Page 41 of The Duke's Indecent Match
Kalina’s mother took the seat beside hers, quietly sliding into place.She was so serene, so calm.Kalina did her best to emulate her mother’s tranquil demeanor.
“Good morning,” Mei said, turning to look at Kalina.Her dark eyes studied Kalina’s expression, which she feared might show more than she wanted it to, despite her efforts.
“Good morning,” Kalina replied, and she was rather pleased at how her voice sounded.Not too high, not too strained.Almost as though this was a completely normal morning.
“I hear you no longer require my services.”Mei’s lips twitched, a glimmer of amusement sparking in her eyes when Kalina’s mouth dropped open, and she stared at her.
Mei was teasing her.
It felt… it felt like she wanted to burst into tears at the idea that someone was not only looking at her, talkingwithher instead of about her, but was willing to tease her.She was also very aware that Mei was cataloging all of Kalina’s actions.The teasing was meant in a kindly fashion, but there was also an underlying current of being examined.
Still.She was grateful.
“Well, we will see.Nothing is set in stone, as yet.”She dropped her gaze to her plate.Her stomach twisted.
Picking up a piece of toast, which seemed the most harmless item, she began to butter it.It gave her something to do while she tried to convince her stomach to settle.Conversation had sprung up again along the rest of the table, but Kalina was very aware of the whispers, the sideways glances.
She did not dare look down the length of the table to see if Delilah and Tiffany were whispering to each other.She did not want to know if they were.
“From all I have observed, the Duke of Hereford is an honorable man.He will do the right thing.”Mei took a sip of her tea.“I think he may even come to realize what a lucky escape he had from his chosen fate.”
Kalina did not know what to say to that.It was on the tip of her tongue to comment that Mei had not had much time to observe the duke.She had only arrived yesterday.Yet, she suspected Mei saw much more, and much more clearly, than most.
As to a lucky escape and a chosen fate… Kalina could not begin to imagine what Mei was referring to.She did know that the duke and Mei had spoken at length yesterday afternoon.
Had Mei felt as though he was going down the wrong path in regard to his search for a bride?
Did referring to a lucky escape mean that she thought his marriage to Kalina was lucky?
Kalina’s head hurt trying to follow the logic, yet she did not feel as though she could ask.Was not sure she wanted to.
The door to the dining room opened again, and Kalina’s head jerked up.Lady Astrid swept into the room, followed by the dukes.Almost all the dukes.Hereford was absent.Likely still in the library with her father.
Taking in the room with a glance, Lady Astrid’s gaze moved right over Kalina as if she did not exist.It felt like a sharp jab through her heart, and her breath clogged in her throat as her eyes began to sting.Kalina dropped her gaze back down to her plate, forcing herself to bring the toast to her mouth and take a small nibble as Lady Astrid and the cadre of dukes joined the duchess and baroness at the other end of the table.
Mei leaned in closer to Kalina, dropping her voice so only she could hear.
“Do not worry.Emotions are heightened, but eventually they will realize you had nothing to do with trapping Hereford into marriage.”
Surprise nearly choked Kalina, but she managed to swallow her bread despite it.Mei’s insight was even greater than she’d realized.She sounded completely sure that Kalina had had nothing to do with the events of this morning.
Afraid to hope that Mei was correct, Kalina couldn’t stop the painful little spark that sprang up inside her, anyway.
15
Nathanial
Miss Little’s dowry was a literal king’s ransom.He’d known it was large, but this was… huge.Gargantuan.Nearly beyond his comprehension after months of scrabbling and scrounging and trying to ensure his sisters were at least fed and clothed.It was all Nathanial could do not to stare at the marriage contract that Mr.Little had ready.
It also made him wonder how long the man had been planning this or something like it.
“Is the sum enough?”Mr.Little asked from the other side of the table they were seated at, folding one hand over the other as he rested them in front of himself.“Do you require more?”
More?
If Nathanial had been standing, he would have hit the ground.Not just because of the amount of drink he’d had the night before, either.
“This is fine.”He managed to get the words out, though it felt like he’d swallowed his tongue.
