Could it be more obvious? Two mentions of bird watching and now he was informing her of her lost binoculars. “No, why do you ask?”
“It isn’t important. I happened upon a pair in the woods today and thought they might be yours.”
“As you well know, I was busy accepting a marriage proposal today andnottraipsing about the woods in search of birds.”
“Speaking of your charming betrothed, where is he now? Has he abandoned you already?”
“Rest assured, he is close by.”
Had Trajan seen them yet?
“And since we are pretending to have a polite conversation,” she continued, “and asking after our significant others, where is your dear wife?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Why do you wish to know?”
“Oh, I thought I might invite her to Gull Hall for tea with me and my aunt the day after tomorrow. Seeing as I shall soon be the Duchess of Weymouth and setting up residence at Gull Hall with my husband, is it not the neighborly thing to do? Or is there a reason she might decline the invitation? You would not be so cruel as to hold her hostage in your own home,” she said loud enough for others to hear, “and deprive me of her lovely company.”
He did not look pleased, but managed to maintain his thin veneer of civility, especially as several guests standing nearby were obviously listening in on their conversation. “I shall let my wife know to expect your invitation.”
“Excellent—one of Weymouth’s footmen will deliver her a formal invitation first thing in the morning.” She bade him a good day and hurried up the stairs to her guest quarters.
She barely had time to open her wardrobe when the door she had left ajar in expectation of a maid’s arrival to assist her suddenly slammed open and a furious Trajan stormed in.
Oh dear.
He looked every inch the daunting duke, quite enraged as he cast her the most ominous frown she had ever seen on a man. “By all that is holy…do you have a death wish, Florence?”
Chapter Four
Trajan had meantit when he said Florence was his now to protect.
But did she have to make it so difficult for him to fulfill that vow? “What were you thinking, inviting Lady Frampton to tea with you and your aunt? And now she will have to return the invitation and invite you intoherhome.”
Florence did not appear in the least remorseful, which riled him all the more.
“You have just answered your own question,” she said, sounding as blithe as a summer breeze. “How else was I to get into the Frampton house without raising suspicion?”
He raked a hand through his hair. “Without… Dear heaven, Florence. The man has put a big, fat target on your back. And you think to just stroll into his home without a care?”
“I will be with my aunt. I’m sure Lady Frampton will invite both of us.”
He rolled his eyes, for she was just too much. Too stubborn. Too reckless. Too achingly beautiful, and this upset him most. How could he possibly be attracted to Florence when all she had done since their unexpected meeting in the woods today was give him fits?
“Oh, yes. Perfect,” he shot back. “That frail, old woman is just the one to defend you. I can see how her little bird fists can bring a man down with a single blow.”
“I have no intention of snooping around while I am there.”
“Do you think I am a witless fool? You are going to give Lady Frampton a tour ofmyhome when you have her over to tea at Gull Hall, so that she will be forced to give you a tour ofherhome when you visitherat Frampton Court.”
Florence blushed. “Is this not what any polite hostess would do?”
He heard footsteps down the hall and expected one of the inn’s maids would walk in at any moment. “Gad, how did your family survive you all these years? We’ll finish this discussion back at Gull Hall.”
He strode out, almost knocking over the poor maid in his irritation. After mumbling an apology, he stormed downstairs.
But he was loath to return to the dining room, since Frampton and his cohorts would no doubt be watching him like a pack of vultures waiting to swoop in for the kill. Yet he did not want to wait for Florence and her aunt by his carriage and risk missing Frampton’s next move…assuming he had one.
What was he doing here?
