When David Hammonds answered the summons, Jonathan asked, “Is Miss Singer still up?”
“I think so, Your Grace. Shall I ask her to come to you?”
“Yes. I would like her assistance with sorting these things again, and with the household accounts. She writes with a fine hand and quickly understood the way the entries need to be made.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” David said, his face politely expressionless.
* * *
Celeste was sitting in the servants’ dining hall sipping a cup of tea when David found her. “His Grace would like to see you,” he said.
She rose at once. “I will go to him straight away.”
David studied her face for a moment. “Do be careful, Miss Singer. When the likes of us mixes with the likes of them, the results are not always good.”
“Thank you for your concern, David. But I owe the Duke a great deal. He is having quite a trying time just now, so I am glad to help.”
The tall young footman looked at her sadly. “Just be careful, Miss Singer. The Duke is a good man, but he is still a man.”
These words echoed the advice given her by Miss Sedgewick. Celeste bit her lip, holding on to her temper. “He has offered to do nothing that could not be done in full view of the entire household, including his wife. I have no fear of the Duke overstepping his bounds.”More’s the pity, for I do not think I would say him nay. How can such a man endure a woman like the Duchess?
Celeste arose from where she sat and placed her cup in the tub on the sideboard. “I will go to him now, if you please, David.”
* * *
Jonathan looked up with a smile when she tapped on his door. “Miss Singer! I have need of your help again.”
“Of course, Your Grace. I will be glad to.”
Jonathan moved the heavy box of reports and mail over to the side of his desk. A much smaller desk now sat there, next to his. “I took the liberty of creating a better workspace for you by having one of the footmen bring this down from the old school room. If you can sort this box of mail and reports just as we did together yesterday, I will take care of some of the letters I need to write.”
Celeste sat down at the small desk and began to sort the items in the box. For some time, there was no sound except the crackling fire, the susurrus of shuffling paper, and the scratch of Jonathan’s pen. The door from the study to the hall was open. David Hammonds stood outside, the footman on duty for the evening.
Jonathan surreptitiously watched Celeste as she sorted the papers, then without further direction from him, opened the little book of household accounts, and began entering the day’s tally of supplies used and supplies harvested. He had, from time to time, hired a clerk to take care of these menial record keeping tasks, but had never found one that met his standards.
Now, the abigail I hired to tend my wife is proving herself to be a better clerk than any I’ve had to date. And she is so beautiful.
Scarcely knowing what impulse moved him, Jonathan stepped to the door of the study.
“David, will you fetch us up some tea? These dry papers make for thirsty work. See if the cook has some of that custard left, or perhaps a few biscuits as well.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” David replied. But he cast a meaningful look at Celeste.
Jonathan saw the look, and recognized the protectiveness in it. But the young footman went at his bidding in spite of what were clear misgivings.
Jonathan then turned to Celeste. “I must take this chance while I can, for young David will not be gone long. I want you to know that I am making every effort to protect your reputation. But I also want you to know that I admire you, and I find you beautiful. Before meeting you, I had no idea that a woman existed who could combine feminine grace with supreme competence.”
Celeste blushed, but held his gaze unwaveringly. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
Jonathan struggled to find the right words, then settled for speaking plainly. “I am married, although I hope to have that marriage set aside for a variety of reasons. Our stations are vastly different. Yet I find that I am rapidly developing a tender spot for you, in addition to being deeply appreciative of your very competent help.”
Then he thought over what he had just said. “Miss Singer, if I were an ordinary shepherd and you an ordinary villager, I would declare my undying love for you. No, I, as a Duke declare my love for you, in spite of all the obstacles that society might place between us.”
Celeste turned wide eyes to him. Was that a little trace of fear in them?
“Your Grace,” she began. But David returned with the tea just then, so he was denied hearing the response she might have made. With infinite grace, Celeste rose and poured tea for all three of them.
As she passed a cup to Jonathan, she allowed her fingers to brush against his. “Will you take sugar or cream?” she asked.
