Page 30 of A Game with the Rakish Duke
Thomas smiled archly, suddenly recalling their brief encounter with the two ladies on the main street when they had first arrived in the village. Kenneth had made a beeline for them straight away, of course.
His friend had never been able to resist a pretty face, never mind two. Thomas had stood back and watched as Kenneth flirted with them before dragging him away after ten minutes of idle, quite boring, chitchat. The conversation had centered around who had attended a local ball. Thomas had almost fallen asleep standing up like a horse.
“Do you think them lovely?” Catherine asked, turning to Kenneth. “Really?”
“Why, yes,” he replied, looking surprised. “They are both as pretty as a picture.”
“What about you?” Catherine swung her head to look at Thomas. “Didyouthink them lovely?”
Thomas shrugged. “They are both rather pretty ladies though hardly raving beauties.” He frowned, gazing at her. “Why are you splitting hairs about it?”
“No reason,” Catherine said airily, picking up her wine glass again. “I was only making conversation. I am sure I am quite wrong about them. First impressions are almost never accurate after all.”
Beatrice, who had been following the conversation with a frown, turned to Thomas. “Oh, I saw those ladies!” she exclaimed suddenly. “We saw you chatting to them on the street, just as we were leaving…” she trailed off, looking startled as she noticed Catherine glaring at her.
“I do not recall that, Beatrice,” Catherine said in a tight voice. “I saw the two ladies before we entered the teashop. I never saw them afterward although you may have done so.” She smiled dazzlingly. “Perhaps I was just feeling too ill.”
Thomas smiled slightly, gazing at Beatrice. “I see,” he drawled. “You should have dragged my wife across the street, Lady Beatrice, to say hello. I would have been happy to introduce you both to the ladies.” He gazed back at Catherine. “It is always beneficial to make local acquaintances in the district.”
Beatrice bit her lip. “Oh, Cathy was feeling ill as she said. We think it was the clotted cream…”
“I am certain you have made many acquaintances in the district,” Catherine stiffly interjected, raising her chin and gazing at him with a challenging glint in her eyes. “I am certain you areverywell known in the district, husband.”
He chuckled, sitting back in his chair and gazing at her. How beautiful she looked, with her green eyes shooting sparks, her delectable bosom rising and falling, glaring at him. Now he realized why she was pursuing this subject so doggedly.
His new wife wasjealousthat he had been speaking with those ladies on the street. He was sure of it.
“I make myself known,” he said, waving a hand in the air. “It pays to keep abreast of the activities in the area.” He paused. “One never knows when it might prove useful after all.”
“I see,” Catherine gritted out. “And did your conversation with the two ladies in the village today proveuseful, then?”
Thomas tapped his fingers on his chin, pretending to ponder the question. Catherine kept glaring at him, her nostrils flaring slightly. She really did look particularly gorgeous when she was in high dudgeon. What a spirited woman she was.
“It may,” he replied, flashing a smile at her and picking up his wine glass. “At any rate, you will be the first to know if something comes of the acquaintance with the ladies. I do assure you.”
There was an uncomfortable silence as they gazed at each other across the table, neither of them batting an eyelid. Kenneth looked puzzled, his head swinging between them. Beatrice was gazing down at her plate, picking at her food, her cheeks pink. She looked embarrassed.
The rest of the meal was finished in silence. As they stood up to leave the room—the ladies to retire to the drawing room, the gentlemen to the study as custom dictated, even if it was a small party—Thomas couldn’t resist brushing past his wife, standing just a little too close.
She jumped, glaring at him. He gave her a dazzling smile before moving away, taking Kenneth by the arm.
Thomas smiled to himself. It didn’t hurt to stoke the flames of her jealousy just a little. Perhaps it would finally launch her into his arms. Catherine thought herself immune from the agonies of attraction, but she wasn’t. She had just proved it to him.
As he and Kenneth walked up the stairs to the study, he wondered why he was pursuing this so relentlessly. Why he couldn’t just accept that their marriage was one of convenience, as they had agreed, and be done with it? It was the safer path to take, just as she insisted. He didn’t disagree with her. Hewantedit to be a marriage of convenience as much as she did.
Just one time.If I can have her just once, I will slake this overwhelming thirst for her and be done with it.
“He is impossible,” Catherine huffed, shaking her head. “He is utterly shameless!”
“How so?” Beatrice looked at her quizzically. “What are you talking about, Cathy?”
Catherine sighed heavily, shaking her head again. She couldn’t express her feelings. She didn’t even know why she was feeling so outraged. He had only been talking to some ladies on the street after all. She had hardly caught him kissing one of them…
A pang of pure pain shot through her heart at the thought. It shocked her. Where hadthatcome from?
I am only feeling this way because of what happened with my father. It is because I have seen the result of adultery firsthand and how much it hurt my mother. That is all. I am simply recalling the feeling.
She took a quick sip of her wine. Yes, that was what it must be. After all, she knew that her new husband would surely take a mistress or two, especially if they never shared a bedchamber. She didn’t begrudge him doing it. It meant that he left her alone, didn’t it?
