Page 72 of Embracing the Earl (The St. Clairs 3)

Gratefully, Caroline took his arm and the way magically parted as the duke led her and his duchess through the throng.

She made sure Catherine was seated and had both her book and a cup of tea within reach. The grandfather clock that Rachel had insisted they bring from the Templeton townhouse chimed eleven times and the restless crowd settled down.

Caroline stepped forward. “I’d like to welcome everyone to Evie’s Bookstore and Tearoom. Today, we are especially pleased to sponsor the Duchess of Everton in a reading from her latest book,The Happy Frog Makes a Friend, which goes on sale today. Once the duchess has finished, she will sign any purchased copies of the book. All proceeds will go to charity.” She looked to Catherine. “Your Grace?”

“Thank you, Lady Caroline. I’m delighted to be here and see all of these wonderful children. Are you ready to hear about the adventures of Freddie the Frog?”

“Yes!” a chorus of children replied.

“Then I suppose we should start.” Catherine opened the book and began reading.

Caroline stood to the side and watched the enraptured faces as the children—and adults—present listened to the duchess reading.

“She’s quite good at this,” a voice murmured.

Turning, she saw the Earl of Merrifield at her side. “She is.”

“It’s a brilliant opening,” he said. “I knew Evie’s would be a success.”

“Thank you.”

Her eyes skimmed the crowd and she saw her friends had come to cheer Catherine on. Rachel and Evan stood with Leah and Alex. Cor and Jeremy. The Morefields and Nevilles. The Stanleys. Amanda waved to her enthusiastically and Caroline waved back.

But no Luke.

She shouldn’t be surprised. She’d told him she didn’t want any contact between them. He was a gentleman and would honor her wishes. It hurt her not to see him—but it would have hurt even worse if he’d come.

They listened together until Catherine turned the last page and proclaimed, “The End.”

“Again!” a young voice cried and the audience laughed heartily.

“Excuse me. I need to get Catherine to a table.”

“And I need to purchase my books. Well done, Lady Caroline,” Merrifield praised. Then he said, “I’m glad I asked Mayfield my question.”

She remembered. It was only last night the earl thought to make Luke envious by gaining a dance with her. She’d told him that Luke wouldn’t care.

Caroline had been wrong. Luke did care. And she cared too much.

“I saw him chase after you last night,” Merrifield continued. “Hopefully, he straightened out your false impression.”

“We settled things nicely between us, Lord Merrifield,” she said. “There’s no confusion now on where either of us stand.”

“Good. I was tired of keeping it all a secret. Good day, Lady Caroline.”

As he left, she wondered what he meant. Had Luke shared how he’d felt about her with Merrifield? When would he have done so?

Oh, it didn’t matter. She couldn’t waste any more time on a hopeless situation. Caroline hurried to rescue Catherine, who had children swarming all around her. She politely shooed them away and moved the duchess to a table near where books were being purchased.

“I’ll sit with you.”

“You don’t have to do that, Caroline. I know you have plenty to see to.”

“They must present a receipt in order for you to be able to sign. It will show they’ve purchased their copy. It’s too much to ask for you to check for that and sign. I’m afraid it’s already chaotic enough.”

“Then I’m happy for your company.”

For the next hour, Catherine signed her name to the books customers bought. Stinch came and whispered in Caroline’s ear that every copy had been sold but others of Catherine’s were being gobbled up.

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