Page 36 of The Dark Duke's Virgin

“I shall have your grandmother let me know if you are going, yes?” the lord was asking. “And if you are, perhaps my granddaughter and you…”

Miss Dowding had been alone since he had come outside. For thirty-five minutes now, she had stood off to the side, a drink in hand, looking awkward and out of place in a way that he recognized only too well. It made him want to go and speak with her while knowing that he probably should not. It was dangerous to do. Darn irresponsible with how he was feeling whenever he looked at her. And yet the sight of her in that dress…

He did not even notice the conversation around him ending. Nor did he notice the other lords and their wives leaving him and his grandmother. He did, however, notice his grandmother watching him with a very unamused look.

“I thought you promised to be polite?”

He grimaced. “I am, am I not?”

“You call that polite?”

“I—” He bit into his lip. “I am sorry, grandmother, but can you really expect me to feign interest in such drab palaver as that? I am doing my best, I promise, but I can only do so much.”

She shook her head. “Well, at least you tried. I suppose that is all I can expect.”

“So…” He sighed. “Who are we speaking with next?”

“Nobody.” She half-turned from him and stuck up her nose. “You have made a terrible companion so far, and I would not wish to burden any of my friends with you. Be gone…” She waved him away. “… before I chase you out.”

“Grandmother…” He winced, feeling bad now. While he did not care what these lordlings thought of him, he did still care what his grandmother thought. “I will try to be more interesting, I promise.”

“No, no, you had your chance. I relieve you, Your Grace…” She took a step back and pretended to bow for him. “Thank you for coming.”

He pushed his lips together. “Well, if you say so…”

“Oh, before you go…” She smirked to herself, looking a little too pleased. “Do me a favor will you, stop by Caroline and make sure she is doing all right? She has looked as bored as blind man at the theatre, and I would hate for her to be having a bad time.”

Frederick swallowed, daring to glance at Miss Dowding. “You… you wish for me to check on her?”

“If you do not mind? That is, unless there is a reason that you cannot?” She knew what she was doing. Oh, how she did.

And Frederick, as stubborn as he was, would not back down because that would simply be an admittance of how he felt… was feeling… was certain to feel if he went and spoke with Miss Dowding.

“I would love to,” he said, doing his best to ignore his grandmother’s smug expression. “I would hate for Miss Dowding to be having as unpleasant a time as she is. Especially on such a fine day.”

“Wonderful,” his grandmother smirked and fluttered her eyelashes before waltzing away.

And Frederick, committed now, had no choice but to approach Miss Dowding. But it would only be for a moment. The conversation would be short and unpleasant, he knew. And hopefully, he would make it out the other side without saying or doing anything that he might come to regret. Whatever that might look like.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Caroline saw His Grace coming for her. When she did, she was certain at first that she was seeing things, for surely, he would not approach her of his own accord? Why, since the day that she had arrived, it had seemed as if he was doing everything that he could to avoid her.

Trying to actually naturally, she turned slightly, glanced his way, and saw that he was indeed making for her.

Her heart began to flutter, and she felt her body begin to run hot with nerves. A sudden impulse to turn away and walk off, pretending that she did not see him, hoping that he might change his mind and simply forget her. That was the smart thing to do.

Caroline took a deep breath and attempted this very action. One step taken… and she could not bring herself to take another. Despite what she thought that she wanted, she was unable to deny that desire she felt to speak with him again. To see finally who he was and confirm, hopefully, that the feelings whichswirled inside of her whenever he was about were brought on by hate and loathing and not… well, the other thing.

The kiss they shared sat firm in the front of her mind. It made her salivate and her body tremble. What was more, she remembered their previous conversation, how nice he had been to her. She wanted to hate him. She needed to hate him. But what if…

A sip of wine from the glass she was holding, for she needed the courage that it gave her. Not to mention helping her to relax slightly.

“Ah, Miss Dowding,” he said pleasantly as he reached where she stood waiting. “I thought that was you.”

“Oh?” she said the same air of pleasantness. “And still you approached me. How very brave.”

He chuckled, almost seeming to relax a little “It has been a while since I have been berated and insulted, so I thought it was well past due.”

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