Page 16 of A Duchess Bound
“I suppose you would be.”
Gerard looked ahead, and his heart caught in his throat. He recognized the two fair-haired beauties, Lady Dorothy and Lady Bridget.
“This pair,” Gerard said, quickening his steps. “I will introduce you to Lady Bridget. She is a beauty beyond compare.”
“I want more than beauty from my bride.”
“Of course, you do! But beauty does not hurt when it comes to choosing one’s duchess!”
Gerard saw the precise moment Lady Dorothy recognized him, for her shoulders stiffened. To Gerard’s immense delight, her lovely face hardened into a look of displeasure. His blood quickened in his veins, filling him with warmth. There was a battle coming, and he was determined to win.
“Good afternoon, ladies!” He bowed flamboyantly, drawing a small titter of laughter from Lady Bridget. “May I introduce my companion to you? This is Louis Pontoun, the Duke of St. Claire. Ponty, this is Lady Dorothy and Lady Bridget.”
“Charmed to make your acquaintance,” Pontoun said.
Gerard fixed his gaze on Lady Bridget. She smiled at him, her blue eyes sparkling like finely polished sapphires. He sensed Lady Dorothy’s eyes on him and purposefully refused to look at her. How long before she lost her composure and threw some sharp remark in his direction?
“We are also quite pleased to meet you,” Lady Bridget said, smiling at Pontoun. “It is a lovely day to promenade.”
“Indeed, it is. Might we join you?”
Lady Bridget cast a questioning look at her sister.
“We are nearly finished with our walk,” Lady Dorothy said. “I fear that the time you spent with us would be terribly slight.”
“Why should that matter?” Gerard asked. “Even a heartbeat in the presence of such beauty is infinitely precious. If we must decide between having a heartbeat with you or no time at all, it is obvious which we must choose.”
“Nice words,” Lady Dorothy said.
Her disapproval was impossible to miss. Gerard smiled, looking directly at her. A shiver of delight shot through him as he gazed at her beautiful, frustrated face.
“Theyarenice,” Gerard said. “Thank you for noticing the care with which I chose them.”
“Shall we begin walking?” Pontoun asked.
His friend’s tone was difficult to discern. Was he frustrated or merely bored by the exchange unfolding before him?
“Yes,” Gerard said. “I find that agreeable, provided that the ladies are also willing.”
Lady Bridget curiously eyed her sister, who sighed. “How can I refuse?” Lady Dorothy asked. “His Grace has provided such a well-reasoned argument for joining us.”
“I am pleased to hear you acknowledge it as such,” Gerard said. “Shall we, Lady Bridget?”
“I suppose we shall.”
Gerard considered offering his arm to her, but he had told Pontoun that this would be his opportunity to meet Lady Bridget. Instead, he let his friend walk alongside Lady Bridget and lingered a few steps behind with the elder Leedway sister. Her blue eyes were as stormy as the sea.
“You are impossible,” Lady Dorothy said.
“Wonderfully so.”
“Wonderfully. It is awonderthat you are so obtuse,” she hissed under her breath. “You know that I do not want you interacting with my sister. You will sully her spotless reputation, and she will suffer for it.”
“I have no intention of sullying your sister.”
Admittedly, hehadwanted to do that at first. That was before he had realized how interesting the spinster could be, though.
“You say that,” Lady Dorothy said, “but I find it difficult to believe you. After all, rakes are notorious liars, and I doubt that you are the exception to that rule.”
