Part 27 (2/2)
”This garden may be small, but I believe it can accommodate two visitors at one time.” His voice sounded of suppressed laughter.
”Yes, I suppose it can.” She peered at him, entertaining a new thought. ”Unless one is at his prayers or seeking privacy.”
”Were you?”
”What, Your Grace?”
”At your prayers, kneeling and whispering.”
She rewarded his guess with a little laugh. ”No. I was speaking encouragement to the buds, Your Grace. I suppose praising a flower is a prayer of sorts. A compliment to its Creator.”
”The one who planted it?”
She laughed again. ”No. The originator.”
His quiet laughter joined with hers. She squinted into the darkness trying to make out his face. ”Have you sight this morning, Your Grace?”
”Devlin. Call me by my Christian name, Jessica.”
”I do not think familiarity shows proper regard for your station, particularly in front of our - that is, your - staff.”
”Are any members of the household present now?”
”No, no one else seems to be up.”
”Then, if you please.”
”Devlin.”
”Yes. Thank you for your interest, Nightingale, I do have sight this morning.”
A smile spread her face just as the playful breeze teased one unruly ringlet from its hastily affixed anchor to drop over her forehead, giving her a mischievous look.
”A miracle is a grand way to begin a new day,” she said, and noticed that he looked both pleased and amused, like a youth not yet burdened with a man's responsibilities. A broad smile broke his wondrous features, turning his into the most beautiful face she had ever seen.
”Nightingale, on some subjects you have the wisdom of Solomon. On others, you remain hopelessly naive.”
She couldn't help returning his smile, in spite of the little vexation she felt at his words. ”To what are you referring?”
”Your lack of knowledge about men.”
”I have a brother and had a father, Your ... Devlin. I've had opportunity to study the male of the species and his behavior. Of course, I have been around villagers, men in Welter, all my life. In what way does my training appear lacking?”
Devlin's smile waned. ”What experiences have you had with the men of Welter?”
”I have grown up with some, talked and laughed and done business with others. I've been friends with several and have made genuine effort to endure others.”
”What kind of behavior is required to endure men in Welter?”
She tried to fathom what she had said to have darkened his mood so.
”Well, when I am making effort, I try to be respectful and not talk more than necessary so as not to annoy them. I make it a point to be meticulously honest in my business dealings, in selling my hens and eggs.” She arched her brows. ”Of course, I feel compelled to call the grocer to task when he puts a thumb on the scale weighing out flour or sugar. I insist a merchant be as meticulously honest with me as I am with him. Sometimes I am required to prompt his honesty with rather a terse reminder.” She hesitated. ”That doesn't happen as often now as it once did.”
The smile again bowed the duke's broad mouth. ”The merchants being .... ?”
”The grocer and the fish monger, occasionally the smithy.”
”Are these married men?”
Her frown deepened. ”The grocer's wife died last June. I believe he is out of mourning. The monger smells too bad to woo a proper wife, and the smithy is too hairy. I have suggested he wear more clothing to conceal some of that hair if he hopes to win a bride.”
”Did the smithy take your advice?”
”Yes, for a while, until he began attracting ladies whose interest he did not want.”
”Were you one?”
”Great heavens, no!” She laughed incredulously.
”Did the smithy solicit your interest?”
”Not that I noticed. He has always been kind.”
”As you grew, did you notice men being kinder and more meticulously honest with you?”
She puckered her lips. ”I had not realized it myself until you asked.”
”Perhaps, while you are in my care, Nightingale, I should teach you about the thinking of men.”
She glanced back at her blooms. ”Perhaps I might repay the kindness by teaching you something of flowers.”
”But not about women?”
She heard the teasing tone in his voice. ”I know you to be well instructed on that subject. Judging the way women behave around you, I doubt you have been denied many secrets by ladies of your acquaintance, Your Grace.”
She stooped to pull bits of gra.s.s and weeds sprouting among her flowers, becoming more visible with the dawn. She did not feel threatened when the duke moved closer.
”You see, Nightingale, it is not wise for a young woman to make herself available to a man alone, in the predawn hours of morning.”
She giggled and blurted, as if speaking to the bud she was examining. ”Of course, if we had observed a silly rule like that when we met, you might have perished.”
”Yes, well, there are exceptions, of course, but, perhaps it is not wise for a young woman, particularly one as attractive as you ... ”
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