Page 55 of Devoted to the Duke (The St. Clairs 1)

Chapter Eighteen

Catherine’s throat grewthick with unshed tears as Jeremy strode away. A part of her went with him. This man would always hold her heart. He could never know how she truly felt about him. She’d needed to hurt him in order to push him away. Obviously, he cared for his daughter a great deal and her cruel words had done the trick.

“Excuse me,” she told Charlotte. “I must go to the retiring room.”

Catherine fled the ballroom, her eyes downcast. Hopefully, Charlotte would wait to tell her next partner where she was. She entered the room and was grateful no one was in it, which didn’t surprise her because it was so early in the evening. She went to a basin and splashed cool water on her face, drying it with a handkerchief she removed from her reticule.

She refused to cry. After the accident, she’d learned tears did no good. They didn’t make her leg ache less or help it heal more quickly. They didn’t bring Mama back. They certainly didn’t cure Papa’s paralysis. She’d learned to make the best of things, locking away her emotions. She greeted everyone with a smile and, above all, she never let her father see how difficult it was to care for him. Walking into his room each day with him lying immobile in his bed ripped at her heart.

Pushing Jeremy away now had hurt the most of all. Catherine told herself it was for the best. She’d seen the passion in his eyes. He’d revealed how he’d longed for her all of these years. He would have married her without question. Knowing what a blackguard Statham was, it wouldn’t have surprised her if her cousin had tried to blackmail her after the wedding so that he would keep her secrets. She wouldn’t put herself in that position and she certainly would never put the St. Clair family at risk.

As it was, she’d already gained the attention of Lord Aubrey. He would be an earl someday. That still might tempt Statham to extort money from her. He’d proven so mercenary that Catherine must not only find a husband soon but watch whom she wed. Her original plan of marrying the lowest ranking gentleman was sound. She only needed to find one that fit the bill.

Two giggling girls entered and she decided she better return and find her partner. She did, apologizing for missing part of their dance. The baron was in his mid-thirties, with a round, red face and thinning hairline. Before the music ended, she already knew he had three very active little boys and wanted a new wife to take charge of them. Physically, he didn’t appeal to her in the slightest but Catherine added his name as the first to the list she would keep of possible suitors.

She danced several more times, making sure to keep her eyes on her partner and not scouring the ballroom for a glimpse of the Duke of Everton. It was almost impossible to do for she felt drawn to him as a magnet. She must never seek him out and knew never to be alone with him, else her resolve would crumble.

Finally, the supper dance arrived and Lord Aubrey returned to her side.

As they danced, he asked, “How has your evening been so far? Is it a good start to the Season?”

“I have met some very nice people and renewed a few old acquaintances.”

“I saw you danced twice with Everton,” he remarked.

“We did.” She left it at that.

“We were friends as boys,” he finally said. “He and his brother, Timothy, came home often with me from Eton. I also visited Eversleigh.” Aubrey paused. “The brother died. It somehow killed the friendship between us. I suppose I reminded Jeremy of Timothy and all the times we’d spent together.”

“I see.”

“Did he ask to call upon you?” he asked casually.

“No. Why would he?”

Aubrey seemed to relax. The song ended and he led her into supper. They went straight to a table where Lord and Lady Rutherford already sat. Amanda and Stanley joined them.

“I’ll bring you a plate, Lady Catherine,” Aubrey said, as the other men at the table rose and followed him to the buffet line.

“How has tonight gone?” Amanda asked. “I saw Countess Lieven speaking with you.”

“Her influence must spread far and wide. My programme was filled minutes after she stopped by and greeted me.”

“She takes to certain people,” Amanda confided. “If she supports you, you will easily find a husband this Season.”

As the men returned with plates heaping with food, Catherine saw Jeremy cross the room. He seated himself next to a fair-haired young woman with eyes as wide as a doll’s. Catherine turned away and did her best to eat, though it was hard to swallow. Twice, she glanced their way and saw them speaking animatedly.

Lady Rutherford was kind and engaged her in conversation. Amanda mentioned she was holding a garden party the day after tomorrow and insisted that Catherine attend. Aubrey immediately asked to escort her. In front of his family, she didn’t have the heart to tell him no and quietly agreed.

Lord Rutherford excused himself and returned to the card room. Lady Rutherford told Amanda and Aubrey that they needed to come and meet one of her girlhood friends.

That left Catherine sitting with Lord Stanley.

“I want to apologize for missing our dance,” she began.

His mouth twitched in amusement. “Oh, that’s quite all right. It gave me a chance to have a drink.” He took a sip of his wine. “I was under the impression that you didn’t know many people in London.”

“I haven’t been here in years. I came to town recently and am staying at my cousin’s house, Lord Statham. I’m hoping to meet new people and renew former acquaintances during the Season.”

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