Dukes By the Dozen

No she didn’t. She needed him gone and his news with him. And yet, wouldn’t it be lovely to be able to lay her problem in his lap?

Shaking her head, she fought the urge to jump to her feet and resume pacing. She hadn’t realized how much she had absorbed Jamie’s hero worship.

“He has come to tell me that as Jamie is already dead, Lully is his mother’s heir.” She lifted her head and frowned. “Which makes her the new Duchess of Kintyre.”

Hattie blinked. “Great gods.”

Georgie managed a dry smile. “Indeed.”

“They couldn’t be mistaken, I suppose.”

“I imagine that if the earl could have found any legal way to prevent this, he would have taken it. Evidently a Scottish title can easily pass along the female line. Who knew?”

“Merciful heavens.” Hattie heaved a sigh herself. “A duchess. I suppose I shall have to brush up on my acts of obeisance.”

Georgie huffed in frustration. “Don’t you start as well. I told him no.”

“You told who no? The duke?”

Georgie nodded.

“You know you cannot do that, of course.”

Georgie plucked at her skirt. “It was all I could think to do at the moment. It is still all I can think to do.”

“He’ll be back.”

“Yes. Tomorrow. So he informed Williams when he was being given his hat and coat.” Helplessly she looked up at her friend. “What can I do?”

“I don’t suppose there is time to catch a fast boat to Calcutta.”

That at least made Georgie smile. “I hate curry.”

Hattie nodded. “So do I. Too bad. I’m quite certain your friend Lady Diccan could recommend some lovely places to visit.”

“She and Lord Diccan are in Venice with the Lidges, I believe.”

Hattie brightened. “I wouldn’t mind a gondola ride.”

Georgie shook her head. “I have a feeling that even that trip to India would not deter the duke. He mentioned something about the tenants needing Lully in order to prevent some type of disaster.”

Hattie’s humor disappeared. “Then you cannot run away.”

“I cannot let Lully go to London either. Or Scotland. You know that. I can not let any of this happen.”

Hattie was saved from answering by a scratch on the door.

“Come!” Georgie called to have one of the younger nursemaids pop her carroty head around the door.

“Morning, ma’am. Up for a bit of a visit?”

At which point without notice or permission, a small, rather dignified little girl marched into the room as if attending a presentation. Her bright red curls bounced as she walked and her sharp green eyes held serious intent as she ironed the front of her little white pinafore with both hands on the way in. It was all Georgie could do to keep from giggling.

“Do you think she’s known all along about her inheritance?” Hattie asked sotto voce, her own brown eyes sparkling. “For if there was ever a four-year-old duchess, this is the one.”

The minute he spotted the little girl, Murphy hauled himself to his feet with a groan and padded over to stand where Lully could lay her hand on his neck, which was level with her own. All Georgie could think was that this must have been what young Queen Maeve looked like. She also had the feeling that if she told her daughter the news the duke had brought, Lully would simply dip her head in acknowledgement, knowing it was only her due.

Thank heavens for little Jamie and Murphy, who had forced silliness and play upon her like a mandatory meal.

“Curtsy,” the maid whispered.

Lully turned a scowl on her. “I know.” And then, gave her mother and Hattie a wobbly curtsy that almost landed her on her head. “Morning, mama.”

“Good morning, Sprite.”

Finally her baby let loose with a waterfall of giggles. “I’m not a sprite! I’m a girl!”

“I don’t know,” Georgie said with a frown. “A little girl would have already hugged her mama.”

And just like every other time they’d played the game, Lully cast herself into her mama’s arms and peppered her face with small kisses. Georgie held that little heart to hers, laughing and kissing back, tears welling in her eyes. No one would hurt her baby. No one. She had had far too much practice in protecting her own to allow it.

“You squeeze too tight!” Lully protested.

Georgie eased her grasp a little, knowing Lully was right. She felt frantic, suddenly, as if someone would come up and literally rip the little girl from her embrace. As if Jamie’s very handsome, very nice cousin would.

He would not. She would kidnap her child and run if it came to that. She had done it before.

“He doesn’t understand,” she protested, her face against her daughter’s neck where she could catch that little girl scent she loved so much.

“Who, mama?” Lully immediately asked.

Georgie pulled back and brushed the hair back from her little girl’s forehead. “I was speaking to Hattie, sweet. Boring adult business.”

Her little duchess crinkled up her forehead. “Where is Jamie? I want Jamie.”

“What did we say? When does he come?”

Another moue of concentration. “Sat-day.”

“Saturday. Yes. And do you know what day this is?”

Lully shook her head with enough force to send her ribbon sliding over her left eye, which provoked more giggles.