Page 51 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
Much to his dismay, apparently.Well, if he didn’t like it, it was his own fault. He should not keep interfering in her plans.
Perhaps now he would stay out of her business.
She lifted her chin, under that steady and uncomfortable stare. ‘I still need to get word to my brother-in-law, you know.’
He grimaced. ‘I will escort you home and then seek him out to give him your message. I will also do my best to scotch any rumours about your presence outside Boodle’s, should anyone mention it. I do wish, however, that you had brought your maid or a footman.’
She stifled the urge to smile. ‘I shall do so next time.’
‘There will not be a next time,’ he said repressively. ‘It might be possible to plead innocence the first time, but not a second time.’
Clearly, he was prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt, this time, but hopefully his forbearance would not last very long. ‘Very well.’ She tried to look meek and accepting.
His glare said she had not succeeded.
He held out his arm and walked her back to her residence.
It was odd how easily they walked side by side, their steps in perfect harmony. Odd how neither of them felt the need for polite conversation.
Odd how delicious the kiss had been.
Oh, she had not intended to think about their kiss. That had been a moment of madness. And he had clearly disapproved of her forwardness.
Her heart contracted, as if squeezed. An unpleasant, painful feeling.
Why on earth would she care if he found her improper? Indeed, that would suit her purpose very well. Would it not?
A man of his stature only had to give her the cut direct and she would be ruined.Persona non grata.Beyond the pale for ever. Let Father try to marry her off then.
Now was not the time to let her attraction to a man interfere with her plans to avoid being forced into yet another unpleasant marriage.
Indeed, the Duke would be the perfect foil for those plans, if he wasn’t about to become engaged to Miss Simons.
She recalled her promise to her friend.
How would one approach such a delicate matter? Not on the street, that was certain. Nor in any public place. After all, the information would come as a shock. Who knew how he might react.
Anger. Disappointment. Heartbreak?
Was it possible that his heart was engaged? It did not seem so, when seeing them together. He seemed more like an uncle than a besotted suitor.
Perhaps that was because he was good at hiding his true feelings.
‘Do you think love is important in a marriage?’ she asked. Shocked at the baldness of her question, she stumbled slightly.
Catching her up, he glanced downat her with his usual frown. ‘I think there should be mutual liking, certainly.’ His mouth tightened. ‘I am not sure love enters into it. One’s duty to one’s family must come first.’
‘At the expense of one’s heart?’
‘Romantic love is highly overrated. It leads to all kinds of erratic behaviour. Take Caro Lamb, for example. A disaster. All brought about by overheated imagination and nonsense.’
Anger was a hard lump in her throat. ‘You assume one’s family has one’s best interests at heart.’
‘I would assume they have the family’s best interests at heart.’
‘And the individual’s best interests mean nothing?’
‘In time, no doubt the family’s interests and the individual’s will coincide.’
