Page 71 of A Duchess Bound
Something about having his attachment to Dorothy acknowledged left a sour taste in his mouth, though. It was as though he expected their affair to remain secret and unnoticed forever, despite the attentions that he often paid her.
If Dorothy knew what Holloway and his wife had insinuated, she would be distraught. Gerard left the ballroom, raking his hand through his hair as he entered the gardens. A cool breeze swept over him, bringing some order to his thoughts.
He had insisted that there was nothing awry. He had not even insinuated that there was something amiss. That was more than he often did.
“Oh!” A startled, feminine cry burst from the nearby bench.
Gerard turned his head toward the sound and spied Lady Bridget seated there. It was difficult to see her in the darkness, but her eyes appeared a little swollen, as though she had been crying.
“Lady Bridget!”
Gerard looked about to see if they were alone. There were two footmen stationed nearby, but at such a distance that he doubted they could hear what was being said.
“Y—Your Grace,” Lady Bridget sniffed. “I am sorry.”
He offered her a handkerchief. She took it, delicately dabbing her eyes.
“Are you all right, my lady?” he asked.
Perhaps this was the illness that had been mentioned earlier. But if that was true, why was the lady alone? Dorothy had left the ballroom directly after her sister, and it would have been impossible for her not to have encountered Lady Bridget already.
“Yes,” Lady Bridget said. “I am fine. It is only that I—I am sorry. I should not burden…”
“You would never be a burden,” he said promptly. “Would you like me to find your sister?”
“No!” Lady Bridget snapped. “No, anyone but her. I just need a moment.”
Gerard frowned.Anyone but her…
He was beginning to suspect that Lady Bridget was quite well and that there was something else amiss.
“What has happened?” he asked, softening his voice. “Did you and your sister quarrel?”
She sniffed and nodded, crumpling his handkerchief in her hand. “I do not want to sound ungrateful, but she is…I feel as though she does not trust me to do anything myself!”
He blinked. “I am certain that is not her intention.”
“Does it matter?” Lady Bridget asked. “Whether her intention or not, that is precisely how I feel! She wants to comment upon every gentleman who asks me to dance and behaves as though I lack the sense to choose my own dance partners. If she knew that you were speaking to me now, I am certain that she would be utterly enraged!”
Gerard doubted that. For all that Dorothy kept insisting that he remain away from her sister, Gerard suspected that some part of herknewthat he had no interest in Lady Bridget, carnal or otherwise.
“She acts as though I cannot protect myself, and I can. I am clever enough to determine if a man is a rake or not.”
Gerard slowly nodded. He did not quite know what to say, though.
Lady Bridget sighed. “I apologize. I am just…talking and talking. I must be boring you.”
“Not at all,” Gerard said. “My silence is not because I am bored. However, I must confess a little ignorance in how best to communicate with ladies about matters such as these. I would advise you to tell Dor—Lady Dorothy how you feel.”
His pulse jumped at the error, but Lady Bridget did not seem to notice. “I already told her,” the young woman said, sighing.
Gerard inwardly winced. “I assume that she was upset.”
“Yes. But I was not in the wrong.”
“I did not imply otherwise.”
Lady Bridget sighed deeply, her breath shuddering. “I do not know what to do. I just want to choose my own suitors and for her to leave me be. I know that she means well, but she is just doing too much.”
