Page 18 of Five Ways to Bed a Duke

“Emmy,” she chided softly. “It’s not proper to raise your voice like that.”

Emmy winced and hid her red face behind her fan. “Sorry. I was just so excited to see you,” she murmured. “I have gotten so many compliments on my dress. Do you like it?”

She spun, looking much like Lily, and Catherine couldn’t help but smile at her. It was like having another younger sister.

“You look beautiful, Emmy.” And she meant it.

“Of course, she’d look beautiful,” Richard declared proudly, coming up behind them. “You have a good eye. As do I, I hope?”

Catherine turned beet red as she remembered the dress she’d hidden away until she needed to pull off her prank. She’d finally tried it on when Lily had returned to her chambers and had had to clap a hand over her mouth to muffle her squeal. It wasthatdecadent, and she’d loved it. But she’d be damned if she let him know how much she loved it.

“Thank you for the compliment, Your Grace, but I’m afraid the same cannot be said about you,” she joked.

Richard beamed at her jest. “You learn quickly. That is good.” He nodded. “But I am hurt. You didn’t like the dress?”

“What dress?” Miss Applesworth suddenly asked, shocking everyone with her proximity and inserting herself into the conversation. “Good day, Your Grace. I’ve been looking for you.”

Catherine, once her heart rate had slowed, had to mentally applaud the girl for her bravery. Not only had she rudely ignored all the members of their group, but she’d gone ahead to initiate a conversation with Richard, who had a higher rank than her and to whom she’d not been introduced.

Catherine noticed Richard take in the petite blonde and wondered if perhaps he too would be ensnared by her cherubic charms. Miss Applesworth really was a beauty, with lush golden-blonde hair that glimmered in the sun and glowing skin. Her pale blue dress accentuated the blue of her eyes.

Apparently, she was also better at flirting, for many of the men of their party could barely keep their eyes off her, always looking to engage her in conversation when she was free.

If Catherine was looking for a different sort of marriage, she might have felt jealous of how much attention the girl was getting. Seeing Richard’s eyes linger on her, though, sent a bitter feeling to the pit of her stomach that she couldn’t identify.

Miss Applesworth squared her shoulders at his perusal, pushing her chest forward. At least on that point, Catherine won, seeing as the girl was small-chested.

Miss Applesworth had enough confidence to make up for it, though.

“Is that so?” Richard asked coolly. “May I inquire why, Miss…?”

“Applesworth. Diana Applesworth,” she said, preening. She was definitely planning wedding dresses in her head now.

“Miss Applesworth,” Richard said slowly with a sour look on his face. “I wonder. Would Lord Smythe smile so brightly when I tell him how his daughter rudely inserted herself into a conversation when she’d not been properly introduced to the discussants?”

Her face paled as her eyes darted around the garden, and in a whiff of powdery perfume, she was gone.

Catherine resisted the urge to smirk. It was no news that the Viscount Smythe was a stickler for propriety and was even more so when it came to his only daughter. Miss Applesworth would probably be sent to the country for a year to avoid scandal.

“You sent Cathy a dress?” Emmy asked, surprised.

Catherine sighed inwardly, grateful that her friend had not mentioned what had just happened.

“Yes. To thank her for agreeing to tutor you.”

“Oh, you’re such a darling, Brother.”

“I am glad someone seems to think so.” He sniffed, and Catherine almost laughed.

Emmy put her hand on her friend’s arm. “Why didn’t you tell me he bought you a dress? Can I see it?”

“Yes, can we?” Richard asked teasingly.

“Someday maybe.” Catherine smiled at them, before walking away.

It was time for games, and she really was looking forward to doing something other than making conversation. Her polite facade was slipping, and it was only a matter of time before she said some not-very-proper things to Miss Applesworth if she kept glaring daggers at her from across the garden.

The first game was Pall Mall, and Catherine partnered up with the lovely Sarah Dowding, wife of the Earl of Branden. They were to play against Lord Dunham and Miss West, an American heiress she’d yet to be introduced to.

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