She Hid Under a Table to Escape a Matchmaker — The Duke Was Already There
Chapter 14
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He looked at her, then laughed with relief. "I should be sorry to have made the journey without knowing."Her mother remained for tea. Gilbert asked about Mr. Selwood's garden and received a detailed answer from Mrs. Selwood, who considered it safer than asking about her daughter's future. Daphne poured. When she offered the sandwiches, she caught Gilbert's eye. His smile made the entire journey from Lethbury seem a rather personal favor.They walked in the garden afterwards, with her mother visible through the drawing room window and apparently engaged in reading a page upside down."Is she?" Gilbert asked quietly."Yes. Shall we tell her?""I should rather not interrupt the plot."They went farther down the path, both laughing. At the end, where the hedge sheltered them from the windows, he took her hand."I have been wanting to do that since I arrived.""You might have done it in the drawing room. Your mother appeared already to be making a considerable effort."Daphne moved closer and kissed him. When they walked back, her mother had turned the page the right way up.The visits continued. Without a wedding to occupy them, they had to discover whether they liked one another when nothing particularly amusing was happening. Sometimes there was a great deal to say. Sometimes they reached the end of a conversation and sat quietly, each secretly wondering whether the other had begun to be bored.One afternoon, Daphne admitted it."You needn't produce an entertainment," Gilbert said."Neither need you.""Thank heaven. I have used most of my best remarks."She smiled and went on arranging the little pile of music her sister had left behind. He sat beside the open window and watched her for a while. It was an unexpectedly pleasant way of having nothing to say.In July, they went to a village fete with Mrs. Selwood and several neighbors. Gilbert had no official part in the afternoon. He was greeted, detained, asked after his brother, and eventually released into a crowd in which Daphne had discovered a game involving wooden hoops and pegs. The prize was a painted jug with an expressionless bird on either side."Do you want it?" he asked."I am trying to decide whether they are the same bird."He paid for a turn and examined the distance with grave attention. The first hoop fell short. The second landed behind the pegs. The third struck one, considered the possibility of remaining there, and rolled away.Daphne watched him lower the remaining hoop. "You are thinking of addressing it.""I am thinking of revising my method. It may appreciate a short speech."He laughed, threw, and missed again.Mr. Dunford arrived, greeted them pleasantly, and won the jug on his second attempt. There was a silence while Gilbert considered the distribution of gifts in the world.Mr. Dunford offered the jug to Daphne. "You were admiring it.""Thank you. I was also wondering whether it was a threat. It may be intended to discourage second helpings."