Page 50 of Distracting the Duke

“Thus the blank spaces on the walls, the absent furniture, the lack of ornament at Wroxham. All sold to pay the debts. The second duke lost far more at cards than he gained.”

“It must have been a terrible time for the family.”

“Two generations of the family in fact.”

“I guessed not much had been spent on Wroxham, but I didn’t think the decoration at Kessington was equally Spartan.”

“Quite deliberately done. Whilst Marcus felt he could make one property look prosperous, he couldn’t do the same with both. You are honored he has invited you here—generally he doesn’t like visitors to see the yawning gaps in the furniture and art collections.”

Well, if Ulvercombe knew just how impecunious the Westons were, he would also know they’d be the last people to judge.

In light of his difficulties, she must admire him even more for his generosity both in returning the Pajou to them for nothing, and for buying Philip’s shares in the canal scheme at a vastly inflated price. He had shown genuine kindness.

This new view of him confused her more than ever.

“I trust he’s truly in a position to marry?” she asked bluntly. “Such things as weddings and wives can prove most expensive.” She had to protect Ellie, make sure the man she married didn’t just grab her fortune the minute she came into it.

“Don’t worry. Miss Soper will be well provided for, both before and after she comes into her inheritance.” He glanced at her, contrite. “Sorry, that was gauche of me. I should say, the new Duchess of Ulvercombe, whoever that happens to be, will be well provided for.”

“Good,” Clara said. “I would hate for things to get…awkward, should my brother start asking questions.”

“Fear not. Marcus is a magician when it comes to making sound investments and getting an estate into profit. In no time he will have those empty spaces filled, and with even finer and more valuable items than before. Indeed, he’d already begun purchasing artworks, but now that he’s decided it’s time to set up his nursery, his wife will help him choose the new furnishings and ornaments for Wroxham.”

Clara suppressed a grimace. Choose the furnishings and ornaments? How would Ellie ever cope? She was so young, with so little experience and knowledge of such things.

They would have to quickly find a tutor who could supply the skills Ellie needed to buy appropriate items at a fair price. What were her tastes? How many great houses had she visited that could serve as good examples? She’d been living with the Westons for only six months, since the loss of her parents, so there were many questions Clara didn’t have an answer to.

“I can see I’ve given you food for thought, Lady Tinniswood. Forgive me, I didn’t mean to make you look so serious.”

“It’s of no matter.”

But he was right. Her thoughts were in a whirl. They must complete Ellie’s education immediately. She would start today, by identifying and explaining all the items still remaining in the duke’s collections at Wroxham.

But how to do it without being too obvious?

“You must be wanting breakfast,” Lord Snettisham said. “I find a brisk early morning walk whets the appetite most splendidly. Ah, I see our host has finished his swim. We must hurry if we’re not to be overtaken by him. I’m keen to spare your blushes.”

These words did quite the opposite, unfortunately, for her mind was immediately filled with the image of the naked duke emerging dripping wet from the sea.

As scarlet flooded her cheeks once more, she said, “Yes, let us hurry. Breakfast is exactly what I need.”

A complete lie.

It would take much more than an enjoyable breakfast to shift the image of Ulvercombe’s body from her vivid imagination.

And she would also have to spend the rest of the day in fear of Snettisham changing his mind about revealing her spying activities.

Chapter Twenty-Six

“Oh Clara, you don’t really think the duke is interested in marrying me, do you?”

Clara nodded. “He has already discussed with Mr. Weston the idea of paying suit.”

“Yes, but it’s not definite, is it?”

Clara fixed her gaze on her ward. “Not without your permission. I’d make sure Philip had that first. Why are you so anxious? I thought you could see the advantage in the match. You would be a duchess. And I don’t think Ulvercombe would be marrying you for your inheritance, though I did suspect it at first. It’s you he wants, because of who you are.”

The Westons had now been five full days at Wroxham. Clara and Ellie were seated at their embroidery by the door of the orangery, a delightful construction of wood, wrought iron, and glass. They were shaded from the heat by a grapevine that occupied the space above their heads. All around them hung numbers of exotic blooms and burgeoning foliage, which they were using as inspiration for their needlework.