The Clarendon Rose Read Free Page A

hair and expelled a deep sigh.   “Excellent.   Well, I thank you for your candor, Miss Merriweather.   I shall take my leave for the moment, and look forward to furthering our acquaintance over dinner.”
    She managed to refrain from grimacing at the news that he would be expecting her to join him for the evening meal.   Instead, she nodded, rising when she saw him stand.   She curtseyed as he walked by, keeping her eyes downcast so she would not embarrass herself by following his movements with her voracious gaze.
    He had just reached the door when she heard him pause.   She glanced up.   He had turned back to face her, a frown creasing his brow.
    “Actually, I do have one further question for you, Miss Merriweather.”
    More about her supposed betrothal to Edmund, no doubt.   Perhaps he hoped to catch her off guard and thereby elicit some sort of incriminating confession.   She schooled her features to politeness before meeting his gaze.   “Yes, sir?”
    “Over the last few days, sorting through the affairs of the holdings, I couldn’t help but notice that someone had taken over the administration of the estates during my father’s illness.   Yet, I could find no record of a new estate manager being added to the payroll.”
    Tina felt her stomach tighten as she did her best to appear casual.   He had to find out at some point, of course.   She just hadn’t expected the question to come up so soon.   “Oh?”  
    “Who is it that took over—do you know?   I should like to go over a number of points with him in further detail.”
    Tina closed her eyes briefly, tempted to try putting the duke off until she had more time to think about what she would say.   But then, taking a deep breath, she decided that the sooner he discovered the truth, the easier it would be for everyone.   “I can tell you, sir.”
    “And?”
    She raised her chin.   “I have been taking care of all the affairs of the estate since Uncle Charles fell ill.”
    “I see.”   He nodded slowly, his expression distant, the beginnings of a frown creasing his forehead.   When he saw her watching, he smiled, but the wry humor in his expression seemed forced.  
    She swallowed, suddenly anxious to justify her actions.   “I had been involved with them even before.   Often as not, I used to make the rounds with Uncle Charles when I was growing up—I enjoyed the company and I think he did, too, what with Edmund so determined to be the younger son and you—“ Tina cut herself off and cleared her throat.  
    “At any rate, from that, my interest in the administrative aspects of the holdings began to develop.   I think Uncle Charles was happy to find some one who cared about such things.   He was most amenable to showing me how he kept the books, decided on the allocation of funds and so on.   When he fell ill, the doctor suggested he not exert himself overmuch, but without the assurance that someone was tending to the affairs of the estate, he would certainly have tried to continue his duties.”
    She knew she was rattling on, but in the face of his neutral expression—as if he had forgotten to be amused—she felt all the more determined to justify herself.   His hands had curled into fists, and she could practically feel the tension in him.  
    No doubt, she reflected bitterly, it was galling to learn that a mere woman, the daughter of disgraced parents and indeed, the very fortune-hunting hussy who had lured his brother into a betrothal, had also presumed to take over the lofty responsibilities normally reserved for the Duke of Clarendon.  
    She tried to ignore the tide of vitriol that threatened to rise up into her throat.
    “And so, you took over to ensure that he rested and preserved his strength,” he ventured, his tone dry to the point of being curt.  
    “Indeed.”   Even to her own ears, the word sounded clenched.   This was the man who would be taking over from her.   How could she trust him to make wise,