Page 13 of A Fake Courtship with the Duke
“Please, come in,” she said, albeit through clenched teeth. She managed another curtsey, despite her simmering irritation. What in the world was the duke doing in her home? They had never spoken more than a few obligatory words to one another at social events, particularly when she was chatting with Susan, and he happened to be nearby. She couldn’t imagine what would make him wish to accompany his sister to Anne’s family’s home, especially without a specific reason.
Mischief, who had finally straightened his ears and relaxed his body, nestled sweetly against her chest. She shifted her arms to hold the animal more securely, idly kissing him atop his ginger head and feeling a vibrating sensation against her bosom as he began purring.
Anne unbiddenly recalled how her mother had pointedly left her out of the shopping trip on which Charlotte and she hadembarked. It seemed like a continuation of the reprimand she received from the viscountess that morning, and it pained her greatly. She knew she had embarrassed her family, even though she felt they were treating her unfairly by not hearing her side of the story. But was her mother so ashamed of her now that she wouldn’t be seen in public with her?
As Susan and the Duke of Calder settled into their seats, one of the servants poured them tea and served them cakes. Susan dutifully accepted hers, while the duke merely gave a stern nod, his eyes never leaving Anne and Mischief. Anne wondered if he had an aversion to felines, and she considered finding out by taking the cat to him and offering to let him pet the animal.
She could feel a small smile play on her lips at the thought of Mischief batting his hand away with another hiss. In her arms, she knew that the cat would feel safe and unthreatened, and he would let the duke know precisely what his mistress and he thought about his arrival.
Before she could do anything, Susan cleared her throat, glancing nervously at Anne.
“How are you faring this morning, Anne?” she asked, once more giving Anne an apologetic look.
Anne opened her mouth, wanting to point out that if Susan rushed over in such a hurry, she must know perfectly well how Anne was faring. But with the duke present, she knew she couldn’t say anything improper or distasteful. Besides, she didn’t want to discuss such troubles in front of a man whom she hardly knew and who made her feel so completely ill at ease with his imposing demeanor.
“I’m still a bit surprised by your visit,” she said, glancing pointedly at Richard.
The duke cleared his throat, adjusting the bow tie around his neck. He didn’t say anything, but he raised his eyebrow at Anne. If Anne didn’t know better, he seemed to be daring her to pointout his presence. It was all she could do to not do that as she looked at her friend again.
Susan nodded, trying to force a bright smile.
“It has been ages since I came to visit, my dearest,” she said brightly. “I was hoping that, perhaps, we could go to Gunter’s for ices. I brought Richard along so that we would have an escort.”
Anne felt another surge of surprise, one which seemed to travel across the room and register on the duke’s face. Clearly, he hadn’t been let in on his sister’s plan ahead of time, which made Anne all the more curious. Why would Susan bring her brother without telling him why? Susan had never been one for craftiness or keeping secrets.
She recalled the letter she had sent to her friend, figuring that must have been what brought Susan unannounced. But it still didn’t explain why she would plan a sudden trip to Gunter’s and bring her brother as a chaperone. Anne was becoming more puzzled by the minute, and she was struggling to not bluntly ask her friend what was going on.
She cast her eyes upon the duke, who beheld his sister with equal bewilderment, mirroring the perplexity Anne herself experienced.
She waited for him to protest, thinking that he would have better things to do than to escort his younger sister and her friend whom he hardly knew to get ice treats. Instead, however, he nodded silently in agreement. His gaze was fixed firmly on Susan, but she seemed relieved that he had agreed. It was as if she had been counting on her brother to agree to her plan. Once more, Anne wondered what her friend had in mind.
As she watched the silent interaction between the siblings, the duke gave her a contemplative glance. She looked away quickly, pretending to be looking for something. She wasn’t usually shy about speaking what was on her mind. But she didn’t want to offend a duke, even if he was the brother of her bestfriend. Perhaps, especially the brother of her dearest friend. And yet the whole situation began to bother her the more she thought it over. Nothing made any sense, and she earnestly desired to openly inquire of Susan what her intentions were.
As she was pretending to look around the room for something she wouldn’t be able to describe if either of her guests asked if they could help her, she cast a sideways look at the duke once more. He was still silent, but he was giving his sister an inquisitive look. Susan shrugged, also remaining silent, and the discomfort welling up in Anne was about to overflow. She took a deep, slow breath, trying to think of something to say to break the silence. As she did so, she noticed the duke looking at her with that same odd look.
I might faint from anticipation,she thought, turning herself toward her friend and Richard. She wasn’t sure what she was going to say. But she was sure that if she didn’t say something, the tension in the room would send her into a state of madness.
“When would the two of you like to go?” she asked, her voice exceedingly strained to the extent that it caused her great distress.
Susan looked at her with sympathy, her eyes apologetic, but for what, Anne couldn’t guess.
“Any time you’re ready, my dearest,” she said, giving Anne a reassuring smile. “Pray, proceed at your leisure. We are in no undue haste.”
The Duke turned his head to look at his sister as though to object. But he seemed to think better of it, giving Anne a quick glance and a curt nod.
“Any time you like,” he murmured.
Anne nodded, her heart suddenly pounding. He looked very unhappy about the situation, whatever that situation might truly be. But she couldn’t help noticing how beautiful his blue eyes were. She shook her head, idly stroking Mischief, who had begunto stir in her arms. She realized that if she wanted answers, or if she wanted to get the day over with, she would need to be ready to leave soon.
Before she could voice her decision to leave right then, Mischief wriggled from her arms, jumping down onto the table that separated her from Susan and the duke. He shook himself, stretching slowly before sauntering over to the duke and plopping himself down right in front of him. Anne’s eyes widened in fear, wondering what her cat was about to do. She thought it was adorable when he swatted at her clothing. But she didn’t think that the Duke would be too amused if the feline did it to his coat.
Anne gave Susan a look, but she looked as though she was concerned. The standoff between the animal and the duke gave a much needed reprieve from the tension, but Anne couldn’t help being nervous, not knowing how Mischief would react to the Duke, or how the duke would react to the cat. Susan rose from her seat, watching her brother carefully as Mischief flicked his tail and stared up at the duke. Anne held her breath, unsure of what might happen. But once again, the duke surprised her. He held out his hand, allowing Mischief to sniff it.
“He’s really a darling cat,” Susan said, reaching out gently to scratch him behind the ears.
Mischief pulled back, not because of Susan, but because there was a new person in the room. He had always been a bit standoffish around people when he first saw them, which Anne attributed to his abandonment when he was a kitten. The duke didn’t seem fazed, however. He gave the cat a small smirk before turning to Anne.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
