Page 17 of Devoted to the Duke (The St. Clairs 1)

“Before you leave, Morefield, point out Lady Catherine’s father.”

His friend gazed across the room. “There. At the last table on the left. In the gold waistcoat. That’s the Earl of Statham.” Morefield gave him a questioning look but Jeremy ignored it.

“I see two vacant spots, Neville. Join me?”

The two men crossed the length of the room and stood behind the empty chairs.

Jeremy indicated the seats. “Are these taken?”

The Earl of Statham said, “Not at all. Play just broke up. We were waiting for a few more players to round out the table. Please, have a seat.” He turned to the dealer across the table. “Call for a new deck.”

Jeremy and Neville sat and introduced themselves. He already knew two men present, one from his Cambridge days and one who was an acquaintance of his father.

While they waited for a new deck of cards to arrive, he turned to his left and said to the earl, “I danced with your daughter tonight.”

Statham’s face softened. “Ah, my Catherine is a lovely jewel, the same as her sister and my wife. You said you were Sather? Are you related to Hemmings?”

“No.” With dread, he added, “I am the heir to the Duke of Everton.”

A look of displeasure flickered across Statham’s face. He hid it quickly but Jeremy knew he must address the issue.

“My lord, I beg you not to judge me on my father’s reputation,” he said earnestly. “My mother died in childbirth and I was raised by my grandmamma. I believe I take after her in character far more than I do my father, whom I rarely see.”

Statham nodded, understanding lighting his brown eyes. “The dowager duchess is a formidable woman with an impeccable reputation. If you have claimed her good sense and morals, then you are a man to be admired, Lord Sather.”

“I hope to prove to you that very thing. I am coming to call on your daughter tomorrow afternoon.”

“I see.”

“I plan to bring my half-sister, Rachel, who is the very age of Lady Leah. I’m hoping they will enjoy one another’s company.”

“Well played, Lord Sather.”

“I beg your pardon?”

The earl looked at him with new eyes. “Above everything, my daughter values family. What better way to impress her, beyond flattery and ubiquitous bouquets, than to show her you feel the same.” He paused. “Youdoesteem family, my lord?”

Jeremy thought a moment and then spoke from his heart. “While my father has not been a strong influence in my life, Cor certainly has. She’s instilled in me the importance of family. My father is careless and not involved in the lives of my half-brother or half-sister. It is up to me to guide them. Cor convinced me Luke and Rachel are my responsibility and I don’t take that lightly. Nor do I take lightly the duties and obligations that will befall me upon being the Duke of Everton. I assure you, Lord Statham, that I will be a far different duke than my father when the time comes.”

The earl smiled benignly. “Then I look forward to learning more of you, Sather. I suppose I will have to make sure you stay for tea tomorrow. Bring your grandmamma, as well as Lady Rachel. I would enjoy visiting with the dowager duchess, as would Lady Statham.”

“I will see if Cor is free and if so, I’m sure she’ll accompany us. I’m only sorry I cannot fetch Luke from Eton so that all the St. Clairs could be represented tomorrow.”

Statham laughed heartily and Jeremy could see where Catherine had gotten her deep, rich laugh.

He noticed cards being dealt and picked up the two in front of him. After winning two hands and losing another, he excused himself and returned to the ballroom. He found three dances remained before the final one of the evening. Searching the room, he spied Catherine’s sapphire gown. She danced with a man old enough to be her father, a marquess who had never wed and had a string of mistresses. The gentleman spent more time looking at Catherine’s bosom than appropriate. Jeremy forced himself to remain in place instead of storming across the ballroom and slamming his fist into the man’s face.

Fortunately, the dance ended and her next partner behaved more admirably.

Jeremy watched how graceful she was, caught up in the music, her face flushed. Again, he doubted he should become further involved with her but found himself helpless to fight the strong attraction he felt toward her. He hadn’t come to the Wethersby ball looking for a wife. It was the last thing on his mind. Something he’d never planned on doing. And now, it was the only thing that he could think of.

Making this woman his.

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