded it over London social circles for so long.”
“She may continue lording as far as I am concerned,” Roslyn replied with a laugh. “I have no desire to take her place. And I admit, I am not eager to meet her.”
Eleanor gave her a shrewd look. “I suspect you will do very well against the duchess. Just stand up to her. She expects subservience, but I believe she secretly respects women who can speak their mind.” She hesitated. “Drew values that quality in women, too. Otherwise, he is nothing like his mother, thank heavens.”
“What
“Drew? He is the very best of men. I love him like a brother. Indeed, he and Heath were just like older brothers to me when I was growing up. I wish you could see that side of him, Miss Loring. Drew does not open up to many people-he keeps his feelings reserved with all but his closest friends. But you would love him too if you came to know him like I do.”
“That is high praise indeed,” Roslyn said noncommittally as she sipped her wine. “I have heard others award him accolades. Lady Freemantle says the way he manages his estates is admirable.”
“It is indeed,” Eleanor agreed. “Drew insists on using all the latest scientific methods on his home farms, and has fought the enclosures of common land. His tenants consider themselves extremely fortunate to have them for his lord. And Drew also is admired for his progressive politics and his efforts in Parliament, as well as his generosity toward his many servants and dependents.”
“Does he have many dependents?”
“Heavens yes, a score of them. Aunts, uncles, cousins…most have attached themselves to him like barnacles. They take shameless advantage of his largesse, but he provides for them whether they deserve it or not. Drew considers it his obligation. He takes even better care of his old retainers. The duchess would have turned them all off once they had outserved their usefulness, but Drew wouldn’t allow her to.”
Roslyn frowned. “Is the duchess so very heartless then?”
“Regrettably, yes. But Drew is very different from his mother. Take his old nurse, for instance. Several years ago she became too decrepit to fend for herself, and with no family to care for her, she was likely to wind up in a pauper’s grave. Drew heard of her plight and brought her to live at Arden Castle-gave her quarters in the servant hall where she could be nursed back to health. You should speak to her if you visit the castle, Miss Loring. You will see how his servants worship him. I have always believed you can tell a good deal about a person by observing how they treat their servants.”
“Are you discussing me, minx?” Drew asked, suddenly appearing at Roslyn’s side.
“Of course, what did you expect?” Eleanor dimpled. “I was telling Miss Loring all your secrets.”
He gave a mock shudder. “Saints spare me. Don’t listen to her, sweeting. She knows too many of my foibles.”
“Well, if you will excuse me,” Eleanor said brightly, “I wish to speak to Miss Blanchard. I greatly enjoyed meeting her at my brother’s wedding and would like to further our acquaintance.”
“How long have you known Lady Eleanor?” Roslyn asked Drew once she had left.
“Since she was born. I was shipped off to boarding school at an early age, where I became fast friends with her brother, and Heath as well. I preferred spending all my holidays at their family estates. Arden Castle is a magnificent pile, but it is hardly welcoming to a boy…or child of any age.”
“She seems quite impressed with you,” Roslyn observed.
“As I hope you will be someday,” Drew answered with a quick grin.
Feeling her pulse leap, Roslyn eyed him warily. She already
Just then the Freemantle butler appeared at the drawing room door in order to announce that dinner was served.
“Very good,” Winifred responded. “Oh, and Pointon,” she called. “Make certain the champagne is thoroughly chilled.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Glancing at the guests of honor, Winifred beamed. “I ordered a special champagne from London to toast the happy couple. Your grace, if you will please lead the way to the dining room?”
When Drew offered Roslyn his arm, she found herself frowning thoughtfully up at him. She’d told Tess she had no intention of overtly pursuing him. That he would have to make all the effort if he wanted her to love him enough to actually wed him. And yet, Roslyn reflected, if she truly wished to give their betrothal a fighting chance, perhaps she should attempt to be the kind of woman that appealed to him.
She could be clever and witty if she put her mind to it. She could certainly flirt with him and hang on his every word. Of course she ought not be too flagrant about it in front of Winifred’s guests, but she could subtly apply the lessons he’d taught her about captivating a man. She could even touch him…
Summoning a soft smile, Roslyn placed her hand on his coat sleeve but made a point to brush the skin on the back of his wrist with her fingers. She knew he felt the caress, for he gave her a quick glance of surprise.
“Drew,” she murmured in a husky voice. “I hope you will sit beside me during dinner.”
“I doubt our hostess would permit anything else,” he responded mildly.
Roslyn gave a light, rippling laugh. “No, Winifred would be perfectly delighted if I were to sit in your lap. But I could never be so brazen in public.”
She saw heat flare in his green eyes before they narrowed a little in suspicion.
Maintaining a serene smile, Roslyn said little as the company took their places around the dining table, which gleamed with crystal and silver. However, she listened to Drew with bated breath whenever he spoke.
When the footmen had served the soup course, Roslyn picked up her spoon and sipped, but she waited until Drew was looking directly at her before she slowly licked her lower lip. “I find this cream soup quite delicious, don’t you…?”
Her voice faded as Pointon, the butler, came hurrying into the dining room. Roslyn had never seen the august servant looking so distraught.
“Forgive me, my lady,” he said hoarsely to his mistress, “for intruding this way, but I thought you should know immediately. I went below to the wine cellar to fetch the champagne, and I surprised the thief there. He fled as soon as he spied me.”
Roslyn felt her stomach clench at the news, while Winifred turned pale. Before either of them could regain their wits enough to speak, though, Drew demanded, “He broke into the house?”
“It would appear so, your grace. The bolt to the outer cellar door was pried open.”
“Did you follow him, Pointon?” Roslyn thought to ask.
“Regrettably I was too late. By the time I recovered from my startlement, he had disappeared.”
“What thief?” Lady Eleanor asked curiously.
Her question was ignored as Pointon practically wrung his hands. “In his haste, he left his sling behind. The fabric was bloodied, Miss Loring. Perhaps his wound opened when you and his grace chased him that day.”
“What wound?” Eleanor queried. “And why were you and Drew chasing him?”
Miss Jane Caruthers replied for them. “Last week the duke shot a highwayman who was holding up Lady Freemantle’s coach.”
“You shot a highwayman?” Eleanor asked in astonishment.
Drew’s mouth tightened, his ire obvious. “Yes, and I managed to wound him. But he escaped that night and again two days ago after he was caught in her ladyship’s bedchamber, rifling through her jewelry case.”
