Tall, Duke, and Dangerous (Hazards of Dukes #2) - Megan Frampton Page 0,21
than grunting.”
“I like the grunting.”
The words were out before she realized she’d spoken, and then she felt her cheeks heat, far hotter than the tea she’d yet to taste.
She picked the cup up off the table and brought it to her lips, lowering her head in a vain attempt to hide her face.
“You do, do you?” Octavia sounded amused. And, more frighteningly, she sounded as though she were pondering something.
“He is a family friend,” Ana Maria hastened to explain. “We’ve known him since he was about ten years old, of course I am accustomed to his . . . noises.” She could have compiled a dictionary of what his various sounds meant—some grunts were clearly approval, while others were just as clearly annoyance.
“And he is attractive, in a brooding, villainous way. Rather as if one of those fearsome lords from the novels came to life. He doesn’t have a castle, does he?”
“Not to my knowledge.” Ana Maria didn’t necessarily want her friend to take an interest in who Ana Maria was interested in, but she did enjoy the circularities of Octavia’s mind. No wonder Sebastian now counted her amongst his closest friends.
“Pity.” She tapped her lip in thought. “Still, it’s not enough for him to stomp around and mutter inarticulately. At least not for you. What is it that you like about him?”
This was dangerous territory, not the least of which was the very distinct possibility that Octavia would find some indiscreet way to throw the two of them together, and she already knew what Nash would have to say about that.
He regarded her as his friend’s older sister, nothing more.
“Shall I tell you where we’ll be going today?” Ana Maria said brightly.
Octavia rolled her eyes, but didn’t comment on the blatant change of topic. “Certainly. I am considering redecorating some of the chairs in the club, and I’d like to look at fabric.”
Ana Maria forgot all about how prickly and uncomfortable she felt, launching into a detailed description of the places she’d been to already, and the places she wished to go. Finally, Octavia held her hand up.
“Shouldn’t we just go there? Much as I’d love to hear how this one store displays their fabrics from India more charmingly than the other does their fabrics from China.”
Ana Maria winced. “Right. I am sorry, I just—”
“You’re just enthusiastic,” Octavia cut in. “I appreciate that very much. It is wonderful to see a lady in your position enthused about something that isn’t male and with a title.”
At which point both ladies burst into laughter, Ana Maria laughing at her friend’s obvious sarcasm, and Octavia grinning at having been so obviously sarcastic.
At least they weren’t talking directly about Nash anymore.
“What about this one?”
Octavia held a bit of fabric up to show Ana Maria, who was internally debating between cloth that was a vibrant fuchsia in a paisley pattern or a more demure seafoam green with bizarre approximations of sea life.
Ana Maria frowned in Octavia’s direction. “What would you use it for?”
Octavia wrinkled her face up in thought. “I was considering covering the bar at the far end of the room. Although I don’t think liquids and this fabric will mix.”
“Likely not. That one doesn’t look sturdy enough for upholstery. Perhaps only for a wall hanging.”
Octavia made a disappointed noise as she dropped the fabric.
“You seem to know a lot about my wares, my lady.”
The shop owner stepped out from behind his long counter, an appraising expression on his face. He was Chinese, which made Ana Maria think that was why his fabrics were so much more extensive than British merchants. She presumed he could negotiate directly with the fabric makers in his home country, at least, and the Chinese silks were her favorite. “You were here a few months ago? You purchased the bolts of silk that had just arrived from China.” He shook his head in fond remembrance. “I had many customers for that fabric, but you purchased the most of it. A truly remarkable color.”
“Yes,” Ana Maria replied.
“And you’re back with your friend to buy more?”
“Yes. That is, I am considering redecorating. This is just a preliminary visit, my friend wished to see where I found the fabrics I used.”
“Ah.” His gaze traveled from Ana Maria to Octavia and back again. “And this young lady, your friend? Is she as knowledgeable as you?”
Octavia snorted as Ana Maria shrugged.
“You are here to assist, then,” the merchant said.
“Look at this one!” Octavia enthused, waving another piece of fabric in the air.
It was