Eva sniffed as he released her and climbed inside. Daniel closed the door and then he was gone. She watched the carriage until she could see it no more and then the tears began to fall. Arms came around her and she fell on the warm, hard chest and sobbed.#p#分页标题#e#
...
“The Dowager Duchess of Stratton,” Wernham said in his deep baritone.
Startled, Eva looked up from the letter she was writing as Daniel’s grandmother walked in. The room instantly seemed smaller – just as it often did when her husband was near. Eva had met the Duchess once before; however, she had not known then that she was to become related to such a formidable woman. Rising to her feet, she knew her morning of letter writing had drawn to an abrupt halt. Shooting a quick look at the clock above the door, she was relieved to realize Daniel would be returning soon from his business appointment. He had not wanted to leave her, no matter how briefly, yet she had urged him to do so, she was safe here with their servants behind closed doors.
“Well, girl, it is long past time you showed your face in society,” the duchess boomed as she took the seat opposite Eva’s.
“Tea, please, Wernham.” Eva smiled at the butler, who hovered in the doorway looking anxious. She then sat on the edge of her seat. Something told her that with Daniel’s grandmother in the room, she needed to be ready for any eventuality.
“Although looking at that rag you have on, it is just as well you have not been seen in public.”
“Good morning, your Grace, I am most pleased to meet with you again. This time it appears you are playing the part of your true self.” Eva’s cheeks were beginning to ache with the effort of smiling.
“Backbone. Excellent,” the duchess said, her thin lips curling slightly at the corners.
Eva wondered if this constituted a snarl or a smile.
“We won’t have time for tea now – there’s much to be done!” she suddenly announced, regaining her feet.
She was very agile for an elderly woman, Eva thought, standing, too. It was all very strange. The woman had insulted her and then complimented her (she thought) and now she appeared to be leaving. Or did she have something else in mind?
“Come, girl, collect your things and I will wait in my carriage! Ten minutes, mind, and no more,” the duchess added, giving Eva a gimlet-eyed stare which was disconcertingly like her grandson’s. She then stomped toward the door she had only minutes ago entered.
“Uh, I seem to have missed something,” Eva said. Dear Lord! Did Daniel’s grandmother expect Eva to accompany her somewhere? Just the thought of the two of them spending time together sent chills down her spine.
“Shopping, girl! For pity’s sake, have I not just explained it all to you? Not hard of hearing, are you?”
“I soon will be,” Eva muttered, touching her ears as she watched the old woman leave the room.
“May I be of assistance?” Wernham appeared as if by magic before her.
“I appear to be going shopping.” Eva knew she sounded dazed.
“I will inform the duke upon his return, your Grace.” The butler looked grave.
“Thank you,” Eva said, walking out of the room. She thought frantically of feigning a headache or having Wernham tell the Duchess she had fallen down the stairs and broken her ankle. But then she would have to stay inside for several weeks, which appealed to Eva but would hardly be fair to Daniel. She pulled on her pelisse and bonnet and prepared to leave the house.
“Hurry up, girl!”
Eva ran down the stairs as the loud voice reached her. Closing her eyes, she prayed silently for a safe return.
Two hours was all he’d been gone and in that time the old besom had swooped in and taken Eva away.
“Why did you let her go?”
Wernham did not flinch in the face of his master’s anger.#p#分页标题#e#
“Of course you could not have stopped her. Bloody woman. A brace of beefy prize-fighters would struggle to subdue my grandmother,” Daniel snarled.
“I will bring you some refreshments, your Grace,” Wernham said. “Also, the Duchess’s piano arrived today, and I had it placed exactly where you stated.”
As if he could eat or drink! Just thinking of Eva in the hands of his grandmother and out on the streets of London without his protection made Daniel feel ill.
He had not taken Eva into society yet because he was giving her time to adjust to life in London. Then there had been Reggie and his needs, which had taken up more time. He had decided that this week they would attend their first engagement and now his grandmother had swooped in and taken her shopping. What must she be thinking?