Page 18 of The Milliner and the Griffin Rider

Within only a few days, she had strengthened enough to move to a permanent nest in the mews, and Chloe’s lessons moved there with her. She even became comfortable with the regal Ranger, since the head of the griffin flock was a great favorite with Sage. Fletcher often came past as well, although he didn’t usually linger long, merely smiling with satisfaction whenever he caught the sound of Harrison’s laugh.

Really, between him and Ranger, they had an unnatural obsession with their captain’s amusement levels. As far as Chloe was concerned, the man had always been far too easily amused—right from their first meeting when he had seemed to see straight through every one of her stratagems.

It was infuriating more than anything. And she most certainly didn’t feel a spear of warmth through her heart every time she made him laugh. He was merely her teacher. Her focus remained on the Duke—even if she hadn’t managed to spot him yet. Was the frustrating man staying away from his own squad on purpose?

But finally one morning she arrived in the mews a little early and saw a new figure standing by one of the nests. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of the elaborate jacket and colorful waistcoat. The Duke! At last!

She wanted to run to him but made herself move forward at a decorous pace, pretending not to have noticed him. Her heart beat fast, but it wasn’t from distaste, merely nerves. She was sure of it.

She looked steadily at the ground as she approached him, giving a start when he broke the silence with a surprised exclamation.

She fell back a step, her hand rising to her chest. “Oh! My apologies, my lord! I didn’t expect to find anyone here.”

She should have addressed him as Your Grace, of course, not my lord. But she had long ago decided that the best strategy was to pretend she didn’t know his true identity. It had taken her long enough to manage a meeting, and she needed it to look as unaffected as possible.

“No indeed, the apologies are mine.” He swept her an elegant leg, bowing much more deeply than any of the griffin riders had ever done, despite his higher status. As she had expected, courtly manners were his obsession. “I would never want to cause alarm to any lady.”

His admiring gaze swept over her, settling on her face with a pleased smile. She flushed, noting distantly that when she needed it, the blush had come, after all.

“Your Lordship is too kind.” She cast her eyes downward and curtsied as elegantly as she could.

Thank goodness she had re-pinned her hair before leaving the shop and had chosen to wear Maddie’s newest creation. She hadn’t examined the impulse to wear it too closely—spending time in the mews could be injurious to clothing—but look how the impulse had paid off.

“But you cannot be the young lady bonded to the youngest griffin!” the Duke exclaimed. His voice dropped a little. “Far more elegant than I expected. Far more elegant indeed.”

Chloe’s flush darkened a little, with anger this time, but she kept her expression as bashful as she could, hoping the Duke wouldn’t notice. She didn’t have to like him. She just had to pretend she did.

She should have been pleased that her appearance met his exacting standards, but she couldn’t manage the emotion. Just pretend. She just had to pretend.

“That means a great deal coming from you,” she said, forcing her gaze to look admiring as she glanced at his waistcoat.

He visibly preened, puffing out his chest. “Yes, it’s an elegant waistcoat, if I do say so myself. One of my own design. But I’ll warrant I’m always dressed well enough to impress any young lady, regardless of rank.”

Chloe gritted her teeth, keeping the smile on her face. The Duke stepped forward, and she forced herself not to take a mirroring step back. He held out his arm to her, and she reluctantly took it.

“I would be honored to receive an updated tour of the mews from such fair hands,” he said. “I hadn’t realized how much brighter this place would be with a feminine presence.”

Chloe refrained from pointing out that half the griffins were females. Instead, she ducked her head and smiled, looking up at him through her lashes, even as their entire plan came into sharp doubt in her mind.

She had been playing the required role for only a few minutes, and her stomach was already roiling. How could she possibly pull it off for long enough to properly captivate the vain Duke?

It’s for Maddie, she reminded herself. And Claire. And Ivy. And Flora. Think of little Flora!

Thought of her sisters enabled her to look up at the Duke with what she hoped was a captivating smile. He certainly looked captivated, his eyes widening as he looked down at her, nodding along to her soft words about the griffin in front of them.

As they moved to the next griffin, his arm moved toward his side, bringing her closer to him as well. She swallowed and tried not to stiffen. This was exactly what she had wanted. Wasn’t it?

“Fascinating. Utterly fascinating,” he murmured, looking down at her rather than at the griffin she was discussing. “A griffin rider and a lady. What an interesting prospect.”

Perhaps it would help if she thought of the vile Gannon. Just as long as she didn’t think of⁠—

“Sorry I’m la…” The exact voice she had been trying not to hear in her mind interrupted the Duke’s meaningless prattle, trailing off as Harrison took in the scene before him.

Chloe spun toward him, stepping away from the Duke in the process, her eyes wide, and her heart nearly beating out of her chest.

The Duke also turned, smiling at his newly arrived captain, although Harrison didn’t look away from Chloe’s flushing face.

“Ah!” the Duke exclaimed, “E⁠—”