“Let’s leave it be for now,” William told his brother.
Christopher slid his eyes to the side, regarding William curiously. “And what of Lady Alice’s safety?”
“Nothing to worry about, my dear Brother, I will protect her.” William gave him a crafty grin. “Even if that means I have to stay by her side every second of the day.”
That made Christopher sigh wearily, shaking his head. “Why doesn’t that inspire much confidence in me?”
“Because you do not know how to trust me, Brother,” William said jovially. He wrapped his arm around Christopher’s shoulders, chuckling when Christopher only pushed him away.
“That is because you’ve given me every reason not to,” Christopher stated, his voice serious. That only made William grin wider. “But very well. At the very least, I do not think you will let anything happen to her.”
“Call me Lady Alice’s knight in shining armor,” William boasted.
It was enough to smile and grin with Christopher, but it didn’t mask the uneasy feeling curdling within the pit of his stomach. It had kept him up all night thinking about what could have happened had that man not missed. The memory only made his smile slip, a grimace creeping in instead.
At that moment, William heard a soothing sound. He paused at the same time Christopher did. His brother looked over at him with a slight frown. “Is that a pianoforte, I hear?”
“You hear it as well, do you?” William asked. “Perhaps Lady Emma is practicing. Lady Alice did say she has never really cared for such things.”
“Ah, I see.” Suddenly, Christopher’s features filled with eagerness. He began walking again, his steps more hurried than before.
“Excited, are we?” William drawled with a grin, following behind his brother. “And here I thought I would never see the day my dear younger Brother would fall in love.”
“Please get all your teasing out of the way before we arrive,” Christopher threw over his shoulder. “I would prefer if you did not try to embarrass me in Lady Emma’s presence.”
“I wouldn’t dare!” William exclaimed with fake horror. Something told him Christopher had rolled his eyes, which made him chuckle to himself. He fell silent, keeping up easily with Christopher’s long strides.
Soon, they came upon the source of the music, tucked away behind the drawing room doors. Christopher didn’t hesitate to open them and stroll in. Inside, Lady Emma’s playing didn’t falter but the Duke of Warington turned his head upon their entrance.
“Ah, Lord Erlington! Lord Christopher!” The Duke sprang to his feet, waving them over. “Come, come. Her playing is lovely, isn’t it?”
“Most certainly, Your Grace,” Christopher agreed. He managed to tear his eyes away from Lady Emma’s graceful frame, but not for very long. He was already making his way to an armchair, staring at her as she swayed to the tune drifting through the room. She seemed unaware of their presence.
William stayed by the door, not intending to stay. Lady Emma was certainly quite as adept at the pianoforte as Alice has mentioned, but it wasn’t enough to keep him from seeking Alice’s company instead. He decided to stay for a few moments, out of respect for the Duke’s request, before he slipped out to find the sharp-tongued lady he couldn’t get out of his head.
The Duke of Warington had gone over to one of the walls, calling for a servant William guessed. Within a minute, a maid came to the drawing room, curtsying before she went to sit in the corner of the room, closer to Lady Emma. Lady Emma was still completely unaware of what was happening around her, still engrossed in her playing.
“My Lord?” came the Duke’s voice at William’s side. “Come and take a walk with me. I’d like to speak to you.”
William felt a twinge of nervousness at the sudden request. Had the Duke found out about their late-night outing without a chaperone? Or perhaps the intruder? William tucked the questions aside as soon as they came. If that were the case, he doubted the Duke would be this calm, amiable even.
They slipped out the drawing room, leaving Christopher alone with Lady Emma and her chaperone. Then, they continued down the hallway, walking slowly enough for William to assume the Duke had no true destination in mind.
“I must say, My Lord,” the Duke began. “You and Lord Christopher have only been here for a short while and it feels as if you have become a part of the family already.”
That took William by surprise—so much so that he wasn’t sure what to say in response for a few moments. Then, he remembered his manners. “Thank you, Your Grace. I cannot think of a better compliment.”
The Duke chuckled. “Well, believe it as the truth, My Lord. I have enjoyed both your company since your arrival and I can see that Emma has as well. Alice, however…”
Catching on to what the Duke was trying to say, William couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yes, it appears Lady Alice is not very fond of me.” At least, not in the beginning. I’m not very certain what she thinks of me now.
The Duke sighed so heavily, William nearly pitied him. “I must apologize on her behalf, My Lord. She’s always been quite headstrong ever since she was a child. There was little I could do to break her of the habit.”
“There is no need to apologize, Your Grace,” William assured. “On the contrary, I am fond of Lady Alice myself. I find her quite intriguing.”
The Duke looked sharply at him, his eyes growing round. “Truly?”
“Is that so difficult to believe?” William couldn’t help but ask, smiling.
