Page 29 of The Odyssean Duke

Her heart was in her throat by the time she found Mrs. Poleman, her housekeeper. Evelina’s fingers ached. She longed to fidget with her gown but forced herself to maintain the composure expected of a Dowager Countess of Thornwall. “Mrs. Poleman.”

The housekeeper, whose back had been to Evelina, started. “Your Grace,” she exclaimed, dropping into a practiced curtsey. “I apologize. I did not hear you enter.”

Evelina smiled awkwardly. “That is fine.” She paused, a knot of anxiety twisting in her chest. “I have a rather delicate matter which I wish to consult with you about.”

“Oh?”

Evelina swallowed hard. Perhaps it would have been better if she had not called the matterdelicatefrom the start.

“I will have a guest this evening. He is…” Evelina trailed off, trying to find the most tactful and polite way to describe the Duke of Rothbury. “He is newly come to London and may not wish to have rumors spread of our encounter.”

Mrs. Poleman’s eyes narrowed. “Oh?” she asked.

“Yes.” Evelina paused, her face growing hot. “He will come to have some tea and conversation.”

“A conversation which he hopes no one else will speak of,” Mrs. Poleman said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “I believe I understand.”

Evelina let out a small, anxious laugh. “No, it is—it is nothing untoward!”

Mrs. Poleman’s lips curved into a sly smile. “I never said it was, my lady. You are simply receiving a male visitor for a friendly conversation, and you do not wish to be disturbed because your guest is shy.”

Nothing untowardwouldoccur, but hearing Mrs. Poleman say everything like that made it quite apparent why the housekeeper would believe otherwise. Evelina clasped her hands behind herback and considered if insisting upon her innocence would do more harm than good.

“I suggest the blue room,” Mrs. Poleman added. “It is a lovely room and quite away from prying eyes. Of course, I can also offer the staff an evening off. I am certain that most of them will wish to enjoy the town if given the opportunity.”

“That would be amenable,” Evelina said.

Giving the staff an evening off, so she could meet a male guest without his presence being noticed, sounded…salacious. More than salacious. Evelina remembered how His Grace’s lips had felt against her own, and she had to fight the impulse to flee from Mrs. Poleman and her fond, knowing look.

“When is this visitor to arrive?” Mrs. Poleman asked.

At that moment, a young maid, Emma, entered the room and curtsied. “A gentleman has arrived for you, my lady.”

Evelina inhaled sharply. “It is—he is early.”

Emma’s brow furrowed. “I have not said who it is?—”

“I shall greet him,” Mrs. Poleman said, the picture of poise as Evelina emotionally floundered. “Emma, I trust that you can be discreet about our visitor’s presence. He is new to London and unaccustomed to the attention of the ton.”

Emma opened her mouth as if to protest, but Mrs. Poleman silenced her with a look.

“You may tell the staff that they have the rest of the evening off,” Mrs. Poleman said. “The lady wishes to retire early due to a headache, and she would prefer that the house be silent.”

If Emma had any further protests, Mrs. Poleman’s offer seemed to have assuaged them all. “Of course, Mrs. Poleman.”

The maid departed hurriedly, as if she feared that lingering might cause Mrs. Poleman to change her mind. Smiling brightly, Mrs. Poleman gestured towards the blue room. “I shall bring the gentleman to you, my lady.”

“Thank you,” Evelina said.

During the encounter with Emma, she had been lost for a moment, uncertain how to respond to the duke’s early arrival. Now, all her doubts and anxiety returned at once. She had an answer for him—of a sort.

Would it be enough? If he insisted that they make their unbreakable agreement that very night, with all the terms already drawn out, did she dare refuse? As Evelina walked to the blue room, so named for the delicate blue and gold wallpaper, she thought of those unmarried young misses gathered around him. His Grace had more options. If he was displeased with her, it would be but a small matter for him to find another woman to marry him.

Evelina entered the room and sat primly on the settee. There would be ample room for him to drop onto the settee beside her and still a respectable distance between them. Maybe he would notleave arespectable distance between them. Her heart raced as she imagined the Duke of Rothbury looming over her, his breath warm against her face.

She should move to the chair. But perhapshewould take the chair?

Footsteps came from down the corridor, and Evelina rose. She had missed her opportunity to make a graceful retreat. As the duke entered, she rose and smoothed invisible wrinkles from her skirts. “Your Grace,” she said.