Page 47 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

She shook her head at him. “I just wished to see if everything is going well tonight. So far, everyone agrees it to be a raging success. In fact, the only person here who does not seem to be having a good time is you.”

Gerald grimaced. “Hosting duties, sister. Too much stress to enjoy myself.”

“Is that right?” She raised a disbelieving eyebrow at him. “In my mind, you look distracted.” Her eyebrow somehow rose higher, and for a moment Gerald wondered, and worried, if she could see right through him.

Luckily, his need for a response was cut short by the sound of high-pitched laughter. There were a dozen people in the room, each chatting loudly in small groups, but the laughter echoed above it all, enough that most turned to see its source.

Gerald was one of them, smiling to himself to see that it had come from Lady Hawkins. He had been watching her all evening, noticing with some regret that his lessons with her had worked a treat. At supper, she had been a picture of politeness, staying her tongue and not once speaking over Lord Mildenhall or responding with her usual sharpness. It should have made him happy to see...

What did make him happy, rather, was that finally she was reverting to her old self. The way she cackled was unseemly and Gerald knew more than one gentleman who would be thoroughly turned off by the over-the-top response to whatever joke had been made. Frustratingly, this was not the case.

Lord Mildenhall appeared delighted by her response, chuckling along with her and beaming. He was a plain-looking sort, not unattractive, just so normal and forgettable. The same could be said of his personality, which had Gerald wondering what he could have possibly said to make her laugh like that.She must be faking it. Maybe she is trying to scare him off.

“Gerald...” Rosalind took his arm. “Is something the matter?”

“Wh -- what?” He pulled himself back to find Rosalind frowning at him with worry.

“You are glaring. What’s wrong?”

Nothing was wrong. And that was the entire point! Lord Mildenhall was a good fellow, which was exactly what Gerald had invited him here. And clearly, Lady Hawkins thought the same. To see them together should have brought relief, for if they worked out the way he needed them to, he would be able to cut Lady Hawkins from his life and move on.Is that not what I want!

It was all so confusing. It was all so troubling. It was playing havoc with his senses and Gerald knew that he needed to get control of himself.

“Nothing is wrong...” He straightened up as he came to a decision. “In fact, everything is perfectly fine. Wonderful.”

“If you say so...”

“I must... I will be right back,” he said, stepping around his sister. “And please, stay away from Lord Blackwood.” He looked at her with warning and she rolled her eyes.

“Fine.”

He nodded once and then started across the room toward Lady Hawkins.

Gerald wanted to put Lady Hawkins from his thoughts once and for all. And he would do that. But first, he needed to ensure that she was of the same mind as him. That she understood what tonight was really about and that she would not ruin it, as she so often did. That was the mistake he had made, not warning her the real reason he had thrown this dinner party.

And perhaps there was that side of him that wished to speak to her one last time, almost to prove to himself that he could do it without losing control. Memories of the last time they had been together still haunted him, and he needed to put those to bed once and for all. Only then, would he be free of her.

Lady Hawkins was still very much engaged with Lord Mildenhall, smiling and nodding along to whatever he was saying. But she saw Gerald approach from behind, frowning slightly before looking away.

“I am sorry to disturb you,” he began as he stepped beside them. “But might I borrow Lady Hawkins for a moment?”

“So long as you promise to bring her back,” Lord Mildenhall chuckled.

Gerald smiled his agreement as he indicated for Lady Hawkins to follow him across the room. They walked to a corner together and when they came to a stop, Gerald made sure to stand in a way that blocked her from the room so that nobody would be able to hear what he said.

“I wish to speak with you,” he said.

She frowned further. “I am confused as to what we are doing now.”

“Alone,” he clarified. “In five minutes, tell your mother you wish to visit the washroom and then come to my office. Do you understand?”

“I…” Confusion passed behind her eyes. She glanced back at Lord Mildenhall. “But I was rather enjoying my conversation with –”

“This isn’t a request,” he said with warning as he fixed her in his gaze. “Five minutes, I will see you then.” With that said, and before waiting for her response, Gerald turned and walked from the room.

He felt like a fool for what he had just done. And he knew deep down that no good could come from this. But he did not care. His desires played havoc with his senses. His confusion was beyond his reckoning.One more conversation alone, that is all this is, a final chance to confirm that I am strong enough to resist Lady Hawkins. That I do not want her…

A lie, he was sure, but one he needed to believe.

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