Most people stepped back. You went forward. " She remembered. The horses had been close to panicking. The knots had been ridiculous. She had simply done what needed doing because no one else was moving fast enough.
"A groom dealt with them," she said. "After you had already calmed the nearest one and untangled the leads. My man Silas was watching from the gate. He mentioned it in his report of the evening. He described you as the only person who moved toward the problem instead of away from it.
The Duke paused. He also mentioned that two separate guests thanked the groom afterward, and no one thanked you. Nora said nothing. He called you useful, the Duke said. Which is how I came to know your name.
And when I arrived today and looked at the room, I heard two women near the back of the line refer to you by a different description. One of them said, "She is only Farrow's useless niece. She is not worth worrying about. " The other agreed. The fire popped. Mrs.
Corbett was so still she appeared to have briefly stopped breathing. "I found that interesting," the Duke said. "That the person my man called useful was the same person those women called useless. I wanted to know which of them was right. " Nora looked at him for a long moment. "And is this the manner in which you intend to find out?
By summoning me in front of everyone and clearing a room? " "Would you have preferred I send a letter? " "I would have preferred," she said, "not to be the subject of a scene that will follow me for the rest of the season and possibly the rest of my life. " He was quiet. Then he said, "Fair. " She had not expected him to say that. "I apologize for the manner," he said. "Not for the intent. " Nora unfolded her hands and looked down at the ink stain on her thumb. She rubbed at it absently.
It did not come off. It never did. Not until she scrubbed it properly with soap and water. She had gotten it earlier that morning copying out a list of names for Mrs. Corbett because Mrs.
Corbett's own handwriting was difficult to read and she had asked Nora to make a clean copy which Nora had done because Nora did things that needed doing. "What exactly do you want, Your Grace? " she asked. He looked at her steadily. "I want to speak with you again. " "Not here, not like this, properly but over the course of the next few days while the other selection candidates are still in residence. " "You still intend to meet with the other women? " "My grandmother arranged this selection. I will not insult her by abandoning it entirely. " "But you want to speak with me separately. " "Yes. " Nora looked at the window.