Page 25 of The Duke of Ice
“You…agitate me.” He surprised himself by admitting it.
She stood from the window seat, which brought them closer together. She was so familiar to him and yet a stranger. It was an odd sensation. “I can see that. Am I the reason you’re the Duke of Ice?”
“Partly.” He had the urge to touch her, just a brief stroke of his finger along her jaw, to see if the connection between them was still there.
But he didn’t. This was enough. For now.
“Did you really not know I was a duke?” he asked. “Mrs. Linford is your friend. You could have asked her to invite me. Now that Iama duke, I imagine I’m worthy of your attention.”
Her color turned a bit gray, and he regretted provoking her. “I deserved that,” she said softly, looking him in the eye. “You were always worthy of my attention.” She dropped her gaze to the floor. “It’s me who isn’t worthy. Truly, I didn’t know you were a duke. I purposely ignored anything to do with you—Nicholas Bateman, that is. And I pay little to no attention to the goings-on in Society.”
“That’s something we have in common, then.” Something inside him loosened, like a caged butterfly set free.
She looked back up at him, her eyes the color of grass and earth, basic and elemental. “I was glad to see you. I’d always wondered how you were. Simon—the Duke of Romsey—said you were in the army. I was sorry to hear about your brother.”
With that sentiment, he snapped back into his usual self. The ice crept back over him. He grasped for a safer subject. “You’re first-naming Simon?”
“He asked me to. He seems a good man.”
“He is. And since I’m at this infernal party, I’ve decided I should make the most of it—for his sake. He persuaded me to come here so that he could attend. He would like to move on with his life, find another wife. If that’s even possible.”
“I should think so.” The muscles around her eyes twitched, and she glanced away. “Actually, I’m not certain. He’s been treated with reticence since his arrival, though things have improved since yesterday’s events.”
“He said as much.”
“It’s the younger women mostly. Convincing their parents that he’s a good match may be difficult.” She paused a beat to consider him. “You, on the other hand, are highly sought after.”
He grunted, his lips twisting with disgust.
“You aren’t interested in marrying?” she asked.
“I’vebeenmarried,” he said. “I don’t particularly wish to do it again.” He quickly looked away, directing his gaze at the rain streaming down the windows. “But Simon does, so I’ll help him in any way that I can.”
She took a moment to respond, and he was certain she wanted to ask about his wife. When she didn’t, he breathed softly with relief. He never should’ve brought it up. Images of Jacinda and of his son, Elias, flashed in his mind. He briefly closed his eyes to banish them for now.
“I’d like to help,” she said. “If I may.”
He looked down at her, surprised to find himself forging an alliance with her. “I was hoping you’d say that. What can we do?”
“It might be best if you made it clear you are not wife hunting. Then the parents who wish to make a match will look elsewhere.”
“I despise making my business public.”
A smile teased her lips. “Something else we have in common. Well, I have good news. If you continue behaving like a boor, I doubt anyone would have you.” Her breath caught. “Except… I do believe Sir Barnard has his eye on you for his daughter, Miss Kingman, regardless of your temperament.”
“I believe you’re correct. He’s cornered me in conversation after dinner the past two nights and extolled his daughter’s attributes at length.”
“I’ve become friendly with Miss Kingman. I can relate to her that you aren’t interested and that perhaps she should shift her interest to Simon.”
He considered her suggestion but decided he didn’t want to wish the baronet on his friend. “I’m not sure Simon should have to tolerate Kingman as a father-in-law. What are his other options here?”
“Few, I’m afraid. Lady Lavinia and Miss Colton aren’t terribly enthusiastic about marriage. Yet. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t be. Both seem to want to fall in love.” Her cheeks pinked, and she busied herself transferring her book from one hand to the other, careful to keep her place.
Oh, to be young and full of dreams again. Nick pitied them, for it was likely those dreams would be dashed. “Even if he doesn’t find a wife here, making sure everyone in attendance leaves here with an improved opinion of him should be our goal.”
She nodded and looked back up at him, her chin determined and her eyes carrying some of the sparkle he recognized from so long ago. “Agreed.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to tell me what to do. My social ineptitude is epic in nature.”
