Page 40 of Distracting the Duke

Well, if Ulvercombe could do it, so could she. They both must at least try, for Ellie’s sake.

And for Ellie’s sake, she must make sure she did nothing else that could possibly distract the Duke of Ulvercombe from his purpose.

As difficult as she feared that would be.

Chapter Twenty-One

Marcus was proud of the self-control he exhibited during tea. He endeavored to behave as the perfect gentleman, aloof but polite, with exquisite manners and complete decorum. He made every effort to treat each lady with the same courtesy, keeping his innermost thoughts invisible to everyone, just as he’d been taught.

If his eyes did stray a little too often in Clara’s direction, he was certain no one would notice. She seemed upset when he’d meant only to tease her, and it worried him.

There was nothing he could do now, so he just buried himself in banal conversation.

“Do you grow much for the table?” he inquired.

“Indeed we do, sir,” Mrs. Weston replied. “All the ladies of our household are fond of gardening.”

“You grow remarkably fine peas, I collect.”

Damn, why had he looked at Clara at that precise moment? She was blushing, and his mind immediately returned to the scene in the rocky cleft, when they had kissed each other as if they never wanted to stop.

“Your G-Grace,” stammered Ellie, “what a prodigious memory you have.”

“I always make an effort to remember what I think matters to people. I assume you grew those yourself?” he queried.

“I did. And some splendid artichokes. They are almost six feet high—as tall as you, I think.”

He smiled. “So, when you said you could barely tell your leeks from your lettuces, you were being self-effacing. My dear Miss Soper, that sort of coyness is entirely unnecessary. No gentleman should be put off by a lady having knowledge.”

There was a muffled snort from Clara’s end of the sofa. He raised an eyebrow in her direction and hoped he wasn’t going to have to save her from choking. He wasn’t sure he could trust himself to touch her again.

He tried to keep the conversation going, to give her time to recover. “Then I hope you keep your vegetables well-watered, Miss Soper, for despite this afternoon’s rain, the earth is still dry. Such a light wetting is hardly any use at all.”

Clara said, “I believe we may expect even hotter weather, so watering will be a definite priority.”

He gave her his full attention. Whether she knew it or not, she was furthering the plan that had been building in his mind over the past few hours.

“Indeed,” he agreed. “At this uncomfortable season, the prospect of being near the sea is very attractive, don’t you think? I expect Brighton to be particularly busy, but I prefer a more peaceful place.”

Philip glanced up from his plate. “Don’t you wish to rub shoulders with the great and the good at Brighton, sir?” he inquired.

Marcus made a face. “I consider it my duty to go about amongst the ton, but there’s only so much one can bear.”

Philip chuckled. “Ah, an aristocrat who doesn’t like his fellow nobles. Well done, Ulvercombe!”

What was the fellow, a damned Jacobin? He hoped not. “Not quite what I said, Weston. But I do confess to enjoying my own company and that of a few choice friends in preference to a crowd.”

“It must have been very hard for you to host the ball,” Ellie mused.

“It was. Such things should be the task of the duchess, not the duke.”

Ellie flushed prettily.

Oh dear. Now he had put two of the ladies in the room to the blush. He wondered what it would take to get Mrs. Weston joining in.

Turning back to Philip, he said, “I have it in mind to repair to my seaside estate in Norfolk shortly. It has its own beach and is most refreshing in summer, with the breezes from the North Sea.”

He put his teacup down and made sure he had the attention of everyone before he said, “You must join me, all of you. I shall invite a close friend or two, as well—most likely Lord Snettisham and the Earl of Stranraer. There’ll be fishing for the gentlemen, boating, riding, and archery for the ladies, not to mention an excellent supply of fresh crab, mussels, and so on. Items one scarcely sees in good condition by the time they reach us in inland Devonshire.”