“And if anyone dares say a word to you, I’ll blacken their eye,” Carlisle added.
The duchess smacked his shoulder again.
“Ow. Mama, could you stop assaulting me, please?”
“You will not blacken anyone’s eye. You will look for that abject steward, exercise restraint, and stay away from any and all games of chance. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Mama.”
“Furthermore, Lady Katherine will be feeling self-conscious and vulnerable without her veil. You will make certain she is as comfortable as possible.”
“Of course, Mama.”
Then the duchess turned to Katie and held out her hand. “Give me the veil. You can retrieve it when you return.”
Katie had been watching with some interest the way the duchess commanded her son, a duke, no less, with just a few words. Now that she was on the receiving end of the duchess’s attention, she was no less intimidated. Still, she did not want to leave her veil. She’d never gone into a public place without it. Even though she understood that to wear it would give her identity away and make it more likely her father heard about her association with Carlisle, Katie was loath to leave it behind.
The duchess shook her hand, indicating Katie was to hand it over.
“I’d rather—”
“No,” the duchess said. “It has become a source of security for you, and it’s time to give it up. It’s rather like that baby blanket was for Jane. Do you remember, Henry?”
“I have no idea what you are referring to, Mother.”
“My sweet Jane had a pink and yellow blanket one of the duke’s sisters had made her when she was born. It was adorable to see her carry it about when she was two and three, but when she was six, it became less so, especially considering the thing was little more than rags. But it had become a source of security for her. She couldn’t manage to sleep without it, and if she were frightened—by a thunderstorm or going away on a long trip—she would cling to that rag for dear life.”
“Oh, yes! I remember that old rag,” Carlisle said. “Jane called it Lanket and would wrap her dolls in it. Edward and I used to take it and hold it above her head so she couldn’t reach it. She would scream as though she were being murdered.”
Katie’s jaw dropped. “That’s awful.”
“Boys are quite awful, aren’t they, dear?” the duchess said. “I imagine your own brothers were just the same.”
Katie couldn’t deny it. Her brothers had enjoyed tormenting her as well, though it had been all in fun, even if she usually found it less amusing than they.
“Unfortunately, there came a day when I had to take Lanket away from Jane. It was dirty and smelled, and the maids couldn’t wash it again, as the lye would certainly reduce it to nothing.”
“Was that the time we had the funeral?” Carlisle asked. “We had to wear our best clothes and go stand under the big tree on the south lawn in the heat of summer. Papa dug a hole and placed the box with Lanket under the ground.”
“That’s right, and the next week a lovely rosebush had grown in that spot.”
“How did you manage that?”
“The gardeners, of course.” The duchess looked at Katie again. “Be assured, I will not bury your veil. I will have it waiting when you return. Until then, you must be brave.” She plucked the veil out of Katie’s hand, and Katie had to resist the urge to snatch it back. “Good luck, then,” the duchess said, and Katie might have sworn she heard her mutter,You’ll need it.
Carlisle offered his arm, and Katie took it. “I don’t want to be brave,” she whispered.
“Neither do I. We’ll be brave together.”
“That doesn’t reassure me.”
Ellsworth was waiting at the door. “Are the horses ready?” the duke asked the butler.
“And may your course be steady as well, Your Grace,” the butler answered.
Carlisle merely sighed and led Katie through the door. But she refused to be led any further once she saw the two beasts on the drive. “Where is the carriage?” she asked.
Carlisle waved a hand. “Too much trouble to bring it. Outriders and such,” he said. “Not to mention, it would attract attention. I thought we might ride.”
