When a Duke Loves a Governess (Unlikely Duchesses #3) - Olivia Drake Page 0,90
throng to help the duke. Meanwhile, she kept Sophy entertained by discussing which performance had been their favorite, all the while keeping a watch out the window for Carlin.
Where was he? How badly had he been hurt? And how had it all come about? She could only think it must have been a terrible accident.
To her great relief he appeared at last, taking his leave of a stout, fawning gent who kept bowing to him. The footman then assisted the duke into the carriage. Carlin sat down opposite them, his neckcloth tied around his upper arm in a makeshift bandage. The fine linen was stained an alarming red. “Ah, I’ve found you, Lady Monkey. I feared you and Miss James had run away with the circus.”
Sophy stared with saucer eyes. “Papa, why are you bleeding?”
“A mere scratch. Once we arrive home, Jiggs will fix it and I’ll soon be as right as rain.”
The girl seemed satisfied, although Tessa thought he looked entirely too pale beneath his sun-bronzed skin. She could tell that his smile was forced, his manner stiff from pain. He sank against the cushions, using his good arm to support the afflicted one. Although she itched to know if he’d caught the shooter, and how such a mishap could have happened, she thought it best to divert Sophy with reviews of the most amusing acts they’d seen.
It seemed to take forever to reach Grosvenor Square, and from the instant of their arrival, the household was in an uproar. The footman no sooner opened the carriage door and helped them out than he dashed into the house, and a moment later Roebuck came hastening down the front steps to meet the duke halfway.
“Pray lean on me, Your Grace,” the butler said, his usually dignified features taut with shock. “You look to be on the verge of collapse.”
“I’m perfectly capable of walking.”
“Don’t argue, Carlin,” Tessa said firmly, having noticed his unsteady gait. “You will accept his help.”
The duke flashed her a grimace; then he grudgingly submitted to the butler’s steadying arm as they all proceeded toward the house. Tessa was a little surprised that Carlin would heed her decree. Either he truly was dizzy, or it had done him good to have his coldhearted proposal rejected.
Once inside, Roebuck barked orders that had the other footmen running for bandages and hot water. Another was dispatched to summon the family physician. In the mysterious way of servants, the news spread like wildfire and in the time that it took for the butler to assist Carlin across the expanse of marble to the grand staircase, a number of the staff had found some excuse to scurry out to the entrance hall to gawp at their wounded master.
Winnie came dashing down the corridor, and Tessa bent down to give Sophy a kiss on the cheek before transferring her into the nursemaid’s keeping. “Winnie will fetch your tea, dearie, and later I’ll read you a book.”
“I want jam tarts,” Sophy said, ever on the alert for a way around the rules. “A dish big enough for a giant!”
“One tart,” Tessa corrected.
“Two,” Carlin countered, having brushed away Roebuck to take hold of the staircase railing. “A special treat since a girl only celebrates her fifth birthday once.”
“Thank you, Papa, and for taking me to the circus, too.” Without prompting, she flung her arms around his waist and tilted an earnest look up at him. “I hope your booboo is better soon.”
“It shall be, never you fear.”
As he stroked the girl’s hair, the softening of his harsh features brought a lump to Tessa’s throat. These past few days she had used every opportunity to erase the damaging hatred instilled in Sophy by Lord and Lady Norwood, and to replace it with gentle reminders of how kind her papa had been in showing her the parrots even though Sophy had broken his window. He had let her collect feathers in the conservatory, and he loved her enough to take her to the circus for her birthday. Having never known her own father, Tessa was determined that Sophy not feel alone and unloved. Today, seeing the little girl climb into his lap during the tightrope act had been a marvel beyond compare. Nothing had ever touched Tessa’s heart more than fostering a closeness between Carlin and his daughter.
Yet one searing question remained. Now that she’d accomplished her purpose, what else was there to keep her here?
Only the prospect of never seeing him—or Sophy—ever again.