Page 51 of Duchess By Accident
“Well how else do you explain it? She probably led the man on for weeks, only to humiliate him like that.” The tall woman tutted.
Her companion frowned. “He is not wholly innocent.”
“Every man has a secret or two. Men keep mistresses all the time. From what I hear, she was the one who orchestrated the whole thing anyway. I suspect the money those women got went to her.” The woman sniffed and made a dismissive motion with her hand.
Natalie’s stomach twisted. It took all of her willpower not to look at the two women, but the effort made her shake.Please, please let them be speaking of someone else.
“But why would she need it? She will hardly want for money now.” The short plump woman rubbed her hands together.
“Indeed not, given the wealth of her husband. I mean, to hear talk of it, her dress cost so much it might as well have been made of gold.” The taller of the two said decisively. “I suspect she married him for his fortune.”
“I wonder what he sees in her?”
“She is pretty. Andamiableif you catch my meaning. What man can refuse such a combination?”
“But Duke Blackwell could have any pick of women.”
“And he picked her. A woman who is so wanton with her affections that she was caught flirting with Lord Bolton mere weeks before marrying another man.”
Natalie dropped her spoon, her cheeks scarlet with shame and anger. The clattering of the metal hitting the ground jerked the two women’s attention to her. They stopped talking, but Natalie could see hostility in one woman’s gaze.
“I suddenly do not feel like tea.” Natalie stood up and gestured to Peter. “Are you coming, brother?”
Peter who had been staring into the distance gave a start, and stood as well.If he had heard what they had said… He is like a shell of himself.Natalie left the tearoom, tugging Peter alone behind her as they stepped out into the dazzling sunlight.
It was a mark of the peculiar mood that Peter was in that he simply followed her without bothering to ask a question. His hands were in his pockets, his shoulders slumped. Some part of her felt irritated that he did not seem to care about her own discomfort. Another, larger part was simply worried for him.
Natalie glanced over her shoulder; the two women were watching her and talking amongst themselves. All around her, it felt like there were eyes on her. Hostile, judgemental eyes. She felt suffocated.
“I think I would like to return home.” Natalie made her way towards the carriage.
“Whatever you wish.” Peter replied, dully falling into step beside her.
“Peter, if you are this upset about things ending between you and your lady, then you must do something about it.” Natalie shook her head.
“I am not upset. I… I am just tired. That is all. I have not been sleeping very well.” Her brother replied.
“You are so distracted it is like you are living on another planet. You scarcely seem to hear a word I am saying or notice anything that is going on around you.”Though perhaps that is a good thing given what I just overheard.Natalie was not sure how her brother would react to the women, but no doubt anything he did would make the situation worse.
“My lady and I are… a possibility no more. It hurts a little, but I am sure I will make a swift and full recovery in no time.” Peter sounded as though he was trying to convince himself just as much as he was trying to convince her.
“If this is what hurts a little looks like, I dread to think what hurts a lot is. It is not like you to give up so easily. I am sure we can think of a way for you to be together.”
“There is no need. Whatever was between us… It is nothing special.” Peter gave her a smile so brittle that Natalie feared one breath would break it. “Like you said, there is scarcely a woman in England I have not fallen in love with. Perhaps I should try Scotland next?”
“You are trying to joke but I can tell you are upset.” Natalie gave him a frank look.
Peter scowled. “I do not live in some novel. This is the real world, Natalie. Please, just leave it alone. There is no future between us.”
“You keep saying that, but I see no reason for it.” She grabbed his arm and forced him to look at her.
Pain flashed across Peter’s face and he tugged free of her grip. “Her father… He does not think I am good enough for his daughter and there is nothing I can do to change that.”
“Why ever not? You are hardly some gallivanting rake. Your brother is a duke!” A sneaking suspicion began to form in Natalie’s stomach.Is this my fault?
“But I am not. I am the youngest brother of a Duke. That is hardly enough to be a fitting husband for her.” Peter chewed on his bottom lip.
“I hardly see why not. You are also Marquess of Briggs.” Natalie pointed out.
