She Hid Under a Table to Escape a Matchmaker — The Duke Was Already There
Chapter 10
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From the open drawing-room windows came a few bars of music. Marcia was testing a tune for the little dance planned after supper. She stopped, repeated a phrase, and began again more steadily.Gilbert held out his hand. "Would this qualify?"Daphne looked at the gravel. "Here? Unless your reputation as a critic requires a better floor.""My shoes might."He led her onto the terrace, where the stones were level. She took his hand, placed the other at his shoulder, and became intensely aware of how different it was to stand close when neither of them was trying to avoid a table brace. He was a good dancer. She discovered this with relief and a mild disappointment that he would not provide more material for teasing."You look surprised," he said."I had formed expectations.""I shall try not to improve them too quickly."They turned once, twice. The music stopped. Neither immediately let go.In the drawing-room, somebody told Marcia she had missed a note. She replied that she had been interrupted before she could reach it. Daphne began to laugh. Gilbert felt it through the hand at his shoulder, and wanted to keep her there."I am glad you came under my table," he said.She looked up at him. "It was a very strange introduction.""I have had worse.""So have I.""Usually, while standing."Footsteps sounded inside the house. They stepped apart, slowly enough that anyone watching would have had very little difficulty understanding them.Winnie appeared at the open door. "There you are."Daphne looked at her sister's face. There was a light in it that had nothing to do with the wedding arrangements. "You needn't sound so pleased.""I was looking for Gilbert," Winnie said. "But I am prepared to be pleased about finding you as well." She handed him a note from Osric and went back inside without asking a single question."An unusually merciful bride," Gilbert observed."It won't last," Daphne said.He glanced at the note, then folded it."Are you needed?" she asked."In ten minutes." He offered his arm.They spent nine of them walking to the end of the terrace and back.On Saturday morning, Osric appeared in his brother's room wearing one boot. "Before you ask," he said, "the other is being attended to."Gilbert lowered his shaving glass. "I wasn't going to ask.""You were looking at it.""There is a limited number of places to look."Osric sat down and stretched out the unbooted foot. "I am perfectly calm.""Excellent. Have you seen the weather?""Yes.""And the carriages?""They have not improved the weather, but they are ready." His brother smiled, then looked down at his hands.Gilbert waited. He had spent years supplying answers before Osric had managed to finish a question. This morning, he suspected the question mattered more than the answer."I don't seem to remember a single sensible thing I intended to say to her at the church afterwards when there isn't someone telling me."Gilbert set down the glass. "You have managed to speak to her before."