Page 35 of Distracting the Duke

“Poor Philip,” Clara said, coming to a halt on the uneven path. “He really shouldn’t dabble in things he doesn’t understand.”

The duke stopped next to her and smiled. “You may begin your tirade now.”

“You have been nothing but kind to us, sir. I don’t want to chastise you for that.”

She started walking again, and Ulvercombe followed.

“Of course you do,” he said. “I’ve made a difficult situation go away by throwing money at it, precisely as—considering your poor opinion of me—you might have expected me to do.”

Somehow, without having consciously made the decision, she had brought them to the path beside the river, not the lane. Comfrey grew here in abundance, its thick, hairy leaves brushing her skirts as she moved, while brambles streaked out overhead, ready to catch on her bonnet and the duke’s hat.

She had certainly not chosen the easy path. A particularly thick strand of bramble stuck out ahead of them. Ulvercombe stepped forward and held it aside as she moved past, then offered her his elbow.

She hesitated a moment before taking it. Now would be the perfect moment to end the easy familiarity with which he was beginning to treat her. She could snub him as much as she wanted to here, because there was no one to see except the wagtails and the kingfishers.

But for some reason, she couldn’t make herself refuse his arm.

“Maybe we should return to the other path,” she suggested. “There are too many obstacles here, and some nasty-looking nettles just ahead.”

He raised an eyebrow. “But Clara—forgive me, may I call you that? I was certain you enjoyed a challenge. And you took to the task of walking with me with such alacrity I thought you knew exactly what you meant to do and where you meant to go.”

At that moment, a pattering sound erupted all around them and the comfrey leaves bent as fat drops of rain spattered through gaps in the canopy. Ulvercombe glanced at the sky, then grasped her hand and hurried her onward. “I fear the choice has been taken from us. We must find shelter.”

Bother! This conversation wasn’t going as planned. Not that she’d exactly had a plan. She was still in shock from the revelation about Philip. But it wasn’t her brother she wished to speak of with the duke. In truth, it was someone entirely different.

And she wasn’t absolutely certain she wanted to hear his answer.

She desperately needed to know. Was he going to renew his attentions to Ellie?

Or had he changed his mind…?

Chapter Nineteen

After a brief scan of the cliffs above them, the duke urged Clara off the path into a fair-sized cleft, a natural opening in the rock which had been enlarged by the scouring of wind and rain. Overhead, foliage and undergrowth was tightly packed, enough to form a roof through which only occasional light raindrops could fall. Clara was ushered to the back of the small cave, and the duke stood in front of her. He blocked much of the light, but also reduced the chill wind that accompanied the rain.

It was a small space.

Close.

Intimate.

She swallowed hard.

“So,” he announced, doffing his hat. “We seem to be imprisoned once again. Oh, forgive me! I recall you dislike small spaces. Would you like to stand in the front?”

She was quite dry, and warm. Very warm. Ulvercombe’s broad back shielded her from any rain that might be blowing in. She swallowed hard again. Recalling vividly what lay beneath his coat and breeches.

“I…I think I can tolerate this. I’m certain I can trust you to move and give me air should I need it.”

“Well then, now we’re settled, perhaps you’d like to begin your lecture? I’ve had time to prepare myself for the verbal onslaught.”

Honestly, she had nothing to fault him for. Over the past weeks, being with him, the real flesh and blood man, had erased many of the awful things she’d once believed about him. His last revelation in particular had opened her eyes to his thoughtfulness and consideration.

The fact was, she was beginning to like the man. Perhaps too much. Which scared the wits out of her.

She took refuge behind a question.

“How did you find out about Philip’s foolish venture, when none of us knew anything?” Or had her brother confided in Kate on one of his visits? The idea rankled.