Page 12 of Beauty and the Lyon


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Had Leopold spoken to them about her?

The duke cleared his throat. “This is the carriage.”

Rosilee had never had so many question marks appear in her head as today. She didn’t know quite what he meant to convey, unless he was merely pointing out that this was indeed,thecarriage. That would escort her? She gave a slight nod, unsure how to answer, but the corner of her lips still lifted at his awkward, stiff posture.

What an intriguing duke.

“Forgive my employer’s clumsy manner, my lady. I am Giles Bishop, the duke’s right-hand man, and I’m here to assist you and him in any possible way.”

Right-hand man?What happened to being a butler?

“Miss Green,” he added, “is also an acquaintance of mine.”

That caught Rosilee’s undivided attention. “You know Evangeline? How?” She glanced at the two men suspiciously before asking Mr. Bishop, “Are you also acquainted with my brother? Tell me the truth, did Miss Green send you to me?”

“She did not,” Mr. Bishop said, shooting an odd glance at the duke. “We heard through another source since we’ve been keeping an eye onBastonfor some while now.”

“This is all rather remarkable,” Rosilee said. Given her predicament, she shouldn’t simply disregard such odd coincidences, especially when they mysteriously worked in her favor. However, she didn’t detect any sense of malice from either of these two men. So, she would give them the benefit of the doubt, and pray they were indeed telling her the truth.

“Shall we?” the duke said, motioning to the carriage.

Rosilee nodded, eager, and Mr. Bishop held the door open for her to enter. The duke followed, settling in across from her. “Are you not joining us?” she asked when Mr. Bishop moved to shut the door.

“Me? A mere servant? I wouldn’t dare.”

Rosilee blinked. Why did his designation keep changing? “Wait! What about Ben?” She’d almost forgotten about Ben!

“Do not worry, my lady,” Ben called from the outside. “I shall ride in the front with Mr. Bishop.”

“Are you sure, Ben?” Rosilee asked, unsure.

“Yes,” came the boy’s reply, and before she could even think to answer, the door shut.

Well, I never!

There was a flurry of movement outside as they presumably transferred her belongings, and moments later the carriage lurched forward.

Was all this all right?

They were heading to London just like that?

“My carriage...” Not that she thought them fools, but they did seem to have an air of carelessness about them. “And horses...”

“Do not worry about them,” the duke answered calmly. His eyes met hers. “My men will see to them.”

“What men?” They were all bunched up in the driver’s seat, weren’t they?

“The ones who followed the carriage and will probably arrive shortly.”

There weremoremen? She must be losing her reason. All this was more than strange. But then, Rosilee had learned to embrace strangeness at a young age, since her family had always enjoyed odd pursuits and regularly got themselves into strange circumstances. Just look at her brother and now her.

He motioned to the book still clutched in her hand. “You enjoy reading?”

She glanced down at the novel, rubbing a finger over the surface. Another thing she had forgotten about. “I do.” She sent him a skeptical glance. “Don’t tell me you are one of those men who scoff at a woman who reads.”

“I am not. I quite enjoy reading myself.” He bent down and slid open a hidden drawer that opened by his legs under his seat.

Her breath caught as she glimpsed what lay within.