Page 57 of Devoted to the Duke (The St. Clairs 1)

“Then why do you keep staring at her?”

“I can’t help it,” he admitted. Jeremy sighed. “My family is what’s most important to me, Countess. First in my heart is my daughter, Jenny, who’s just over a year old. Lady Catherine told me she didn’t want to mother another woman’s child. I can’t seriously consider wedding a woman who’d treat my own flesh and blood like an outcast.”

She pursed her lips in displeasure. “And you believed that? A woman who selflessly nursed her father for years? Lady Catherine has strength of character. There is some other, hidden reason why she turned you away, Everton. You should discover it. Ask to call upon her tomorrow. Take her for a drive in the park.”

Bitterness filled him. “Aubrey already beat me to that. He’s taking her for a drive tomorrow.”

Jeremy glanced again at the Rutherford table and saw Lady Rutherford, Amanda, and Aubrey stepping away, leaving only Stanley and Catherine present. Lord Rutherford had already left some minutes earlier. Seeing the pair rise, he assumed they were returning to the ballroom.

He stood. “I will take your advice, Countess.”

She smiled. “Then I wish you the best of luck, Everton.”

As he crossed the room he saw the pair sit again. Catherine’s face lost all color. She began slumping and Jeremy raced the rest of the way to her, catching her before she hit the floor. Unfortunately, she clasped the tablecloth in her hands and as she slid from her chair, she took it with her. The moment he scooped her up, dishes crashed to the floor. Every head in the room turned in their direction and several began rushing over to her aid as others gasped.

Stanley stood and loudly said, “Lady Catherine grew overheated and told me she needed some fresh air.” He stepped in front of Jeremy, who held the unconscious Catherine in his arms. “Don’t worry. Her fiancé will care for her.” He nudged Jeremy’s shoulder and said, “Follow me.”

Stanley helped him push through the buzzing crowd and said, “Take her to the study.”

Only as they left the supper room did he realize what Stanley had said. Jeremy remembered telling him he was going to marry Catherine—and now everyone in thetonthought they were engaged.

He wondered what she would think when she awoke and found herself pledged to him.

Jeremy had been inside the study many times before when he used to visit the Rutherfords with Timothy. He followed Stanley there now and waited for him to throw open the door. Once he did, Jeremy entered and went to the settee. He sat, leaving Catherine’s head and shoulders in his lap. Some of her hairpins fell out, loosening her hair. He slipped a curl between his thumb and forefinger and rubbed it, marveling at the silky texture.

“Is she all right?” Charlotte cried as she rushed into the room, Morefield following closely behind her.

Before he could reply, Amanda appeared. “How is she?” Aubrey and Lady Rutherford were on her heels.

“She’s fine, as I stated,” Stanley said. “She grew warm and was merely going to seek some fresh air when she became weak. You can see she’s in good hands.”

“Are you engaged?” demanded Charlotte. Morefield, standing behind his wife, shrugged helplessly at him, a huge grin on his face.

“Everton said he was going to marry her,” Stanley volunteered.

“I did say that,” Jeremy admitted to the group. “However, I had not yet asked Lady Catherine for her hand.”

Amanda laughed. “So everyone in thetonknows—except for the bride-to-be. How delightful!”

He caught Aubrey frowning at him.

“Should we send for smelling salts?” a worried Lady Rutherford asked.

“No,” he said firmly. “It’s a nasty way to awaken. She’ll rouse shortly.”

“We don’t want to overwhelm her,” Amanda said. “Come, everyone. Let’s leave them.” She took Stanley’s arm and then her mother’s. “We should see to our guests.”

The three left. Aubrey glared at Jeremy before following them out.

“I think we should stay,” Charlotte said. “It might frighten Catherine to awaken alone with Everton.” She took a seat and motioned for her husband to sit next to her.

Moments later, he felt Catherine begin to stir. Her eyelids fluttered a few times and then opened. Those bright, blue eyes focused on him and, for a moment, her guard was down. Jeremy saw the longing in her eyes.

And knew he still had a chance.

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