The palpable relief in the room amused him. He had made a poor impression. Never had he been so aware of the power he held and so uncertain of how to use it.
“Thank you,” Ivy said with a thin smile. “Perhaps you might call at a better time and tour the back gardens.”
“In the daylight,” Lilac added.
“Perhaps next spring,” Rosemary said, making no attempt to hide her distrust or her pistol. “The rose walk shows beautifully in May.”
He granted her a cynical smile. “I’ll wait for the invitation, then.”
He turned to the door.
“Your coat isn’t even dry, Your Grace,” Ivy said hesitantly behind him.
“That’s fine,” he said, his servants reappearing at his side. “My carriage is supplied with coal braziers and brandy. As you’ll learn when my coachman collects you on Friday. Until then, ladies, I bid you good night—with apologies yet again for the intrusion.”
* * *
Ivy stared at the family portraits lining the hall while Rosemary stood at the window, watching the duke’s coach disappear into the rain. One painting of a Restoration ancestor seemed to smile at Ivy in understanding. Ivy’s father had insisted he was a rogue courtier who didn’t belong to either side of the family. Her mother contended he had slipped into the gallery because his ghost could not give up flirtation. He stood with a sword at his side, and even though his eyes sparkled with questionable integrity, the sisters had decided to adopt him. His mischievous presence lifted their spirits.
Ivy smiled up at him. The duke uplifted her, too.
“I swear he’s winked at me more than once,” Rue said, putting her head on Ivy’s shoulder.
“I believe that.” Ivy smiled. “You’re beautiful enough to stir a ghost’s passions.”
“Speaking of passions,” Lilac said. “I do believe he desires you, Ivy. I can still feel it in the air.”
Ivy turned to see Lilac propped against the balustrade at the top of the stairs. “The rogue? He’s never winked at me in his life. Or death, I mean.”
Lilac shook her head. “I mean the duke. He wants you. It was ever so obvious. For a moment when you opened the door, I thought he had come to abduct you. It would have been terribly romantic except for the rain. What a pity he couldn’t have met you when you were on the market as a wife and not governess. You might have mentioned how handsome he was. He’s truly a magnificent man.”
Ivy laughed in embarrassment. “What are you talking about?”
“The duke. If he ever calls again, I hope it’s on a clear evening.”
Ivy sighed in exasperation. “You don’t understand. He wants this house. He didn’t chase me through the garden the other day out of romantic fantasy. Couldn’t you tell how eager he was to look inside and assess our poverty?”
“I agree with Lilac,” Rue said, frowning as Ivy’s shoulder was immediately withdrawn as a cushion for her head. “He might wish to acquire Fenwick, but his eyes gave his other desires away. Think about it. If he wanted a proper look at the house, he could have come in the morning. But it was Ivy he wanted to see, and he couldn’t wait. You should tell him to find another governess, Ivy.”
“Well, I signed a contract,” Ivy said bluntly. “And I’ll do whatever is necessary to keep the manor.”
Rosemary glanced around in amusement. “Will you do anything?”
“We’ll have to see,” Ivy said. “I might.”
“You wouldn’t,” Lilac said, laughing in delight.
“That’s how the family started. Let’s hope that isn’t where it ends.”
Chapter 9
Ivy woke up, stiff and cold. The journey to London had drained her. She took a moment to adjust to the dim atmosphere of the unfamiliar chamber. It was supposed to be a respectable hotel, but during the night there had been a party in another room that had gone on into the wee hours. Ivy wasn’t certain whether she had dreamt Rue sneaking into the hall to investigate.
She sat up in bed and shook Rue gently awake. “It’s not raining. With any luck we’ll make it to the pawnbroker’s shop and be home before supper. I’ll have to buy a new dress in the village and shoes and stores for the pantry. We all need cotton stockings and shifts. If we have enough money left over, we’ll buy rose water and gloves.”
Rue sat up and combed her fingers through her hair. She was avoiding Ivy’s eyes. “What a horrible place this is.”
“Why did you leave the room last night?” Ivy asked.
“There was a party down the hall, and I was hoping to catch a servant in passing and have him ask the guests for a little consideration. You were sleeping peacefully. I couldn’t sleep at all.” She slid from the bed. “Come. We’ll do what we have to do.”