Page 23 of No Duke of Mine

She laughed. “Poor Algernon, reduced to the indignity of having to raise his voice just to be heard.”

“And I invite you to do the same.”

Maggie shook her head. “I can’t shout at you, Your Grace.”

“Why not? My family all do.”

“Well, that’s different, you know—you and I are not related. We did not grow up together.”

“We spent a year together, Maggie. Just one precious year, and you left an indelible mark on my life. You fired all my rebellions against my father’s tyranny and prejudices. He learned his lesson after that year, though. My father never allowed anyone to have such influence or access to me again.”

She looked at him in surprise. “Did you have no other teachers after Father?”

“Yes, I did. But none as good as him. And no one challenged me the way you ever did that one year.”

“I’m glad I could be of some help with your education. But I’m sure you did not miss me as much as you claim.”

“I’m overjoyed to have found you again, Maggie.” He sat on her settee and patted the space beside him. “Come, we still have years to catch up on and little time.”

She stared at the spot beside him. It would be foolish. Improper. Dangerous. And the temptation to know him better was utterly irresistible.

Maggie settled in the space beside him and sighed. “I missed you, as well.”

“I’m glad,” Algernon whispered, and then raked a hand through his hair. “I ran after you.”

“What? When?”

Algernon sighed heavily. “I was so upset to learn you had been taken away from Ravenswood without us having a chance to say goodbye that I sprinted up the drive in the hope of catching your carriage,” he admitted.

“The first I knew of us leaving was when I was woken up that morning before dawn. Papa was already packed. I think something must have happened between your father and mine the evening before,” she admitted. “He was cross with me.”

“Knowing my father’s temper, I suspect they had always disagreed about something or another. The last straw seemed to be my dunking in the muddy pond when I should have been still at my studies.”

“It was not that you should have been studying. I laughed when I saw the state you were in. We were kicked off the estate the next day,” she suggested. “A whole month before my father’s tenure should have ended.”

“But you always laughed at me.”

“But it was the first time I forgot myself and laughed at you in front of your father. I have felt bad about that ever since.”

Algernon covered her hand with his and their fingers entwined. “Don’t. I did a great many silly things on purpose just to make you laugh. You could be so serious at times.”

Maggie tightened her grip on his fingers. “I still am.”

“I was also trying to win you over,” he admitted. “I wanted you to like me more than our library.”

“Both won me on the first day. You told me that I could read any book I wanted,” she said, grinning. “I’ve never forgotten that kindness.”

Algernon raised her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers.

The sweet gesture made her pulse speed up as she stared at his lips for too long. She gulped and lowered her eyes, tugging her fingers back. When she looked up, Algernon was watching her still.

Maggie stared at him and felt a shift in his regard. He was not thinking of her as that little girl, but as a woman he fancied.

They moved toward each other at the same time.

Maggie wrapped her arms about Algernon’s neck and kissed him. She’d been hoping he might make the first move, but there had been servants around them all day.

Now they were alone, there was nothing to keep them apart. She wanted more of his kisses, and Algernon seemed only too happy to supply.