Margaret nodded and turned to their mother. “Mother, will Father be back today?”
“I am not sure, my dear,” Penelope replied. “He might be, but he is so busy that we might not see him until we return to London.”
“I am sure he will come back to the estate. He would not want to miss all the fun, and perhaps we can play charades again. It was so much fun last time.”
Bridget looked across the table but not at the Duke this time. She looked at her mother, and Penelope gave her a knowing look. They both hoped the Earl would not return.
“Lady Bridget,” the Duke spoke up.
Bridget looked across at him, afraid of what he might say.
He looked pleasantly charming with a smile on his face. He placed his napkin down and rose from the table with his brother.
“I must excuse myself from the table and our walk. My brother and I are going into town, as he has informed me there is something he would like to purchase, and I am not at liberty to reveal what it is. Perhaps we will see each other later, and we can take that walk.”
“That would be nice,” Bridget replied.
She could not refuse him in front of everyone, but she also found that she did not want to refuse him.
“That is if you can finish all of your food by then,” the Duke added.
Bridget found herself giggling like a young woman trying to impress a gentleman, and she clapped her hand over her mouth.
The Duke stared at her, pinning her down with his gaze, before he turned and left the room with Michael. Bridget could not help herself again, and she watched him leave until he disappeared around a corner.
There was not as much conversation, with the Duke gone, and she ate as slowly as possible so she would not become full too quickly. After a while, Penelope and Rebecca both left, and Bridget was left alone with her sister. She decided to take control of the situation for fear that Margaret would ask uncomfortable questions.
“So, the wedding is in three weeks. What do we need to do next?” Bridget asked.
“Oh, forget the wedding!” Margaret claimed. “I wish to talk about you and His Grace.”
“His Grace?” Bridget echoed, trying to mask her smile. “What are you talking about, Margaret?”
“You tell me,” Margaret countered. “I could sense something immediately after you entered the room, and you could not stop staring at him over breakfast.”
“What!” Bridget exclaimed. “I was being polite. I only looked at him because I was talking to him.”
“And did I hear you giggling?” Margaret added.
“Giggling? I would never giggle. Perhaps I laughed as a courtesy, but it was certainly not a giggle. Can we please talk about the wedding?”
“Yours or mine?” Margaret responded.
Bridget shook her head, still trying to hide her smile. “Yours, of course. I am not going to marry, and certainly not the Duke. Did you hit your head on the way to breakfast?”
“I might have thought that yesterday, but something has changed since then,” Margaret pointed out. “My goodness! Were you out with the Duke last night?”
“What!” Bridget gasped. “How could you suggest such a thing? Do you believe I snuck out of the house in the middle of the night to be with the Duke? Does that sound like something I would do?”
“No, I suppose not,” Margaret replied, looking a little crestfallen. “Still, there is something between the two of you, and I think it is wonderful. You are happier this morning, quicker to laugh, have more of a glow in your cheeks, and you cannot take your eyes off him. And it was obvious he was looking at you the entire time. You can keep your secrets if you wish, but I know you like him.”
“I try to be congenial with everyone.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Margaret said with a smile. “I am sure you will be very congenial with the Duke.”
Bridget laughed at the comment and pushed her sister gently.
“Can we please talk about the wedding?” she asked. “If you don’t want my help, then I have other things to do.”
