Page 41 of Duke in Shining Armor
Warwick took a sip of his drink. “Hmm. How interesting.”
“I am afraid I haven’t seen her since. The desire to bed her has not returned.”
“Quite extraordinary, don’t you think?”
James gave Warwick a withering glance. “Do not test my patience, Warwick. I am in no mood.”
“Well, look at the bright side of the malarkey. It is clear that Catherine is jealous.”
“So I surmised,” James said, smiling.
“Nonetheless, she will think you are a blackguard and a reprobate who is doing the rounds and having his way with the ladies.”
He grimaced. “She has already told me as much.”
“At least you understand why she left in such haste, and you know what you are up against.”
“I wish madame had not come to Pembroke that night for things could have been so different.”
“A bit of a bummer with Lady Catherine present, and you’ve only made the situation worse,” Warwick said.
“I know,” James said sheepishly.
“Why the devil did you not say that you had not seen madame since?”
“I feel rather foolish. I don’t know what came over me, although I do feel it is not a woman’s place to criticize me for having a mistress.”
“You poor fool, you said this aloud to a lady?”
James grimaced. “Just to think that she was softening toward me; after all, she strolled with me in the garden. I do believe her feelings were changing. .”
“That may be so, but you have antagonized her, hence this is still a bit of a debacle,” Warwick said with a chuckle.
“I am pleased to have provided you with such entertainment,” James said with annoyance.
“It is your folly, rather than mine in this instance, but I do have a plan of action,” Warwick said.
“You do? Well, let’s have it.”
CHAPTER14
The following morning Charlotte and Beatrice came to see Catherine. Apparently, there was a suitably large bouquet of red roses awaiting her in the drawing room, along with a letter from the duke. Charlotte and Beatrice did not contain their excitement, and Catherine could not help thinking of how young and innocent they were. They would not leave her bedchamber until she came down to break her fast. There was no doubt, they were dying to know what the duke’s letter said, and she must admit she was somewhat curious, if only mildly.
Upon entering the drawing room, her eyes were drawn to the bouquet, for it was rather large, insomuch that it was the focus of attention. She understood her mother would already have read the letter, for correspondences were never private, unless it was clandestine.
Lady Catherine Davenport,
O my lady is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my lady is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune
I hope you enjoy the roses.
I await our next meeting at the duchess’s dinner party.
