Page 59 of Dancing with an Enigmatic Duke
Lady Callum curtseyed. “Tomorrow would be wonderful. I shall expect you in the morning.”
“And I shall be here when I am expected,” he bantered back easily. He breathed in a deep breath of the rose-scented air. “I almost dread going to work.”
Lady Callum laughed. “You need to set your mind to getting my brother back on track with your merger.”
“I fear that might not happen until you are safely and happily wed,” Nash frowned.
She frowned with him. “That is true. He is likely to be at least a little displeased with you when we break the engagement. But these things do happen, Lord Torrington. It will not sour him for long.”
“You are wise as ever, Lady Callum.” Nash slipped his gloves on, even if he was loathe to do so with the heat. “Tomorrow then.”
“Tomorrow,” she echoed back as her hazel eyes watched him intently.
Nash felt some regret as he stepped away from her and walked towards Gerald. It was an odd little nagging ache that Nash could not determine the source of. It was true that he had felt a warmth blossom for Lady Callum over the last while. But the plan had not changed.
“Lord Torrington,” Gerald said Nash reached him. He gave him a small bow.
Nash returned the bow. “Tell Harcourt that I shall call tomorrow morning, will you?”
“Of course, Your Grace.” Gerald’s reverent tone left Nash in no doubt that the man would indeed ensure the message was given the utmost importance.
He left the Pentworth household behind and felt like a piece of himself stayed behind. He barely even remembered the ride across town. “Charles,” Nash called as he entered the shipping company building.
“Here, Your Grace,” Charles’ voice called from the other room. A few moments later, Charles himself appeared. “How was your visit?”
“It went well. Has there been anyone in?”
“That Grissom fellow came by. I took down a message for him. He seemed very put out that you were not here waiting on his arrival.” Charles frowned as if the memory of him put him in a bad disposition.
The idea that Grissom had thought to call upon him put Nash in an ill mood as well. Now that the man had called, he was left with little recourse but to visit him at his home or place of business. Nash had no doubt that was the man’s plan when Grissom called while he was out.
He shrugged off his coat and rid himself of his gloves. “I will send one of the boys to the pier to inform him of my apologies and to offer an appointment to come and see me.”
“Not going to take his bait?” Charles asked the question with a grin.
Nash grunted. “That man is not going to get me looped into calling upon him at his doorstep. He can keep this professional. I have no need of another household to dine with every other week.”
“Ah, speaking of dining, you received an invitation from that lord you dined with the other week… with the daughters.” Charles grinned.
Having known Charles since they were both young, Nash chuckled at the look. He thought for a moment. “Did he mention Lady Callum being invited also?”
“No, Your Grace.”
Nash sighed in relief. “Then it would be inappropriate for me to accept.”
“He made it sound like a business matter.” Charles cut his eyes to the letter on Nash’s desk.
There was no point in reading the letter and Nash shrugged. “That man no more wants to ship anything than I want to become a grain farmer. He merely wants to get me in the presence of another of his daughters.”
“What shall I say then? Or am I merely misplacing the letter?” Charles walked to the desk as Nash came to sit down. He picked up the letter as if it displeased him as he waited on Nash to respond.
Nash thought for a moment before he replied. “Tell him that Lady Callum and I are extremely busy and that I shall be happy to meet with him after the end of the season.”
“As you wish, Your Grace. Being betrothed suits you, Your Grace.”
“Does it?”
“Yes.” He tucked the letter under his arm. “I must admit that when I first saw you just now that I thought you had perhaps had a disagreement with your lady.”
