She Hid Under a Table to Escape a Matchmaker — The Duke Was Already There
Chapter 9
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"You may laugh," he said."I was only wondering whether Winnie and Osric have agreed to become a charitable institution."He looked at the page, then began laughing himself. "That bad?""Very respectable. I should be honored to have you announce the opening of my new municipal building."He put it down. "Osric asked for something different. What would you like to say to him?"Gilbert leaned back. He could describe his brother's faults with ease; the useful things were harder, partly because he had become accustomed to receiving them."He remembers people," he said. "What they like, what they said last time. He appears not to be listening, and then he brings the thing you mentioned three weeks earlier.""Winnie says that.""I used to think he hadn't enough interest in the larger matters." He looked towards the window. "I have spent several days discussing the size of a wedding breakfast. He has been trying to find exactly the ribbon she wanted."Daphne sat quietly until he looked back at her. "That might be a better beginning," she said.He picked up a fresh page. They worked for 20 minutes. Daphne removed two phrases, objected to a third, and was told she could not abolish every reference to happiness merely because the word was commonly used. She conceded the point. Gilbert shortened the speech until he could read it without appearing to submit it for approval.When they finished, he looked almost pleased."There," she said. "Nobody will need to be revived before the toast.""Your confidence is affecting." She stood. He rose, too, then hesitated with a hand on the chair. "Will you walk with me after tea?"Her answer came before she remembered to make it unimportant. "Yes."For once, neither thought of adding an errand.They did not reach the garden until nearly 6:00. An aunt had mislaid a parcel, which was in the room she had insisted it could not be in. A delivery had come to the wrong door. Daphne had been asked to inspect a hem, and Gilbert had discovered that saying he would deal with something was considerably quicker than actually dealing with it.They met beside the terrace with the embarrassed haste of people who had begun thinking of the appointment well before they were free to keep it."I thought you might have given up," she said."I was hoping you hadn't."They walked along a gravel path beside the lawn. The ferns had been placed at intervals near the house, looking handsome now that nobody was expected to eat behind them.Daphne stopped beside one. "A successful retreat.""We all require a suitable position," Gilbert said.She glanced towards the windows. "Do you enjoy giving these parties?""Parts of them.""Which parts?""When people cease asking whether they are permitted to enjoy themselves.""You could begin."He looked at her, amused. "I have been under a table.""A private accomplishment.""You might attempt something above it."