Darling Beast (Maiden Lane 7)

She’d scored that point and well he knew it. But he seemed to take the setback in good humor. He stepped aside as Maude hurried out with two chairs—mismatched, of course, but Lily knew better than to apologize. To show any sort of weakness to a man like the duke was as ill-advised as a mouse’s bolting in front of a waiting cat.

He gestured gallantly to a seat and she settled herself gracefully, watching as he took his own chair. The duke moved with a sort of lazy elegance that, she thought, belied how dangerous he might be.

He glanced around at the devastated garden. “It’s a rather macabre spot, don’t you find?”

“Not at all, Your Grace,” Lily lied. Surely he didn’t think he’d catch her out with such a mundane snare? “The atmosphere of the garden is terribly mysterious. I find it altogether charming—and a wonderful influence for my stagecraft. An actress must always find inspiration for herself and her art.”

“I’m gratified to hear you say so,” the duke replied smoothly, “for as you know, I am now part owner of Harte’s Folly.” She must’ve given herself away somehow—a slight, involuntary movement or a widening of the eyes—for he leaned forward. “Ah, you didn’t know.”

Wretched creature. She made herself relax. “La, I’m not apprised of every little business dealing with the garden, Your Grace.”

“Of course not,” he murmured as Maude came out with a small footstool. She set it between them and disappeared back into the theater. The duke cocked an eyebrow at the plain wooden footstool and addressed it. “But this ‘little business dealing’ does put me in the position of your”—he cleared his throat delicately and looked up at her—“employer.”

Maude returned with a tray of tea at that moment, saving Lily from an ill-conceived reply.

Lily smiled as Maude set down the tray and poured tea for them both. Maude handed her the dish of tea with a question in her eyes. Lily held her gaze and murmured her thanks, signaling that she wasn’t in need of help.

The maidservant gave a quiet huff and left.

“She’s very loyal, isn’t she?” the duke observed.

Lily took a sip of the tea. It was weak—Maude must’ve used the last of the good tea leaves—but hot. “Aren’t all good servants loyal, Your Grace?”

He cocked his head as if seriously considering her comment, before replying decisively. “Not necessarily. A servant can serve quite adequately—even superbly—without any loyalty to his master at all.” He smiled, quick and mercurial. “As long, of course, as the master has fitted the servant with a proper bit between his teeth.”

Lily repressed a shiver. What a very loathsome image. But then aristocrats weren’t like other people. They played with the lives of ordinary folk as easily as Indio poked a stick into an ant’s nest, never considering the destruction they caused.

“I find I don’t much like the thought of bits,” Lily murmured.

“No?” he asked. “Would you allow horses to run free?”

“People aren’t horses.”

“No, but servants are quite close,” he retorted. “Both servants and horses live to serve their master—or at least they should do. Otherwise they’re quite useless and need to be put down.”

She stared at him, watching for the twinkle of the eye, the twitch of the lip, to indicate he jested.

His countenance was pleasant but grave.

Was he jesting?

He took a sip of tea, watching her. “Don’t you think so, Miss Goodfellow?”

“No, Your Grace,” she said sweetly, “I do not.”

At that his wide lips did break into a smile—beautiful and corrupt. “You speak your mind, ma’am. How refreshing. Tell me, have you a protector?”

Oh, dear God, she’d rather bed a snake. Not to mention the insultingly frank way he’d made his proposition.

She smiled again—though it was becoming harder and harder to keep her expression polite. “Your Grace flatters me with his attention, but I have no wish for a protector.”

“Don’t you?” He let his gaze travel skeptically over the falling-down theater she lived in. “But no doubt you know best your own circumstance.” His voice was politely doubtful. “I have another use for your, er, person that you might find more to your liking: an acquaintance of mine is hosting a house party in a few weeks and is planning to stage an especially written play as part of the festivities. He has engaged a theatrical troupe of players, but the lead actress has unfortunately found herself unable to play.” He made a slight moue. “A delicate indisposition, you understand.”

“I do indeed,” Lily said coolly, feeling pity for the actress who had discovered herself with child and thus out of work. She hoped the poor woman had someone to care for her. Without Maude she wasn’t sure what she would have done when Indio arrived. “But I’m surprised, Your Grace.”

He tilted his head, his blue eyes sparkling with interest. “Indeed?”

“I would think the arranging of a simple house party play quite beneath your attention.”