by Platt, Meara
“Talking to books now, are we? Good afternoon, Goose.”
Olivia glanced up, startled. No one ever called her that except…oh, him. She did not need Alexander Beastling, the proud and mighty Duke of Hartford, adding to her dismal day. He’d thought himself quite witty when giving her that silly name all those years ago. Goose. Because her family name was Gosling. And that’s what he’d called her when she was a girl, Little Goose. His Little Goose.
She tipped her chin up and meant to frown at him, but he looked so big and wonderful, just as she remembered him before he’d gone off to fight Napoleon. And now he’d come back a war hero.
Well, he’d always been her hero ever since rescuing her from drowning when she was six years old. That was the day they’d first met. That was the day he’d christened her Little Goose. That was what he’d called her every summer afterward. How’s my Little Goose? he would always ask and await her answer as though he truly cared.
He’d saved her life, so she found herself smiling at him. “What are you doing here, Beast?”
“Picking up a book on ancient Roman military tactics. The Punic Wars.” He glanced at the one clutched in her hands and grinned. “The Book of Love?”
“Stop smirking. I did not choose it.” She cleared her throat when it suddenly turned dry. Beast was big, a lion of a man with sandy blond hair that he wore a little too long and eyes that were an extraordinary mix of amber and green. But he now sported a black eyepatch over one eye from an injury he must have received during the war. He’d always been intimidating and appeared even more so now. “It chose me.”
“Love finds Little Goose?” He leaned his shoulder against one of the towering shelves and chuckled. “You do realize you will never find love in a book.”
“How do you know? I’m going to buy it,” she said, although she had not considered doing so until Beast mocked the notion. Nor could she afford the luxury of acquiring it. Nor did it matter the author was anonymous and its contents were probably a hoax. “I’m determined, and there is nothing you can say to talk me out of it.”
“Nothing?” Beast slipped the book out of her hands. “Then let me have the honor.”
“What are you doing?” She reached for the book, but he raised it above his head so she had no chance of grabbing it. He was an oaf, even for a duke. She supposed she ought to have addressed him as Your Grace, but he’d always been Beast to her and he did not seem to take offense.
“Stop hopping up and down,” he said with a chuckle when she jumped to try to take it from his raised hand. “I’m buying it for you.”
“You are not. I’ll pay for it myself.” But her face suffused with color as she reached into her reticule and came up with a mere two ha’pennies. “I seem to have forgotten–”
“Goose,” he said quietly, his voice deep and rumbling, and no longer filled with amusement, “let me take care of this. I owe you at least this for teasing you. I insist.”
“But–”
“I believe a duke outranks a little goose.”
She sighed again. “If you must.”
“I must.” He tossed her a most appealing smile, which was quite something, for Beast rarely smiled. It softened his features when he did, but she dared not tell him so. He took her arm to escort her to the front of the shop where a gray-haired, slightly disheveled Mr. Gresham was busily sorting through his newest arrivals. Beast paid and waited for the bookseller to wrap her purchase and then his. “How are you getting home? And why are you in the streets of London on your own?” he asked, suddenly realizing she had no chaperone or footmen to accompany her.
“Um, I’m meeting Poppy and Penelope at Blakney’s bake shop. I’ll ride home in Penelope’s carriage.”
“I just left Penelope and Nathaniel at the Sherbourne townhouse. Poppy was visiting them.” He was no longer smirking but frowning at her. “What’s going on, Goose? You’ve never lied to me before.”
Her face suffused with heat. “Nothing.”
“You are a terrible liar. I’m taking you home. And don’t even think to protest. I’m not leaving you to make your own way back to Mayfair.”
Olivia was too overset to toss back a retort. As Beast had remarked, she’d never lied to him before, and the fact that she had done so now, rattled her perhaps more than it had him. Her situation was dire, but that was no excuse for her behavior.
“Thank you, Beast.” She was tired and it was a long walk home. In truth, she wanted to rest her head against his massive shoulder and cry. She wanted to forget about the Season and finding a husband.
But a husband of her own choosing is what she desperately needed.
Perhaps The Book of Love would help her find one.
After all, there had to be a reason it fell on her head. Twice.
Get The Look of Love now in eBook or in paperback!
READ ON FOR A SNEAK PEEK AT THE TOUCH OF LOVE!
Chapter One
Wellesford, England
August 1815
“Heaven help all bachelors,” Nathaniel Sherbourne, Earl of Welles, said to his companions as they stared out the window of his study at the three young ladies seated on a fallen log beside the Sherbourne Manor pond. Despite the heat of the August sun, their bonnets were tossed aside on the grassy bank and their heads were bowed over a book. “Beast, your wife has just handed The Book of Love to Poppy.”
Alexander Beastling, Duke of Hartford, shook his head and laughed. He looked quite the pirate with the black eyepatch over the eye he’d lost during the Napoleonic War. “Are you quaking in your boots, Nathaniel?”
“Should I be? They’re handling the blasted thing as though it’s Merlin’s mythical book of spells just recovered after a thousand years buried in the earth.”
Their third companion, Thaddius MacLauren, Laird of Caithness, had been quietly staring at the young ladies, but now spoke. “The lasses believe it contains a powerful magic. After all, Beast was the bachelor who could not be taken down. But look at him now, not only married, but besotted and deeply in love with Goose.”
Nathaniel frowned. “Thad, what are you thinking? The book had nothing to do with it.”
His friend shrugged his shoulders. “Och, but what if it did? You and I will be in deep trouble, my friend. We like to think we have control over our own destinies, but what if we don’t?” He ran a hand across the back of his neck. “Lord, it’s hot. My throat is parched. I’m going to walk to Wellesford for a drink. Care to join me in a pint of ale, Beast?”
“What about me?” Nathaniel frowned once more. “I’m not afraid of Poppy. She’s a pretty girl, of course. Who wouldn’t like those big, blue eyes and dark curls? But she’s like a sister to me. I’ve known her for most of my life.”
“Death knell,” Beast teased. “They’re conspiring to make you Poppy’s test frog.”
Nathaniel folded his arms across his chest. “I’m up for the challenge. As I said, I’ve known her forever. I’m not going to fall for her as hard and fast as you fell for your wife.” Besides, he had bigger problems to deal with and wasn’t about to add to the already thorny complications.
Thad returned his gaze to the pond. “Ye’d better not fall in love with Poppy or I’ll be doomed. That would leave me stuck with your sister and you know how much Loopy hates me.”
Nathaniel sighed. “She doesn’t hate you. At least, she wouldn’t if you stopped provoking her at every turn. Calling her Penelope instead of Loopy would help, for starters.”
Thad grinned. “But where’s the fun in that? Besides, Beast never called Olivia by her given name. She’s always been Goose to him and she has never minded. Bollocks, they’re looking this way. They’re coming for you, Nathaniel.” He slapped his friend on the shoulder. “Come on, Beast. Let’s head to the Golden Hart before they spot us. We’ll go out the back way.”
They both cast Nathaniel parting grins as they strode to the door.
“Cowards,” he called after them. “You can’t leave me alone with the three of t
hem.”
“Join us afterward. We’ll save you a pint.” Beast was unable to stifle his mirth. “Assuming you survive Poppy’s first onslaught.”
“The girl is harmless and I’ll prove it to you. I’ll prove it to all of you,” he shouted after his friends who were deserting him like rats on a sinking ship. “Blast it, I’ll show you all.”
Nathaniel strode into the entry hall and casually leaned his hip against the elegant table in its center. He folded his arms across his chest and fixed his expression to appear bored and unaffected.
“Good morning, Nathaniel,” his sister said, walking into the house with her bonnet in hand and an irritating smirk on her face.
Beast’s wife, Olivia, cast him a similar smirk. He bowed his head to acknowledge her presence. “Morning, Goose.”
“Is my husband still here or has he fled to Wellesford?” She was so cheerful, she practically chirped.
He arched an eyebrow. “He’s fled to town with Thad.”
She shook her head of ginger curls and sighed. “The cowards. Come on, Penelope. Let’s go find them. Poppy, will you come with us? Leave the book upstairs. It’s too valuable to tote around town.”
“Yes, I’d love to. I hear Captain Gordon is visiting Lord and Lady Plimpton. I hope we run into him. I’d love to hear all about his adventures.” She hurried upstairs without so much as a nod in Nathaniel’s direction.
He turned to scowl at his sister. “When did Poppy meet Plimpton’s nephew?”
“At our dinner party last month and again at Olivia and Beast’s wedding last week.” She rolled her eyes as though Andrew Gordon’s arrival was something he ought to have noticed. “Don’t you remember him? You hosted the breakfast and invited everyone in Wellesford to attend. He looked quite dashing in his regimentals. Why are you surprised that Poppy is eager to see him? He danced two dances with her and couldn’t take his eyes off her the entire day.”
“Gordon is a horse’s arse. She can’t seriously choose him as the man she wishes to marry.”
“And why not?” Penelope tipped her chin up in that irritatingly indignant manner she’d perfected. “Do you have a better man to suggest? Such as yourself, perhaps?”
“Put the absurd notion out of your head at once.”
“Then why are you so put out? You ought to be relieved that she has no interest in you. So you needn’t worry that we’ll interfere with your courtship of that… of Charlotte Winthrow.”
“Lady Charlotte will arrive at the end of the week.” He clenched his teeth to stem his annoyance, knowing his sister was purposely goading him. “Be nice to her. She isn’t dimwitted.”
“I never said she was.”
“You implied it with that look.” He said no more as Poppy came bounding down the stairs, her steps light and carefree.
“I’m ready.” Her cheeks were pink from rushing to drop off the book in her bedchamber and hurrying back to her friends. Perhaps they were also pink from her time spent in the sunshine. Her gown was a pale blue confection that looked quite fetching on her and brought out the crystal blue of her eyes and the lushness of her long, dark hair that was loosely pinned up at the moment.
Not that he was looking at Poppy or suddenly noticing anything about her. She was merely his sister’s friend.
She finally deigned to acknowledge him, casting him a warmhearted smile. “Will you join us, Nathaniel?”
Was it a trick question? Was she about to test out one of the spells she’d learned in that book? Hell, he was up to the challenge. “Yes, I think I will.”
Poppy cast him another sweet smile and continued out the door.
In truth, she’d always been a pleasant girl, but she was now in possession of The Book of Love and he feared it would turn her into… what? An irresistible siren? A dangerous seductress? Hardly likely since the girl had never even been kissed.
Did she understand the first thing about men?
He doubted it.
Not that he cared one way or the other, but she was a guest in his home and it was his duty to make certain she did not get into trouble. Right now, he had enough troubles on his plate.
He shook off the thought.
There was nothing he could do about them now. But the Book of Love in innocent hands was dangerous and Poppy was most definitely still innocent.
“Why are you frowning?” Penelope fell back to walk beside him as they strolled along the hedgerow paths toward Wellesford. Goose and Poppy had run ahead, leaving them out of earshot for the moment, which was a good thing. He had plenty to say to his sister.
“That book should not be in Poppy’s hands. She doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
Penelope laughed in disbelief. “Are you jealous?”
“Don’t be absurd.”
His sister rolled her eyes. “I saw the way you three nodcocks were whispering by the window. You thought Poppy would use you as her test frog and now you’re miffed that she’s chosen Captain Gordon instead.”
“I am not miffed. I’m worried about her. There’s a difference. Besides, he’s a useless dolt.”
“He’s a captain in the Royal Dragoons.”
“A commission recently purchased for him by Lord Plimpton. He’s never been to war. He doesn’t know what it means to be a soldier. Besides, he’s a rogue.”
His sister gasped lightly in disbelief. “And you’re not?”
“Of course I’m not. I’m a respected earl. Not to mention I’ve actually fought in several battles, unlike that pizzle Gordon. I’d never take advantage of Poppy. It is my duty to protect her.”
Penelope shook her head and sighed. “Fine, so she isn’t to test her feminine wiles on Andrew Gordon.”
“Or any other man,” he said, casting her a warning glower.
“She has to test them out on someone. Fine, we’re agreed then. She’ll test them out on you. I’ll let her know that you insisted upon it.” She ran off before he had the chance to stop her.
“Bollocks.” There were times he wanted to throttle his sister. He watched as Penelope whispered something in Poppy’s ear and the girl turned to him in surprise. Her big blue eyes grew wide as saucers and she pursed her lips in obvious displeasure.
Poppy walked toward him, still frowning. “Penelope says that you’ve forbidden me to kiss Captain Gordon.”
Dear heaven, who said anything about kissing?
A warm breeze blew across her curls, lightly nudging a few out of place. “Of course, I forbid it.” He tucked a curl behind her ear as he spoke to her. It was the natural thing to do. He’d known Poppy forever and there was nothing wrong with treating her as he would his sister. “You’re my guest. In my home. Under my protection. What would your parents say if I allowed that bounder to kiss you?”
“I would be kissing him.”
“It’s the same thing. You are not to lock lips with that man. Your parents would expect me to do all in my power to stop you.”
“My parents?” She laughed and shook her head. “I adore them, of course. But I’m not sure they realize I’m here at Sherbourne Manor with you and not at home. There are a lot of Farthingales, and after a while, every head of dark hair and face with blue eyes begins to look the same. I would not be surprised if they counted my sister Violet twice.”
She cast him a disarming smile.
Poppy always did have a pretty smile, but that did not excuse her idiotic plan to kiss Andrew Gordon. “You are not to go near that man.”
“Honestly, Nathaniel. He isn’t an ogre. He’s quite nice, actually.” She had beautiful eyes, too. He’d looked at her often, but why hadn’t he noticed this before? Perhaps it was the way the sun glinted on her hair and face, seeming to light up her eyes. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if I kissed him.”
“You are to kiss no one.” But me. Hellfire, that wasn’t right. Where did that thought come from?
“Well, that won’t work. How am I to test the findings in The Book of Love if I can’t–”
“Come to me
if you have any questions. I’ll answer them for you.”
She shook her head and sighed. “I’m not seeking answers. I’m seeking experience. Olivia says that merely reading about the five senses won’t do, that to fully appreciate the power of the book, I have to perform tests for each sense. She says that the senses of taste and touch are the most dangerous and should not be tested all at once. She recommends I start with the sense of sight first.”
He shrugged as they continued to walk along the hedgerows. Much of the road was covered in shade cast by tall trees whose branches were lush with green leaves. It made for a pleasant walk even though it was late morning and the sun was shining brightly against the blue sky.
It made for a pleasant walk even though he found this conversation with Poppy most irritating.
He paused when Poppy suddenly stopped and began to turn slowly while in the middle of the road. “What’s wrong now?”
“Nothing, Nathaniel. I was practicing the sense of sight. Looking at my surroundings and doing my best to really take notice.” She stopped turning and looked up at him. “Try it, why don’t you? Even this road is quite lovely, lined with ancient stone whose crevices are filled with dark green moss. There are tall trees and emerald meadows dotted with wildflowers in the distance, and a stream with crystal clear water that runs through the meadows.”
He followed her gaze but said nothing.
“Give it a try. What do you see?” She stared at him in expectation.
“This is a silly game. The others are getting too far ahead of us. Let’s walk on.”
She sighed. “Do you want to know what I see when I look at you?”
An arse? “No.”
“A tall, nicely built man with dark hair and silvery green eyes… and worries that he’s trying to hide from his family.”
“I am not worried.” He crossed his arms over his chest and frowned at her, but he knew she still saw through his lie. When had she become so perceptive? And how much could she tell simply by looking at him?