Page 56 of It's a British Christmas

“Of course she did. She most likely has high aspirations and thought finding you would better her position in the world.” Most likely seeing his expression had her changing her attitude. “Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful to them, actually. In fact, I think we should send them money, or maybe offer Miss Allen a position in our home, if you would like, she seems like a hard working girl.”

“Miss Allen is not seeking a position, or a reward for helping me. She and her parents took care of me because it was the right thing to do. They were not looking for anything in return, and I sincerely believe if you offered them money they would be highly insulted.”

The duchess waved her hand. “I doubt that. You saw that house, it’s small, and their furniture is old, and certainly that gown Miss Allen wore is years out of fashion. They could use the money, and I think we should offer it to them.”

“Mother, if you offer them one shilling, I will cut your allowance in half.”

She suffered in silence for about five minutes, and then to his regret, started up again. “Why did you not notify me immediately of your injury? Why did I have to have your man of business come to the house to tell me my son had been shot and probably dying, and he never thought to send word?”

“By the time I sent word to Mr. Mathers, I was well on my way to good health, hardly dying.”

The carriage rolled to a stop in the front of the inn he’d seen the week before when he and Eve brought the food and clothing items to the Common to distribute to the needy.

Eve.

The only good thing about Mother’s harping was it kept him from thinking about Eve, and what a disaster he’d left behind. He should have told her long before now that he was a duke and close to making an offer for another woman. Close, but not yet finished. The reason he’d not said anything in the beginning was because he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable with his status as a duke, which is precisely what he’d ended up doing. What in heaven’s name had come over him to pursue Eve before he broke free of Lady Ann?

“It was simple. He’d fallen in love with her.

That thought jarred him like nothing else in his entire life. He’d spent the last ten years avoiding one grasping female after another, thinking there was no one he could ever love, who would love him back, proving such a thing existed in his world.

Until now.

It mattered not that she was a rector’s daughter, and was raised away from the ton, and did not have the schooling to accept the role of the perfect duchess. He doubted she could paint a decent watercolor or play the pianoforte with skill. However, Eve had a sense of humor, a kind heart, an intelligent mind, and best of all she would never bore him into a coma within months of marriage.

They liked the same things, the same authors, loved chess, and laughed at the same jokes. He sensed an underlying passion in her when he’d kissed her. She would not be a wife who merely suffered her husband’s attentions, but would embrace them as she did all of life. Eve was strong, charming, compassionate, and beautiful.

And he loved her.

“Mother, I want you to extend an invitation to the Allen family for Christmas. In fact, I would like you to invite them for an extended stay during Christmas.”

She huffed. “I will certainly not. You are betrothed to Lady Ann, and we will be spending the holidays entertaining her, along with her parents, Lord and Lady Fenster. Remember your place. Whatever happened between you and the Allen chit is behind you.”

Before he could remind her that he was not truly betrothed, the footman opened the door to the carriage. His mother turned to him. “We will discuss this further inside.” She climbed down, and waited for him. Taking his arm, they proceeded into the inn.

“Lord Manchester, so nice to see you.” The innkeeper offered him a generous smile. Adam recognized him from the assembly.

“Young man, my son is the Duke of Manchester. You will address him as Your Grace.”

A bit taken aback, the poor lad flushed red and gave a sharp bow. “I beg your pardon, Your Grace.”

Adam glared at his mother. “That was not necessary.” He turned to the young man. “We need two rooms for the night. Can you accommodate us?”

“Yes, yes.” The man who had chatted so friendly with him earlier suddenly turned into a subservient clerk, bowing and scraping and making Adam immensely uncomfortable. “Right this way, Your Graces. I’m afraid our lodgings are nowhere near what you are used to, and I apologize.”

“No need. Whatever you have will be fine.” He glared at his mother when she gave a distinctive sniff.

He entered the room the lad brought him to, which was small, but larger than the one he’d been sleeping in at Reverend Allen’s house. He stripped off his clothes, and laid on the bed, staring at the canopy and wondering how he could fix the mess he’d gotten himself into.

Mama smoothed back Eve’s hair as she laid on her bed, the tears still leaking from her eyes. “Eve, you knew from the start that nothing could come of an acquaintance with a member of the peerage.”

She knotted the handkerchief in her hand. “Yes, I know.” Eve looked up at the woman who had been such a force in her life. “But, Mama, it hurts so much. He lied to us. Not only is he a duke, but he is betrothed to another woman!”

“It could not have ended any other way. And a duke!” Her mother shook her head, still apparently unsettled that they’d been housing a duke for a couple of weeks. “I will get you a cool cloth for your head. That will help to settle you and tomorrow things might look a bit brighter.”

Poor Mama. Always the optimist, never able to bear one of her children suffering. She rose from the bed and left the room. Eve turned onto her side and thought about Adam. How he’d kissed her, and held her face as he stared into her eyes. What had he seen there? She didn’t want to think about it.

And his promises of working things out. Of wanting her to return to his home with him. He must have taken leave of his senses. She no more belonged at a fancy duke’s home, than he’d belonged in her little house. She was a rector’s daughter from a small village, and he was a duke. Nothing more needed to be said.