youâre feeling that engenders such a fist on the reins. Listen to me, you are absolved, Marcus, please believe me. From you I learned that my father did want me. That is important. I thank you for that. Now, Iâm sorry but there is nowhere for you to sleep. In Biddenden, very near to the sign of the Biddenden Maidsââ
âWho the devil are the Biddenden Maids?â
âYou didnât come through the village? No matter. They were Elizabeth and Mary Chalkhurst and they lived in the twelfth century. They were Siamese twins. In any case, theChequers Inn is not to be despised, but it is small, but perhaps not too small for the new earl of Chase.â She rose and smiled at him, not much of a smile, but something.
He stood and strode to her, looking down at her, knowing his stance was intimidating but not caring. âI will be back tomorrow morning.â He left her without another word. Badger was waiting in the small entrance hall. He opened the door and silently ushered him out.
âThe Chequers Inn will stable your horse, my lord,â he said.
âThat is something,â Marcus said, shaking his head. âSiamese twinsâremarkable.â
Â
When Marcus rode to the cottage the next morning, it was to see the Duchess dressed in an outmoded gown of faded gray, the sturdy cotton coming nearly to her chin, down on her knees, her hands gloved, digging in a flower bed.
He dismounted, tied Stanley to the tethering post, and walked to her. âI didnât know you were a gardener.â
She looked up at him. The sun was behind her, a halo around her head. Her forehead was covered with perspiration and there were two dirt smudges on her face. She looked lovely, more than lovely, damn her. âYes, I enjoy it very much, as did my mother. Only I have more the green thumb than she did. I had the time, so why not?â
âHow do you suddenly have the time? Does this mean that you wonât suddenly jump up humming and leave the roses?â
âItâs always possible.â
âI want you to give me an honest answer, Duchess.â
âIf I feel like it.â
He wanted to box her ears. He came down on his haunches beside her. âHow are you supporting yourself?â
âYou no longer believe there is a man in the background?â
âNo, and I never did. Not really. You wouldnât do that. But God, it makes no sense, surely you must see that.Youâre naught but a young girl andââ
âIt has been five years, Marcus. You really have no idea as to my character or lack thereof. Of my talents or lack thereof. In short, you know nothing at all about me.â
âThe Twins miss you, as does Aunt Gweneth. They want you to come home with me.â
She smiled down at her filthy gloves, at the rich black earth that nurtured her precious roses. âYou have become a very handsome man, Marcus, a very eligible gentleman. Since you are the earl of Chase, you will doubtless be sought after by every single female in this fair land. You will be marrying soon so that you may go about the business of breeding an heir. I cannot imagine your wife wanting me anywhere around. Iâm a bastard. It would behoove you to remember that.â
âIâm not even twenty-five yet! For Godâs sake, give me a few years before I must leg-shackle myself.â
âForgive me. I quite understand your consternation since I share the same reluctance. You must admit that my unusual upbringing could easily leave a girl with a somewhat cynical view of dealings between men and women, particularly married men and unmarried women.â
âNone of this matters, dammit. Listen, Duchess, you cannot remain here, living alone with a man despite the fact that he is your servant. Your reputation will be in ruins. You were raised to be a gentlewoman. It is what youâre meant to beâa gentlemanâs wife, the mother of his children. I wish to give you
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