miles from Gillingham. I believe Lady Dunwood, the headmistress of the school, understands troubled boys and has them well in hand.”
He wondered why the boys might be troubled and decided it was because their father had been so ill. Rhys remembered Dez sharing that the duke had suffered not one but two heart attacks, the second severely curtailing his activities.
Dez placed his saucer down. “It’s time for Anna and me to visit Charlie. We do so after tea each day.” He looked to Rhys. “Would you be so good as to entertain my sister during our absence?”
“I’d be happy to.” Looking to the duchess he said, “Of course, if you are tired from your journey to Torville Manor, perhaps you would prefer to rest.”
Those bewitching brown eyes sparkled as she said, “Not at all. I hate being cooped up in a carriage. I would prefer walking the gardens if you are amenable to that, my lord.”
He rose. “I would be happy to escort you there, Your Grace.”
She asked her brother, “Country hours for dinner?”
“Of course,” Dez replied easily and led his wife from the drawing room.
Once again, Rhys experienced that pinch of anxiety, feeling totally inadequate. He had no idea what country hours might mean. It was just one of many things that made him feel as if he would never be part of the world of Polite Society. Though Dez had been an army officer alongside Rhys, Dez had come from this lifestyle and innately understood it. Rhys doubted he ever would.
The duchess came to her feet and he had enough sense to know he should offer her his arm.
“Shall we?” he asked.
She placed her fingers on his forearm and something sparked between them. She drew in a quick breath. He was gentleman enough not to look at her or refer to it. But it did increase the growing desire he had for her. Rhys tamped it down. Dalinda Baker may have been a hellion as a child but she was a mature, married woman now and didn’t seem the type who would take her marriage vows lightly and indulge in a casual affair.
They came to the gardens and she removed her hand from his arm as they strolled side-by-side along the path.
“I always did love these gardens,” she confided. “I used to follow our gardener around and help him with the flowers and plants.”
“Physical labor was allowed?” he asked.
She laughed, a deep, throaty laugh which made his spine tingle pleasantly.
“I’m sure it wasn’t in other families but Torrington didn’t really care about Dez or me. We were afterthoughts. The twins who killed his wife. He and Ham spent most of their time in town. Dez and I did pretty much whatever we wanted to do.”
The duchess laughed again as she remembered the past. “Those were good times. And Anna was always a part of them.”
“She seems well,” Rhys said. “Dez has shared some of what she went through at the asylum.”
“Anna is the sweetest person you shall ever meet—but her core is made of steel. I could never have survived what she did. Or even being in the military and fighting in battles, as you and Dez have.”
“I believe you underestimate yourself, Your Grace.”
She grew thoughtful. “No, I don’t believe I do. I was the lucky one of the three of us. Fortunately, Gilford offered for me—and saved me from wedding a fat, old stranger. He gave me two lovely sons and taught me quite a bit.”
That intrigued him. “What did he teach you?”
“Everything,” she said simply. “I knew nothing about world affairs. We would read the newspaper together and he would explain politics and economics to me. He was quite fond of art and architecture and shared his knowledge of those subjects freely. He thought it important for me to know about our estates and so I learned about farming and horse breeding.”
Rhys frowned. The way she spoke of Gilford, it was as if he were deceased.
“Forgive me, Your Grace, but I must ask about your husband.”
“What do you wish to know?”
“Is he . . . alive?”
A shadow crossed her face. “No, Gilford is no longer with us. He passed away a month ago.”
Stunned, he looked at her and she quickly said, “I know I am not wearing widow’s weeds. I hope you won’t judge me too harshly, Lord Sheffington. My husband was in the sickroom for the last couple of years and he told me I had mourned for him enough during his ill health. He