Page 17 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
“I think we can safely assume that neither of us will do that. No one doubts the truth of our engagement, and we do not really need to convince anyone we are in love. Not now they have seen us kiss.”
The smell of amber threatened her memory, and she pushed it away. She was not going to think about their kiss. She simply was not. Besides, just because the kiss had been enjoyable did not mean anything.
She had no point of comparison. Perhaps it was simply an average kiss and she only thought it was not—after all, she had not experienced better.
“Trust me, a good kiss is a good kiss.” Charlotte’s eyes twinkled.
Andrea choked on the sip of tea she had just taken, sputtering and coughing madly; she had not realised she had spoken her thoughts aloud.
Even her ears were turning red. “I did not mean to. I mean. Of course it was a good kiss. Well, I think it was. It was enjoyable, but perhaps that was more the relief of my escaping Lord Crossley. Although, I suppose it would make sense that he was a skilled kisser. The Duke I mean, not Lord Crossley, not that I have kissed Lord Crossley. It is just that the Duke has had more than enough practice. Not with me, obviously. We have only kissed the once.”
She knew she was babbling but could not stop herself. Especially when she saw Charlotte’s grin broadening. She had hoped that the reminder of the Duke’s somewhat rakish nature would have stirred some anger in her, but apparently not.
“If I was not worried about waking my godson, I would throw a scone at you.” Andrea pointed the nib of her pen at her.
“How very maternal of you.” Charlotte giggled.
Andrea rolled her eyes, a prickle of discomfort spreading through her body. “Well, he is only a baby. Who knows what a scone might do to him!”
“He is a baby, not some China doll.” Charlotte shook her head.
Andrea grinned in spite of herself, reaching for a scone. “Are you suggesting that I should throw a scone at you?”
“I would rather not.” Charlotte replied.
“Very well.” Andrea nodded and returned to the paper before her. “Surely there must be other things you did?”
“Well there was the whole pet names, but that started out as a way to embarrass him more than anything else.” Charlotte smiled fondly.
“That would explain why you chose such over-the-top names for one another.” Andrea sucked on the nib of her pen, making a face at the taste of the ink. “Though, you do seem to have grown into them.”
“Sometimes the line between fondness and irritation is thinner than we imagine.”
“Hmmm…” Andrea nodded thoughtfully at the paper. “So I should avoid embarrassing him?”
“In general, it is kinder not to do such things. Just because you are entering a marriage of convenience does not mean you cannot be friends.” She helped herself to one of the biscuits on the plate in front of her.
“I suppose not.” Andrea tried to keep the doubt from her voice.
“Especially as you will be in such close proximity to one another.” Charlotte took a sip of her own tea.
“Not really, my house is not very close to his London one. Aside from the occasional ball or social event, I am sure it will be altogether too easy to avoid one another.”That is a comforting thought.She nodded to herself.
Charlotte canted her head towards her. “You do not plan on living with him?”
“I told you, Charlotte. This is not a real marriage. We will live separate lives.” Andrea noted it down on the paper before her. “That is why we agreed to it in the first place. I will get to keep my freedom, and he will avoid the apparent torture that is every eligible woman in the ton throwing herself at him.”
Charlotte chewed on her biscuit, covering her mouth with her hand. “I am not sure that the Dowager Duchess will be thrilled with such an arrangement.”
“She knows that I was looking for a match of convenience. She even gave me a list of eligible bachelors.” Andrea shrugged.
“And I take it her grandson was on this list?” Charlotte asked.
“Well, yes. Though I had not actually intended to pursue him.” She ate a biscuit, more to distract herself from the amused look in her friend’s eyes than anything else. “But we are getting distracted. Now, was there anything else you agreed to with your false engagement?”
“Not really. We agreed that we would part ways after the competition, but that is not really applicable to you as you will be marrying him.” Charlotte rolled her shoulders, shifting her neck from side to side.
“Perhaps that was your problem. You did not have enough of an agreement between you.” She stroked her chin thoughtfully. “If we have more rules, a clear understanding of what we want from the marriage, then we shall be able to enforce them.”
