Say Yes to the Duke by Kieran Kramer

immediately
     to the young lady who recently visited her—‘the clever, frustrated one,’ she said.”
    Janice scratched the side of her nose. “I suppose she might mean me.”
    “Of course she means you, my lady!” Isobel interjected. There was a moment’s pause,
     and her face went red. “I don’t know about the ‘frustrated’ part. But you are clever.”
    “Thank you, Isobel,” Janice said. “Do go on, Mrs. Poole.”
    The nurse drew a deep breath. “I also assume you’re the young lady to whom the dowager
     refers because you’re the only one who’s visited her since she became ill.”
    Janice’s heart sank. “You mean, Ladies Opal and Rose haven’t? Nor Miss Branson?”
    “No, they haven’t. Nor have the other ladies who’ve been in residence.”
    “Have there been many?” Isobel asked, agog.
    “Yes,” the nurse said coolly, “not that it’s your business.”
    Isobel’s mouth opened, but Janice held up a hand to silence her. “That’s unfortunate,
     that the dowager has had little feminine company other than yourself, Mrs. Poole.
     But the duke visits regularly, doesn’t he?”
    “Once a day,” said the nurse. “He insists on sitting with Her Grace alone every afternoon
     at three o’clock. That’s when I take my tea.”
    “How good of him.” Janice had arrived at that time and found his absence at tea rather
     touching, now that she knew exactly why he’d left her.
    Mrs. Poole nodded. “He’s very devoted to her.”
    He certainly appeared to be. “So what is this message?” Janice tried to curb her impatience. “I think I should be getting
     downstairs.”
    “I don’t understand it myself.” The nurse’s manner was more stiff than ever. “But
     Her Majesty says…”
    She hesitated.
    “What?” Janice wasn’t certain she wanted to know.
    Mrs. Poole’s lips thinned. “She says that you must say no. And that if you ignore
     her advice, you’re a fool.”
    Janice felt her own mouth fall open—she’d been too long around Isobel—and quickly
     shut it. “That’s all?”
    The nurse nodded. “She was quite emphatic about it, too. ‘No, no, no,’ she said as
     she fell asleep again.”
    Hm-m-m.… Janice was almost dizzy thinking of the implications. “Thank you for passing that
     on.” She managed to smile calmly in farewell to Mrs. Poole.
    The nurse, of course, refused to smile back.
    Oh, well. There was only so much one could accomplish in a day.
    “Goodness.” Isobel stared at Janice. “She whistles like a bird all day long. You’d
     think that would make her cheerful, but no. She’s as sour as a lemon. Do you know
     what she meant by that message, my lady?”
    “I think I do.” Janice leaned her back against the door, her whole body fraught with
     tension. “The dowager told me there’s only one way to win over the duke, but she fell
     asleep before she could tell me. That was her one way.”
    “‘Tell him no,’” Isobel said in a dramatic whisper. “How very clever of her. Everyone
     knows you must say yes to a duke. Whatever he wants he gets.”
    “Exactly.” Janice swallowed to quell the butterflies in her stomach. “Not that it
     matters. I’m not interested in winning the duke. I’m here for the dowager’s sake.”
    “But, my lady! Why won’t you at least try to win him? Imagine … you could be a duchess.”
    Janice pushed off the door and began to pace in a small circle on the rich burgundy
     Aubusson carpet in front of the hearth. “I’ve already told you, Izzy. I’ll marry for
     love if I marry at all.”
    “But think of how it would feel,” Isobel said, “to make those jealous women who say
     you’re the invisible sister upset? They’d have to pretend to be happy for you. And
     you could give them the cut direct if you chose.”
    Janice sighed. “I have to admit, something to that effect would be satisfying for
     a few fleeting seconds. But seeking that sort of petty revenge isn’t a good reason
     to spend the rest