Page 36 of Duke in Shining Armor
“I don’t believe you told me how beautiful and poised, Lady Catherine was. I can see why you are drawn to her. It appears you have some competition, Pembroke my boy.” The earl chuckled.
James gave Warwick a withering glance. “Who do you suppose is my competitor?”
Warwick appeared pensive. “Well, I fear every gentleman in thehaut ton.”
The smirk fell away from Warwick’s face when James pinned him with a glare.
“Marquess of Claydon appears besotted.”
James waved a hand in dismissal. “Claydon is but a pup. He has not yet matured, and I do not believe Lady Catherine is seriously considering him.”
Warwick raised a brow. “Really?”
“It is what I believe. I will not use my time and energy to be concerned about other potential suitors. I am more concerned that Catherine is upset with me, and I do not understand why.”
“Have you not asked her why she is upset?”
James frowned. “For the life of me she will not say, but whatever it is it does not bode well for me. Lady Catherine seems to think that I should know. She said as much when we went for a walk in Hyde Park. I am smart enough to deduce it.”
The earl could not hide his mirth. “Ahh, she will not make it easy for you. Smart and fiery this one. She is not at all like the other ladies you are accustomed to.”
“I would apologize for any blunder, if I knew what it was.”
“Perhaps, she expected you to offer for her immediately after….”
James sighed. “This all happened quite quickly, Warwick. I got called away to tend to matters of the estate, and it took me away from Pembroke for longer than I intended.”
“I presume she does not know this?”
James turned to face Warwick. “ Of course I informed her of leaving. I cannot help but think there is more to it, more of a reason why she dismisses me. Even though I was a fool when I did not propose, I sought her out upon her return. The duchess made her first introduction to society, and I have been attentive.”
“Hmm,” was all the earl offered.
“What I can tell you for certain is that she has changed. Lady Catherine was not one to be easily swayed or influenced by external pressures or social conventions, but she appears even more resilient. She seems … stoic, displaying an inner strength, and she is in control of her emotions. She appears indifferent to my charm, polar opposite of when we first met.” James could hear his own frustration.
The earl clasped his hands in a steeple and rested his chin against it. “It is interesting that you should say that. Under those circumstances, I do not believe she will make any hasty decisions.”
The duke sighed. “I can at least hope for that. I could not bear a hastily announced engagement. An engagement is tantamount to a legally binding contract, so if an engagement is announced, Lady Catherine will be lost to me.”
“Have you thought of what you will do if she refuses to have you?”
“Don’t jest, Warwick, for I am more certain than I have ever been. Lady Catherine will be my wife.”
“You are so certain?”
“I am indeed. I have had twelve months to think about it. Now that we are reacquainted, I do not intend to lose this opportunity to make Lady Catherine mine. Knowing the way that I feel, I would be a fool to let her slip through my grasp again.
James watched as the duchess ambled over towards them with a sense of purpose to her stride.
She gazed at James, “I will issue an invitation to my dinner party for the next sennight. James, you will kindly take the invitation to the Davenports yourself. It is early in the season yet and I feel optimistic.”
James smile fondly at the duchess. “A little optimism will not hurt my cause, duchess, and yes I will personally deliver the invitation.”
“I trust Lady Catherine will be happy to receive it,” Warwick replied with a smile.
James glanced at Warwick and saw the gleam in his eyes. He was tempted to step on Warwick’s toes, but the music ended, and Warwick went off to find his partner for the next compilation.
James understood that Catherine was pushing him away, but he would not go. Apparently, she wanted nothing to do with him, but he would just have to see about that. He was determined to find out what he had done to upset her and just as set on putting things right. He caught a glimpse of Catherine as she flashed the marquess a warm smile. James’s stomach clenched. He felt a bit of hostility toward the marquess, and it only served to strengthen his resolve.
