Page 54 of Devoted to the Duke (The St. Clairs 1)

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Jeremy didn’t believeCatherine. She’d told him they wouldn’t suit.

She was lying. The question was, why?

Lord Stanley, the partner whose name he’d crossed out, approached them. Jeremy excused himself and stepped away from Catherine in order to meet Amanda’s husband in private.

“You had the next dance with Lady Catherine, I believe.”

Stanley nodded agreeable. “I do.”

“I plan to marry her,” he said bluntly. “She will dance the next number with me.”

The viscount eyed him interest. “I understand, Your Grace.” He nodded and left.

Jeremy rejoined Catherine, who frowned as Stanley walked away.

“Amanda arranged for me to dance with her husband. What did you say to him to make him turn away?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” he responded. “Come.”

He took her hand, longing to strip the glove from it so he could kiss his way up the tender flesh of her bare arm. Instead, he guided her back to the dance floor. The music began again and he took her in his arms.

She glared at him. “You can’t run off all of my partners.”

“I agree.”

Already, he could see his actions had caught the eye of several people present. He remembered that his purpose tonight had been not only to begin searching for a new wife but to clean his tarnished reputation by behaving impeccably before theton. Rachel and Jenny’s future depended upon him. He’d restored the St. Clairs’ financial position and now he must remedy the social aspects.

“I wish I could claim all of your dances,” he said. “I know that’s not possible. I merely wished for us to finish our conversation.”

She sniffed. “Nothing needs to be finished, Your Grace. I’ve told you that we no longer suit.”

He gazed at her steadily. “I don’t believe you.”

Catherine gasped. “You... you... no gentlemen would say that to a lady. You’re calling me a... liar?”

Jeremy grinned. “I am.”

She huffed. “Then why would you even be interested in being with me?”

“Because you’re different from every other woman on the Marriage Mart tonight. You have a grace and beauty that none of the others possess. The years have strengthen your confidence. You have a maturity about you that I find quite appealing.

“And because I’ve longed for you ever since the night we met. You are the woman I should have married, Catherine. It’s always been you.”

She stiffened in his arms. Tears welled in her eyes.

“Don’t cry,” he said softly. “Unless they are tears of happiness.”

“Make no mistake, Your Grace. I’m not happy,” she ground out, her blue eyes darkening. “I’m furious at you. I tried to politely tell you that I have no desire to be your duchess. You’ve accused me of lying. I would never want to be with a man who thought so little of me.” Catherine paused, her eyes growing wintry. “Besides, you already have a daughter. I’m not interested in being a mother to another woman’s child.”

His hold tightened on her. Nothing she could have said would have surprised him more—or cut him to the quick. He adored Jenny. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for his sweet daughter.

“Thank you for making your opinion known to me,” he said curtly.

They finished their dance without further conversation. Jeremy returned her to where Charlotte stood and bowed.

“I wish you a good evening,” he said tersely and walked away.

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