Page 15 of A Duchess Bound
“That is not quite the same as being married.”
“No, but it is enough for me.”
Catherine’s smile was soft. Her blue eyes drifted a little over the ballroom. “I believe there is a gentleman looking at you.”
“There is not,” Dorothy said.
It could not behim. Her heart fluttered madly in her chest. She doubted that the Duke of Greenway had given her a second thought since their initial encounter. His attentions had already likely found another lady to seduce with his wicked smirks and sharp gazes.
Still, she turned to look.
“The gentlemanmustbe looking atyou,” she told Catherine. “I cannot imagine…”
The words caught in her throat. It was him. The Duke of Greenway. Catherine was right. His eyes were fixed intently on her. She shivered and tore her gaze away as if she had been burned.
“The Duke of Greenway,” Dorothy explained. “He wished to dance with Bridget, and I informed her that he was an incurable rake. I believe that he feels insulted.”
“I see,” Catherine said. “Well, I am certain that you and Elias are capable of handling one rakish man.”
“Indeed.”
A shiver traced the path of Dorothy’s spine. The kiss?—
It kept coming to her mind unbidden. Worse, it brought a surge of unspeakable sensations with it. Her body became hot and sensitive, and on at least three separate nights, she had lain awake with an ache between her thighs.
It was no small wonder that he was a rake. His charms were enough to bring most ladies to their knees.
“Come,” Catherine said. “Let us continue our conversation with some lemonade.”
CHAPTER 6
Regent’s Park was in bloom. Flowers blossomed, flaunting their bright hues in the early morning sunlight. Wind swept through the air, carrying their sweet perfume. It was unquestionably lovely. Picturesque, even. However, Gerard’s thoughts were fixed upon an entirely different manner of flower.
The pleasant weather had brought all the ladies out to promenade. Even better, the ladies were dressed with the intent of beingseen. His lips twitched into a smirk as he walked past two ladies in exquisitely tailored gowns. Gerard silently praised the talents of their modistes.
Pontoun walked behind Gerard. The man had been quiet all morning, probably brooding.
“Have you seen any lady worth pursuing?” Gerard asked at last, unable to bear the silence any longer.
He did not truly care. It was obvious that Pontoun had not found a suitable lady. However, it was equally apparent that Pontoun wanted to talk about his ill fortune. Gerard was not always a great friend, and he tried not to be a needlessly cruel one.
Pontoun sighed. “Many,” he said. “But I find myself…encumbered by a certain dilemma.”
“Oh?”
“I must introduce myself to a lady and spend time with her to discern if I love her.”
“Yes.”
“But I do not want a lady to feel as though I have given her false hope,” Pontoun said. “What am I to do if I approach a lady and court her? If I pay calls to her and dance with her at balls and realize that I bear no real affection for her? She would most certainly be distraught.”
“As she should be,” Gerard said. “If a lady shows affections towards you, she may risk losing the attention of other suitors, who may be willing to marry her even if she is not a love-match.”
“Yes! What am I to do?”
Gerard smiled wryly. “My friend, I have no idea what to tell you. My advice would be to accept your fate as a gentleman of the tonand marry a lady who can provide you with an ample dowry and suitable heirs.”
“I will not. If I abandon the pursuit before it begins, I am undeserving of love.”
