Page 28 of The Scandalous Love of a Duke
‘Leaving you to play maid. There is no need for you to stand here looking to all and sundry like a pack mule, Katherine, I will have my groom take these to yours.’ John looked across his shoulder, looking for his own groom who walked a few paces further back. He waved him forward.
Her hands hovered as though she wished to reach out and take the parcels back, but he would not allow it.
‘Katherine, is something wrong?’
Her eyes widened. ‘No.’
‘And you and the reverend, what—’ He could not leave it alone.
‘Please, Your Grace, John, do not…’
Her lack of an answer told him there was something to be said. Yet if that were so, why had she let him kiss her, and kissed him back? ‘Do not what, Kate?’ Her company gave John peace, and peace was much coveted in his current life, he was not willing to relinquish it.
His question was answered by a chiming bell. ‘Hello, Your Grace.’ Her mother had chosen that moment to leave the shop and set the bell above the door ringing
John had never liked Phillip’s mother.
‘Good day, Your Grace.’
Nor his youngest sister.
Both women lowered into deep but brief curtsies.
John’s innards hardened to stone at their fawning. Based on the smile she gave him, while her mother had lowered her head, Kate’s sister had become a money-grabbing, scheming female. He did not see that in Kate.
‘Katherine, you should have called us,’ her mother said as she rose from her curtsy.
Conveniently, John’s groom arrived. Ignoring the women, John instructed him, ‘Take these parcels to the Spencers’ groom at the livery.’
John’s groom took the packages, bowed and turned away. ‘There is another here.’ Mrs Spencer stopped him.
John felt a rush of irritation. She was taking his assistance for granted, as if it was her right to have his help. It was not. But then this is what came of showing a preference when you were a duke. He had favoured her son in the past and she thought even then it entitled her to invitations and preference with his grandfather. He had tolerated her. John would not.
‘Your Grace, you have not met Jennifer since she was young.’
His eyes turned to the younger of Phillip’s sisters. Like John’s siblings, Jenny was much younger.
‘Your Grace,’ Jenny stated again, offering her hand as though he would want to take it.
He accepted it, only because she was Katherine’s and Phillip’s little sister, held it for a moment then let go.
‘Are you in town for long, Your Grace?’ the girl asked as if she knew him.
‘We are on our way to the inn for refreshments if you would care to join us?’ Mrs Spencer added.
He did not care to. Had it been Katherine alone… But she stood mute beside him, staring at the pavement, her face largely hidden by the broad rim of her bonnet.
‘I am afraid I am busy.’
‘That is a shame, Your Grace, but you must come to Jenny’s party. It is her coming out ball, here, at the assembly rooms, two weeks today. Shall I send an invitation? Will you attend, Your Grace?’
‘Mama,’ Katherine warned quietly. ‘John is in mourning.’ She had used his given name.
‘I had not forgotten,’ Mrs Spencer snapped back. ‘It will do no harm if he does not dance.’
How presumptuous!Anger struck him again. It was none of her business what he chose to do and not do during mourning.
‘Phillip will be there,’ she said.
