He dropped a bow. “On occasion, Smith and Digby rely on my guidance.”
Smith and Digby had come down from above stairs to take in the scene and put up a protest.
Just like that, the tension was diffused, and all was well.
Pleased with herself, Fleur glanced at Henry, who looked anything but pleased. He had the look of a bore with a burr in his hoof.
Mr. Rundell stepped away to speak with his lead craftsman, leaving Fleur and the duke alone.
“Who is it you are asking to leave?” The same question that came before came, but this time with each syllable carved out.
“I’m notaskinganyone.”
The tension ebbed from the taut lines at the corner of his mouth.
“I’mtellingyou that you should leave, Henry.”
The explosion came quickly.
Henry’s bellow filled the shop. “Ishould leave. Me? M-Me as in the sole bloody reason you are even allowed to remain in the first bloody place.”
With his hands balled and his face red, Henry appeared ready to smash his fist through the crystal cases.
“I told you, mine is a matter—”
“That requires discretion!”
Fleur smiled. “Precisely.” She nudged her head towards the exit.
Henry’s eyelids twitched. Both of them. How terribly uncomfortable for him.
He called the proprietor back. “Rundell?”
“Yes, Your Grace?” Mr. Rundell spoke with the same exhaustion parents did with quarreling siblings.
“I’ve changed my mind regarding Lady Fleur. Call the constable.”
Fleur laughed. “He is jesting, Mr. Rundell.”
The look Rundell gave her had only grave doubt.
“No, I’m not, Rundell.”
“He is,” she mouthed, angling her body to edge the blustery duke from her private exchange with Mr. Rundell.
Wonder of wonders. The crotchety jeweler grew his first smile, and by the heavy frown lines on his face, it was the first in upward of a decade.
“Do you believe I cannot see what you’re saying to Rundell?”
Fleur sighed and made sure Henry heard. “Mr. Rundell, if you will please, give us another moment.”
“And now ordering Rundell in his own—”
“That will not be a problem, my lady. Your Grace.”
Fleur spoke calmly to her blustering new friend. “Henry, we do not shout at our friends.”
“I have rescinded our friendship.”