Charlotte took the remaining empty seat. It was next to Stewart and directly opposite the duke. There would be no way to hide from his gaze.
“I must say, it looks delicious,” Stewart said.
“Indeed,” the duke said. “I, for one, cannot wait to dive in.” He looked up, capturing Charlotte’s gaze. “Miss Charlotte, would you like todive in?”
Charlotte glared at him across the table. He played a dangerous game, but it was one she most definitely would not lose. “I have sampled many meals here at Hurtle House,” she replied simply. “I know how wonderful the cook is.”
“She certainly is,” Chelsea said.
She nodded to the maids who began dishing up from the big tureens in the center of the table. There were roast potatoes and steaming boiled carrots. There were peas as green as green can be, a little knob of butter melting into them on top, and a whole leg of baked mutton that the butler now carved. Charlotte licked her lips in anticipation. She could ignore the jibes of the duke in return for such a tasty meal.
“How are you finding your stay here, Your Grace?” Chelsea asked, turning politely to the duke.
“You have the most beautiful home, Lady Chelsea. I must commend your gardeners on such a magnificent job.”
“We are very lucky to have such a wonderful staff here,” Chelsea agreed. “Walking through the gardens is always a delight—and there is always something new to see.”
“Of course, it won’t be your home for much longer, Chelsea,” Stewart pointed out as he sliced through the meat on his plate. “You’ll be moving to Leming’s estate soon.”
“His townhouse, I hope,” Chelsea said. “I am not quite tired enough of London yet.”
Charlotte kept her eyes on her plate, delicately cutting up her roast potatoes and trying not to think of the duke.
“But you’ll want to start a family, surely,” Stewart said.
Chelsea slid the fork out of her mouth and nodded. “When the time comes, I will be happy to move to Lord Leming’s country seat. It would be the best for the babe, after all.”
“Perhaps somewhere with a lake would be nice,” the duke said.
Charlotte’s head shot up. She threw him a warning glance, silently reminding him to keep his mouth shut on their true meeting.
“Thereisa lake on his property, actually,” Chelsea said, not noticing the quiet war that raged beside her. “I do love to swim—as does Charlotte. Don’t you, Charlotte?”
Despite herself, Charlotte’s cheeks reddened once more. She nodded with a weak smile. “I have been known to swim once or twice,” she said, studiously avoiding the duke’s amused gaze.
“I’d far rather go for a walk between the trees myself,” he said.
Charlotte could feel his eyes on her, burning into her. She squirmed in her seat, her flesh hot and prickly. Though she didn’t raise her eyes, she could see the movement in his strong hands as he grasped the cutlery. She licked her lips, once again forcing him from her mind.
“You ought to be careful about what you might find in the woods, Your Grace.”
She looked up at him in time to catch his single eyebrow raising. “Very true, my lady. One never knows when one is going to happen upon a strange creature who bites.”
“Walks in the woods?” Stewart said with a snort of laughter. “Creatures who bite? You’ve been reading for too much literature, Alexander. And I’ve never once seen you walk in the woods.”
“Ride, then,” Alexander corrected. “You know how much I adore an early morning ride.”
His focus left Charlotte to go to Stewart, and she felt herself relax. The conversation moved forward, and she no longer felt in danger of being revealed. The duke talked about hislove of riding, and Charlotte couldn’t help but imagine herself in his arms atop his horse.
Or perhaps between those powerful thighs.He had as much as called her a creature, after all.
Dessert was trifle, the rich strawberry jelly topped with cream. As Charlotte tucked in eagerly, she found herself thawed out a little. The note of irritation that had thrummed beneath her surface was replaced with light laughter and simple, good conversation.
She realized that perhaps the duke was not the man she had once thought him to be. Indeed, his conversation was intelligent and interesting, and he held them captive with his witty repertoire.
“I must say, Your Grace,” she said finally. “You are far more knowledgeable about far more than I had given you credit for.”
He shot her an uncertain look. “Should I take that as a compliment?”
