Page 20 of The Duke's Tempting Bride

“A country woman? I hope you’ve at least chosen a proper young lady like myself,” Natale said with a chuckle. “There aren’t many young ladies that could compare with me.”

“You are quite correct, Natale. Young ladies can’t compare to a married woman such as yourself. You, after all, have the knowledge and the years of experience being already married,” Fitz said, his voice darkening. He figured two people could play at this game. If Natale was going to show up on his doorstep the moment his engagement announcement made its way through the Town’s gossipers, then he should be willing to push back as well.

Natale wrinkled her nose at his pointed comment but didn’t let her smile lessen as she locked her eyes with his. “Surely you would prefer someone with experience compared to someone who lacks in that special skill,” she said in a sultry voice.

Her words were starting to frustrate Fitz because her intentions seemed to have not lessened over the years. And perhaps it was her own husband’s unfaithfulness that drove her to him. He also wondered why she hadn’t born a child herself, thinking that perhaps she was barren and unable to produce an heir for her husband.

“I’m quite satisfied with my intended,” Fitz said with a genuine smile. “There’s strength in her I haven’t seen in a woman in a long time. She’s beautiful, smart, and witty. I quite enjoy her company very much.” Though Fitz was trying to discourage Natale from her continued line of conversation, he was surprised by how easy it was to talk highly of Miss Casey. He truly believed in every word he was saying about her.

As he focused his eyes on Natale once more, he realized she had grown very still and silent. She seemed to be thinking about what she wanted to say, and he watched as her smile slowly slipped from her face.

“It pains me to think that you’ve forgotten about Marian,” she said in a soft voice as she turned her back on him.

“You mistake me,” Fitz said, his temper quickly rising. “I will never forget Marian. But I will always follow the advice you gave me the day I watched my wife be placed in the ground. I will not let her death keep me from living a good life, just like she’d wanted of me.”

With her back turned to him, it gave Fitz the opportunity to step around Natale and make his way to the open door. Once he reached the opening, he stopped and turned around to see Natale and that she had tears in her eyes.

“I will send you a wedding invitation so that you and Lord Gunther may join in the festivities. Good day, Natale,” he said as he nodded towards her then quickly left the sitting room. He motioned towards Mr Bingley, who stood several doors down, waiting at attention without having the ability to eavesdrop on his conversation.

“Lady Gunther is ready to go,” Fitz said to his butler as he passed by him and continued on to his study. There, he shut the door to indicate that he wasn’t to be disturbed.

He was furious that Natale would come to his home and say such things to him. At first, she appeared to be flirting with him. The next it seemed that she was trying to use the death of his wife to make him feel guilty for marrying again. He wasn’t sure what type of game she was playing at, but he wouldn’t fall for it. He was going to marry Miss Casey, and that was final.

---