She nodded quickly, desperate to get their attention away from her. “That is absolutely fine with me.”
She needed to be more careful the next time. She could not afford getting lost in her thoughts so often, particularly when they mostly revolved around His Grace!
It was simply unbecoming and exceedingly embarrassing!
But still, she could not help but think of him more often. His kindness and gentleness had been like a ray of sunshine that pierced through the dreary clouds of her life.
In fact, if she was being quite honest with herself, she would have admitted that she was beginning to develop some tender feelings for him herself.
But those feelings were not something she could act on so she tried her hardest to dismiss such notions.
It is only normal for him to be so kind to us. It is I who should not make much of it and spin crazy ideas out of his genuinely compassionate nature…
Chapter 14
About an hour after luncheon, the young ladies trooped into the lavishly appointed carriage bearing the crest of the Duke. Oliver waited until the last one, Trixie, was settled in before he followed them inside.
After the death of the Viscount of Ranhold, the entire household was still in mourning and Lady Suzanna and Lady Claire still refused most callers and had not attended social functions for weeks.
It was rare to see them out in their black mourning gowns.
“I daresay, this is the most excitement I have had since we came to London!” Trixie exclaimed, her gamine face shining with excitement. “I admit that I have yet to see the rest of the city and I feared that I would be back in Ranhold Manor without having seen the most exciting places!”
Oliver laughed at her infectious enthusiasm. “I have been remiss in my duties as your guardian, Trixie. Do forgive me.”
“Of course you are forgiven,” the young girl replied flippantly with an impish grin. “As long as you promise to buy me another box of sugar drops and take me out on another carriage ride next week!”
“Trixie!” her older sister admonished her, but she only laughed and waved Claire off.
“Oh Claire! Do not ruin this for me!”
Her older sister and Lady Suzanna laughed at her unrepentant expression, while Oliver could only shake his head. Trixie was possessed of a certain charm that was hard to resist even when she was being absolutely mischievous.
“Fret not, dear Trixie, I shall make sure that you have an adequate supply of sugar drops for the rest of our stay in London,” Oliver promised her.
“Heaven forbid!” Claire exclaimed in horror. “I cannot imagine any more of your excessive exuberance!”
Oliver laughed as the siblings continued to banter as the carriage proceeded down the street. Their first stop was the Thames, where he planned to survey a new ship design.
The proposal had made it to his desk earlier in the week and it looked rather promising—a faster ship meant faster returns, after all. However, it was also quite expensive.
I will have to consult Suzanna on this later.After all, this is part of her inheritance and her dowry.
While most men of their status made decisions without consulting their womenfolk, Oliver was of a different mind. Perhaps, it came with living among sharp-witted females, so it was almost inconceivable tonotseek their opinion on matters of great import.
Especially matters that concerned their future, as well.
“Are we headed for the Thames?” Trixie exclaimed. “Oh, Claire! Look! We are headed for the Thames!”
Claire laughed at her sister’s infectious enthusiasm. “That we are. I think I would like another look at those bridges, though. They seem absolutely lovely, in addition to being quite useful.”
“I am meeting with a shipbuilder,” Oliver told them. “They have sent me blueprints for a new ship design and I intend to see the actual prototype. Be careful, though,” he warned them. “This place can be dangerous if you are not careful.”
“Perhaps we should stay inside the carriage,” Lady Suzanna suggested worriedly. “We should be able to see plenty from here.”
Claire nodded in agreement. “I agree with Lady Suzanna.” She cast a meaningful glance at her sister. “Perhaps it is best that we stay inside for this part of our trip.”
Trixie pouted but with both her older sister and Lady Suzanna decided, there was very little she could do.
