Chapter 428: The Prefernce Of Five Suitors

Chapter 427: The Preference of Five Suitors

Lyria’s POV

Pippa entered bearing the message that Duke Thorncrest was agreeable to the plan.

She said he would bring provisions, should I have need of them, and that I was not to hesitate in applying to him, for he considered himself entirely at my disposal.

I nodded, grateful for his willingness. It seemed, in truth, a rather small thing to feel grateful for — provisions, offers of aid — and yet, after the day I had endured, every small kindness felt a thing worth holding onto, as though it were some precious stone I might keep close within my pocket.

A few minutes later, Debbie returned. She did not even trouble herself to feign the limp, and I marked this with no small degree of amusement. She informed me that Earl Hawthorne had given a similar reply — should there be anything further required of him, I was not to hesitate in reaching out.

Soon all my maids had returned, and not one gentleman among those I had applied to for aid had proven disagreeable. Though Bridget did confess she stood prepared to threaten Duke Aurelgrave, should he think to raise any objection whatsoever. Though I rather doubted Lucian should have proven disagreeable in the least.

Debbie rolled her eyes at Bridget’s remark, and told her, rather sharply, to rein in that attitude of hers, for it would not do to threaten a duke, however affectionately meant.

I only laughed at their exchange. Bridget was determined, it seemed, to be excessively protective of my person, and I was not ashamed to confess I found no small pleasure in how deeply she cared for me to such a degree that she should not think to threaten a gentleman of considerable standing on my behalf.

But while all my maids stood present, Duke Valenridge had not yet returned, even after the passing of several minutes, and I found myself wondering what could possibly detain him so long. He had said he would return, however, and I trusted he meant it entirely, for he was not a man given to speaking carelessly. Whatever else might be said of him, his word, once given, held firm.

And it was for this reason that I turned to Elara.

"C-could you fetch s-something for Duke Valenridge?" I asked her.

Elara frowned, her brow furrowing slightly as she regarded me.

"What precisely do you mean by ’something,’ Your Highness?"

"F-food," I said. "For he has b-been asleep since he c-came earlier this m-morning. Even when I t-took my own meal, he remained a-asleep still."

I had not wished to disturb him, for I feared he should be unable to return to sleep once woken. But he was awake now, and should return presently, and I found no cause not to have something prepared, that it might settle his stomach properly. Besides which, he had endured a great deal on my account this day already, and the day itself was not yet spent.

"I p-propose to o-offer it t-to him, as t-thanks for his aid."

Pippa then asked, a note of teasing plain in her voice, "Is this on account of some guilt you feel, Your Highness, for having taken his money?"

I shook my head at once.

"I f-feel no such guilt. Duke Valenridge is a m-man of considerable wealth, and I d-do intend to procure r-rather more of it from him still, should he c-continue to offer me his a-aid. For most undertakings require f-unding, do they n-not?"

Pippa burst into laughter at once, as did the others.

Elara shook her head, though a smile touched her lips regardless. "I shall see to it, as Your Highness requests."

Then she called to Pippa, who pouted most childishly.

"I have scarcely spent any time in Her Highness’s company since this morning," Pippa said, quite wounded.

Elara gave her a stern look, and Pippa moved at once to her side, like a properly chastened child.

My lips twitched with the effort of not smiling.

Then, just as they reached the door, I spoke.

"You o-ought to take care to l-load the tray with a g-great variety of delicacies, that the d-duke might be persuaded to partake of it properly. For, as I r-recall, His Grace does n-not much care for f-food generally."

Elara stared at me.

Pippa stared at me likewise.

"What i-is it?" I asked them.

Elara shook her head. "Nothing, Your Highness. Nothing whatsoever."

Then she and Pippa took their leave.

The moment they had gone, I turned to my remaining maids.

"W-was there some f-fault in what I s-said?" I asked.

Debbie, Margery, and Bridget regarded me a moment. Then Margery asked, "Do you recall, Your Highness, what Duke Thorncrest is partial to?"

I frowned. "What d-do you mean?"

"Do you recall Duke Thorncrest’s particular palate?"

"Of c-course I do. He s-tated, during the interview, that he possesses a c-considerable f-fondness for sweets."

Debbie then asked, "And Duke Aurelgrave’s?"

"He c-cares nothing at all for s-sweets, though he a-always brings me s-sweets regardless."

"What of Earl Hawthorne?" she asked.

I laughed softly. "He possesses a s-sweet tooth of considerable proportion. He c-carries confections about his person a-always, wherever he g-goes."

"And Baron Redwick?" Bridget asked.

"He d-detests most confections w-with jam at their c-centre."

The maids exchanged a glance amongst themselves.

Debbie said, "You recall every one of them, without fail."

"Of c-course I d-do," I said. "I a-attended to what they s-said, when they s-said it."

My maids exchanged yet another glance, and then, as one, they nodded — a small, private acknowledgment that passed between them, as though some quiet matter had just been confirmed.

Just then, a knock sounded upon the door.

"It is His Grace," Bridget said at once.

Debbie adjusted her posture and said, "You need not fret, Bridget. I shall keep my eye upon the Duke throughout his visit."

My lips twitched once more.

Then the door opened, and Duke Valenridge entered.

Zephyr stirred within my arms, and I set him upon the floor. To my surprise, however, he walked directly towards Duke Valenridge, and there planted himself before him, staring him down with the utmost gravity.