You really are a rogue, aren’t you?
Bridget knew the others could not see it, but she knew exactly what the Duke was up to and what he was suggesting.
“Now, Fanny Burney,” she continued, not answering his question. “She is also a novelist, and many prefer her novelCeciliaoverEvalina, but I prefer the latter. A lot of thought has gone into describing social manners and customs in her fictional works, and, again, I implore you to read one or both of them to learn from them.”
“I shall take your suggestions into consideration,” the Duke replied with a smile.
“Lord Michael, I wonder… perhaps I shall take a walk while the sun is setting,” Margaret said.
“If you can find your lady’s maid, I shall join you. Only if you wish for me to join you, of course,” Michael suggested.
“Yes, that would be pleasant. I shall find my shawl.”
Michael almost stumbled as he stepped forward. “I shall find your shawl for you.”
“You are a gentleman.” Margaret beamed.
The couple excused themselves, leaving Bridget and Nicholas mostly alone on the veranda. Penelope and Rebecca were still there, engaged in their own conversation, along with a maid by the entrance to the house.
“My, you did very well,” Nicholas remarked.
Bridget rolled her eyes.
“Both now and previously. You certainly had me fooled at lunch. I truly believed you were the most well-behaved woman in the world.”
“I will have you know that I am very well-behaved,” Bridget declared. “It is rare that I am not, though it has been known to happen on occasion in the company of certain people. Hmm, no, not certain people, but one certain person.”
“Anyone who can elicit a response like that from you sure does wield a lot of power,” the Duke jested.
“Not as much as he thinks,” Bridget retorted. “Is that why you called me over here? So you could tease me again?”
“Oh, my dear, if I wanted to tease you, I could do so very easily. I choose not to.”
“Do you?” Bridget asked.
“No, I asked you over here to find out if you got into trouble earlier.”
“What are you talking about?” Bridget asked.
“I saw your mother grab your arm at lunch. Did you get into trouble for the way you have been acting?”
Bridget wanted to wipe the smug smile off his face.
“Not at all,” she replied. “She wanted to know if we should toss you out for being a complete rogue, but I informed her we should give you one more chance for the sake of our siblings.”
“Ah, so deep down, you do like me.”
“You think very highly of yourself,” Bridget scoffed.
“I don’t, but others do. When you get to know me, you will find I can be very agreeable.”
“I don’t think we have enough time together to discover that.”
The Duke laughed, and Bridget found she laughed with him. She had not meant to, but she enjoyed the back-and-forth. She strived for equality, and she had found her equal in the Duke. When it came to good-natured jesting, anyway.
It had been relatively good-natured so far, even if that had stemmed from frustration, but she had ignored a few of his previous comments that hinted at something else. The Duke was a notorious rake, but she would not fall for that.
If he thinks he can have that sort of fun with me, then he is sorely mistaken.