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“I Helped a Duke Find His Lost Dog,” She Told Her Mother — Then the Garden Gate Opened

“I Helped a Duke Find His Lost Dog,” She Told Her Mother — Then the Garden Gate Opened

Chapter 6

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"Good morning, Your Grace. You are without your usual shadow today.""Bracken is currently investigating the stables," he replied. "I thought it best to spare the village market any further disruption." He paused, his gaze fixed on the path ahead before turning to her. "I recalled you mentioning during tea that you were seeking a particular treatise on the cultivation of climbing roses. I have taken the liberty of sending to my library in London for it. It should arrive by the end of the week."Eleanor stopped, turning to face him in genuine surprise. It had been a fleeting comment, a minor detail buried amidst a longer conversation about gardens. Yet he had caught it and immediately acted upon it."That is incredibly kind of you," she said, studying his face. The breeze stirred the edges of his dark hair. "But you need not have gone to such trouble. You seem always prepared to solve a difficulty, even when no one has asked you to do so."Alderwick held her gaze, the quiet intensity in his eyes making her breath catch slightly in her throat. "I have spent most of my life managing estates and resolving complications, Miss Vale. It is what I know." He looked away for a brief moment, the line of his jaw tightening. "I find it is often easier to offer practical assistance than it is to simply ask for someone's company."It was a startling admission from a man of his station. The vulnerability in his statement hung in the cool air between them. Eleanor felt a sudden, profound shift in her understanding of him. He was not merely being polite; he was using his actions to bridge a distance he did not know how to cross with words."Sometimes, Your Grace," Eleanor said softly, "company is given freely, without the need for a problem to be solved."The Duke looked at her, his expression unreadable but intensely focused, as if committing her words to memory. They resumed their walk, the silence between them no longer merely polite, but weighted with a new, fragile trust. The path neared the village center, and they parted ways before the quiet intimacy of the moment could draw the attention of the bustling square.The following Tuesday, Mrs. Vale hosted a modest afternoon gathering in her garden. The weather remained unseasonably fair, and a dozen guests mingled among the neat hedges and late-blooming flowers. Eleanor moved gracefully through the small crowd, ensuring teacups were filled and conversations flowed smoothly.Yet she was acutely aware of the Duke of Alderwick's presence. He stood near the edge of the terrace, conversing with the local magistrate. He played the part of the distinguished peer perfectly, offering measured nods and intelligent replies. But every time Eleanor glanced in his direction, she found his dark eyes already tracking her movements. It was a subtle, persistent pull that made her skin hum with a warm, steady awareness.Bracken was somewhere near the orchard, happily occupied with a group of older children, completely ignoring his master.
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“I Helped a Duke Find His Lost Dog,” She Told Her Mother — Then the Garden Gate Opened

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