Page 7 of A Duchess Disciplined

Catherine drummed her fingers on the table, wondering what manner of man the duke might be to so brazenly ignore conventions. Despite her irritation with hisassumingthat his presence would be so readily accepted, she was forced to concede that his brazenness alone made the man far more interesting than most gentlemen of the ton.

Dorothy set the letter aside. “Nevertheless, I do think you ought to mention—tactfully, of course—that His Grace is being most ungracious in demanding that we meet him so suddenly.”

“I will do no such thing. It is only a small offense,” Elias said, sweeping all the cards from the table and into his hands. “So, shall we play again? Whist or speculation?”

“Neither,” Catherine said, climbing to her feet. “It is a lovely day, and I think we ought to engage in some exercise. I am going to walk along the moors.”

Her brother grinned. “Running from a challenge, I see.”

She arched an eyebrow. “A true gentleman would not be so smug.”

Elias shook his head. “You always have a witticism prepared. It is really quite remarkable. If you were born a man, I daresay you might have made an unusually clever solicitor.”

“Thank you,” Catherine replied. “Does anyone else wish to join me?”

“I will!” Bridget exclaimed.

“Wonderful,” Catherine said cheerily. “Dorothy? If you agree, Elias will be forced to abandon any card games that he might wish to play.”

Elias made an effort to look affronted, but Catherine was clearly aware that his lips twitched as he tried in vain to hide a smile. “You are unnecessarily cruel to me.”

“You are truly the picture of suffering. Elias the martyr,” Catherine said, shaking her head in mock pity. “Dorothy?”

Dorothy shook her head. “I think I will continue playing.”

There was a note in Dorothy’s voice, which indicated that—despite Elias’s efforts to abandon the conversation about his reckless ways—Dorothy was not inclined to leave the conversation so quickly. Catherine imagined that the cold atmosphere would only grow once Catherine and Bridget had left.

“Enjoy your walk,” Dorothy said.

Bridget rose. She and her sister linked arms and left the parlor. It was unfortunate that Dorothy had not joined them. Then, Catherine would have felt truly victorious. “What do you think about His Grace?” Bridget asked. “It is exciting that he will be here!”

“We shall see,” Catherine replied.

She was still of the opinion that they ought to leave the estate for the day and let the duke realize that they had gone. Their country estate was a remote place where they seldom entertained visitors. For her entire life, Catherine had considered it the domain of no one but her siblings. His Grace was an interloper, a man who had no reason to disturb their peace.

Even if she was just a little intrigued by the thought of him.

CHAPTER2

“Your Grace, welcome,” the butler said. “The Duke of Reeds is anticipating your arrival.”

William Richards, the Duke of Sarsen, narrowed his green eyes and considered the house before him. There was nothing remarkable about the Duke of Reeds’s country estate. Even when William searched his memory, he could recall only a few scattered moments spent by a lake.

“He should be,” William said. “I sent him a missive informing him about my arrival.”

The butler looked suitably cowed. “Of course, Your Grace.”

William raised his hand to his wind-ruffled, brown hair to smooth it. Then, squaring his shoulders, he approached. He had come to find his promised bride, and the sooner he had her, the better.

The butler led William through the foyer and past the parlor. William’s eyes flitted through the rooms as they passed them. The country house was filled with polished, rosewood furniture, tapestries, portraits, and rugs.Thisdukedom was either prospering, or the debt collectors had not yet arrived. William suspected the former. If the Duke of Reeds was endangered by his creditors, the tonwould already be awash with gossip about the man.

“His Grace and the ladies enjoy taking tea outside,” the butler said.

“I see.”

The butler opened the door and bowed. Behind the house was a long stretch of green, decorated with marble statues bought from Greece by the late Duke of Reeds. A pavilion had been pitched just beyond that, and even from this distance, William readily identified the Leedway siblings. They were all pale and dark-haired. He had not looked often at the ladies, but if they were not different ages, William would have found them indistinguishable.

Seeing his approach, Reeds rose and approached him. “Sarsen,” he said. “It has been some time.”

---