Page 23 of A Duchess Disciplined

As Lady Dorothy prepared to take her turn, Lady Catherine glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes met his, and she slipped away from her siblings. “Are you going to join us?” she asked. “Or do you intend to stand here and observe us, like a particularly ill-tempered cat?”

Lady Dorothy’s strike was met with an enthusiastic shout from Reeds and a groan from the unfortunate lady. It seemed as though pall mall was not a game at which Lady Dorothy excelled.

Lady Bridget’s strike achieved little distance. She sighed and shook her head. Without hesitation, Reeds prepared for his next turn.

“Do not speak of things that you know nothing about,” William said. “You know nothing yet of my temperament.”

If she did, the young miss might run away screaming.

He could have justified himself to her, but he would not. Why would he, with a woman like Lady Catherine, who treated formality as an inconvenience which need not be followed? Formal behavior was the shield he used to protect himself from everyone and everything. It was why he had survived, while his brother had not.

“My turn!” Lady Catherine exclaimed.

She turned away from him and hurried to the game. William grimaced. He could make her recognize the importance of being a proper lady. It would take some time and effort, but she was an intelligent woman. She could surely learn.

Lady Catherine struck the ball and yelled in delight as it swept through the remaining hoop. “Guess who is winning?” she asked.

“You,” Reeds said. “For now. I cannot simply demolish you from the start, Cat. I must give you at least the chance to score a few points.”

“Oh, please!” Lady Catherine exclaimed, waving a dismissive hand.

Lady Dorothy shook her head. “Be nice, children.”

“Yes, Mother,” Reeds said.

“I am only returning his behavior in kind,” Lady Catherine said.

Lady Dorothy approached her ball and prepared to strike.

“Oh, wait! You have not yet had a turn,” Lady Catherine said, turning to William.

“I am enjoying myself sufficiently by watching,” William said dryly.

“Are you certain?” Reeds asked. “You have only missed a single round.”

“Quite certain.”

Reeds shrugged. “Very well.”

As the game resumed, Lady Catherine swept to William’s side once again. “Very strategic,” she said. “You know that I would defeat you, and you would be embarrassed. It is a pity that my brother has not yet learned that lesson.”

He clenched his jaw to keep from smiling.

“Haughtiness does not befit a young lady,” he said.

“Do you expect me to be made of ice?” Lady Catherine asked. “Like you?”

Lady Dorothy’s strike was passable. Lady Bridget took her turn next.

“Do you believe me to be made of ice?” he asked, lowering his voice. “You did not seem to believe that in the garden yesterday. I recall being quite warm to you then.”

She flushed and glanced at her siblings, as though afraid they might overhear. William, of course, was careful not to speak that loudly.

“You were warm,” she conceded softly. “But only in some attempt to humiliate me.”

“You attempted to humiliate mefirst,” he said.

He recalled her kiss all too well, the heat of it and how she had consumed his senses. When he lay awake in bed that night, she haunted his dreams. No woman had ever kissed him like that before.Hekissedthem.

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