20. Chapter 20

Chapter twenty

Louisa woke to the sun streaming in through her window. She ran her hands along the supple pillows, then she rolled over and skimmed her feet along the sheets. Sitting up, she stretched her arms over her head, enjoying the soft birdsong outside her window. And then it hit her . . .

Robert never told her what that letter meant.

Louisa jumped from her bed, hurrying to the bellpull to ring for her maid. She threw open the doors to her wardrobe, grabbing a gown and laying it out on her bed before beginning to remove the fabric ties from her hair to save Beatrice time.

When Beatrice arrived, Louisa sat at her toilette table, eagerly awaiting the moment she could storm into Robert's office. It was understandable he had withheld the information when she withheld herself, but now that she had been open and honest with him, she felt it only fair that he share his truth as well.

"Just a simple knot will do for today, Beatrice. I have some matters that need attending to."

"Of course, Your Grace." Beatrice's hands deftly began twisting and pinning Louisa's hair in place.

Louisa's foot tapped impatiently on the floor until she forced herself to stop. It was not Beatrice's fault Louisa was in a hurry, and it wasn't fair to rush the woman in her duties. But as soon as she finished, Louisa sprang from her seat, causing Beatrice's eyes to widen.

Louisa spared her a quick apologetic smile before hastening to the door.

The house was bustling with servants carrying in furniture for the Lavender Room, but Louisa maneuvered her way around them before taking a decided turn toward her husband's library instead of overseeing the progress. She gave a quick knock at his door, then allowed herself entrance.

"Louisa," Robert said, his head perking up from his papers and his eyeglasses draping across his nose. "Is something wrong?"

"In a matter of words, yes."

Robert's brow puckered. "What is it?" He tugged on his spectacles, and she watched as one temple hung on his right ear as the left pulled free. Then he proceeded to tease his lips with it. Drat those pesky things. She might have to go bury them in the backyard.

Louisa sauntered over to a chair opposite him at his desk. "You never told me what the letter meant."

He chewed a smile from his lip. "You didn't ask."

"I did ," she insisted, "but you refused. And then you never proceeded to tell me after I opened up my heart to you."

He scowled down at a letter he held in his hand, still using his eyeglasses to tease his mouth. "You did not remind me."

"I am reminding you now."

His eyes flicked to her as he kept his head turned toward his correspondence. "Perhaps now is not the time." His gaze went to the door.

"Then when would be a good time?"

He sighed, putting his paper and eyeglasses on his desk as he leaned back into his chair. "It is just that others are involved beside myself. If word got out, it could cause issues."

"Goodness. What sorts of things are you involved in?"

"Did you not recognize the address?"

"No. Why should I?"

"Well, while it's not the exact address, you did follow me to that part of town a couple weeks ago."

She leaned forward, grasping the desk lightly. "This has to do with your pugilism?" she whispered. But it didn't make sense. Doing the sport for exercise was not uncommon amongst peers.

"Yes, it does. But as I said, it is not just me in this case. Therefore, I fear I must use more discretion."

Why did Robert feel the need to keep it a secret? And why go to another building instead of having private instructors come to his home? Surely he could afford it. "Does Lord Griffith box as well?"

"Louisa," he said, tone low, lightly scolding her.

"Well, I should like to come."

He picked up his letter once more. "No. That is simply out of the question."

"I know the day," she gloated. "I will simply go by myself."

Robert massaged his brow, eyes scrunching shut. "You are not going to leave this be, are you?"

She kept her gaze level, batting her lashes. "I am surprised you have to ask."

He rubbed his brow again. "Fine. You may come. But you must do as I say and keep quiet about what happens. We do not need a repeat of the last time you were there."

She stood from her seat, running to his side of the desk. "Thank you. You shall hardly notice I'm there."

"For some reason, I highly doubt that," he said dryly. Sighing, he glanced up at her. "I cannot seem to say no to you."

"And I will try not to abuse my power," she said, solemnly placing a hand over her heart.

"Now out with you." He waved her off. "I have work to do and you are a distraction."

"You are not to say those things to me, remember?"

"I remember telling you I would not stop saying those things, actually. I only promised not to kiss you."

Her swallow stopped mid-throat, wedging itself there. "Well, I should go." And run far, far away. "I had only come in to ask after the letter."

As she walked to the door, Robert's voice sounded at her back. "You keep telling yourself that, Duchess."

She turned and was met with playful eyes as he unabashedly grinned at her. Yes. She needed to be very careful going forward.

He donned his glasses.

Much, much more careful.