Page 51 of No Duke of Mine

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Maggie pushed back from the duke’s desk and stood, knowing there was nothing left to do that day until he returned. All correspondence had been opened, read, and set out in neat piles for his attention when he had a moment to spare. Algernon had been unusually busy and distant for days, preferring to mingle with society rather than be at home with her.

Not a word had been said about his courtship with Lady Kent, though, and she assumed he was meeting with the woman. Any day now, she expected to hear an announcement, but he’d said he didn’t want to discuss his future marriage, so she did not dare question him again.

Though Maggie was incredibly curious about how the courtship was going.

Of course, her interest was entirely selfish. No wife would permit Maggie to remain a secretary under her roof, or near her husband if she learned that Maggie had kissed him. But she enjoyed the work, expanding her understanding of Algernon’s rarified world. He had so much going on, great debts, and she was gratified that he trusted her to know so much about his situation.

But it would all end when he married.

Not that she had any real regrets about her short-lived affair with Algernon, or that it had ended already. She couldn’t help but like him still. She would have encouraged a courtship between them if he hadn’t been born so far above her and desperately needed the funds.

She sighed and drifted out of the room, encountering the butler in the front hall, who only nodded to her and then went on his way again.

The servants did not seem to know quite what to make of her. She wasn’t treated as a servant or even as a guest. She occupied a guest room now, but took all her meals alone since Algernon was always out at that hour.

Though she worked for the duke as his secretary, she still had the freedom to sit and read all afternoon, and all night if she wanted to, as well. The duke encouraged her to do as she pleased while he was away.

He claimed to appreciate her efforts to act as his secretary, but if she faltered, it was clear that Sims would quickly resume the activities and be glad of the challenge.

Idleness did not suit Maggie at all, so she entered the duke’s library and looked around for a distraction. The shelves burst with unread volumes, but she felt no immediate compulsion to pick up a book to read right now, and that was rare. She could not concentrate.

She had something on her mind, and today seemed a good day to close another chapter in her life.

She went upstairs, intending to return to her room, but stopped at the top landing when she heard the rush of footsteps. They came from the direction of the duke’s bedchamber, though he was supposed to be out still. They came and went, yet neither the valet nor any other servant appeared.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she approached the door to Algernon’s chambers, which had been left slightly ajar, to discover what was going on.

She put her ear to the wood.

One, two, three. One, two, three.

Was someone dancing in there?

She pushed the door open a little more, immediately spotting Sims twirling about on his own, with his chin lifted high in the air. His arms were extended stiffly, as if he held a dance partner.

He spotted her and came to an awkward, abrupt stop. He smoothed down his waistcoat and faced her. His smile was strained, his face flaming, as if he was fighting embarrassment. “Can I be of assistance, Miss Black?”

“Oh, no. I was just…” she stammered. “I just wanted you to know I have finished in the study for the day.”

“Very good, Miss Black.”

Sims was now a little more distant than he’d first been. Her appointment as secretary to the duke had caused a strain between them. She wanted to fix that, but it seemed impossible. “There was not very much mail of importance today,” she told him.

“Sometimes there is,” he answered, his tone clipped.

She bit her lip, worried that her elevation to secretary had truly offended him. “Perhaps you would care to glance through the duke’s new letters yourself, just to be sure I missed nothing of great importance. I suppose he will not be back for some time to check himself.”

He thought about it for a long moment, and then smiled a little. “It can help to know ahead of time what needs to be laid out for him for special occasions.”

“I’m certain you have the right to look at his mail still.” She smiled quickly, hoping that her suggestion would somewhat clear the air between them. She had not meant to exclude him. “Do you always practice alone?”

He swallowed. “Yes, of course.”

“Might I make a suggestion?”

“Of course, Miss Black,” he said, face falling.