Page 24 of A Duchess Disciplined

“You deserved it,” Lady Catherine said.

“What an interesting assertion.”

She bit her lip, and William thought about how delightful it would be to bite that lip himself. Lady Catherine’s mouth was as soft as kissing a rose.

“You grabbed my wrist,” Lady Catherine reminded him. “I only reacted to what you had already done.”

William searched his mind for another retort, and with every passing second it took him to find one, Lady Catherine’s smile grew wider.

“Have you accepted defeat, Cat?” Reeds asked jovially.

Lady Catherine started and turned to look at her brother. “What?”

“It is your turn,” Reeds said. “Were you and Sarsen engaged in such a diverting conversation that you forgot the game?”

“Oh!”

While Lady Catherine hurried to her ball, Reeds cast William a startled look. “You and my sister are enjoying one another’s company?” Reeds asked.

“Very much so,” William replied.

Even if Lady Catherine’s behavior was odd, during the game, the young woman had seemed more like the lady he knew. She was too informal and always prepared with a sharp remark. He could not forget her behavior in the garden, though. She had seemed peaceful and almost ladylike.

Something inside him softened when he thought of how she gazed at him when he mentioned his mother. They were two very different people, but it could not be said that they had no commonalities between them. Lady Catherine had lost her mother, too, and she loved her family. Even if she did not yet behave like a duchess ought to, William could not deny that her devotion to her family was admirable.

Lady Catherine’s ball swept over the grass, and she grinned widely. “Another excellent stroke!” she declared.

“Adequate,” Reeds said.

Lady Catherine’s smirk widened. “Do you feel the cold grasp of defeat approaching?”

“Not yet!”

“Honestly,” Lady Dorothy said. “You act as though it is a matter of life and death who will win!”

Lady Bridget laughed. “They do!”

“Because itis,” Reeds said.

“Indeed,” Lady Catherine agreed. “Do not worry, my dear brother. I shall ensure that everyone remembers you fondly.”

She returned to William’s side. Lady Bridget leaned towards Lady Dorothy, murmuring something low in her ear. Both ladies glanced at William, making him wonder if he was the topic of their whispered conversation.

“You are formal when it benefits you,” Lady Catherine said in a lowered voice, “or when it gives you feelings of superiority. When it does not—when youwantsomething—you are entirely too eager to abandon all sense of propriety.”

“Would you like me to be the perfect gentleman all the time?” William asked in a low voice. “Are you certain?”

Her breath audibly hitched, and William had his answer.

CHAPTER6

Catherine did not best Elias at pall mall, much to her disappointment. Her brother was not as obnoxious as he might have been, given his victory, but he did continue to cast Catherine smug smiles across the table at dinner. She silently fumed and might have accused him of cheating—had she any proof that he had done such, which she did not.

A bowl of chestnut soup was placed before her. The brown of the nuts might have made the dish appear dreary, but the cook had added sprigs of parsley and shredded carrots to brighten its appearance. Catherine ate a spoonful, savoring the explosion of flavor on her tongue.

“Mr. Davies is to arrive this evening. My solicitor,” Elias added, likely for His Grace’s benefit.

“Very good. We may finally have this matter settled,” the duke replied. “I am sure your solicitor will be adequate for writing a marriage contract.’

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