Page 29 of The Scandalous Love of a Duke
Phillip could go hang, but John would attend for Katherine. It would give him the opportunity to enjoy an hour or so in her company.
‘I shall come. Send the invitation. But now I must be getting on.’ He bowed slightly to Katherine’s mother. ‘Mrs Spencer.’
She curtsied.
‘Miss Jennifer.’ He nodded as the girl dropped another deep curtsy, trying to please.
Then he looked at Katherine. ‘Katherine.’ She curtsied, but he caught her hand before she dropped too deep and lifted it to his lips. His kiss pressed onto the same pair of kid leather gloves she had worn at the funeral and in the road the other day.
Her skin coloured up again.
‘Good day, ladies.’ He let Katherine’s hand go.
‘Your Grace,’ her mother and sister replied in unison.
‘Goodbye, John,’ she said.
He returned to the millinery shop an hour later, frustration niggling after none of his suppliers had expressed any inkling of error in Wareham’s work – and did what he should not do. He had seen the longing in her eyes before he had interrupted her day dream, and he could simply not resist the urge.
* * *
‘Miss, this came an hour ago.’ Hetty, the housemaid, bustled into Katherine’s bedchamber, carrying a large round box, unable to contain her excitement. ‘Mr Castle put it in the scullery and forgot to bring it up. I said to him, how could you forget it when t’is for Miss Katherine, she never gets nothin, do you, miss?’
Katherine’s eyebrows lifted. ‘Are you certain it is not for Jenny? She and Mama ordered all sorts in Maidstone yesterday.’
‘No, miss, t’is addressed to Miss Katherine Spencer, clear as day.’
Katherine put down the wool stocking she was darning and rose from her chair by the window.
Her mother and sister were not at home. They were calling on those they were inviting to the ball, handing out the invitations personally. Katherine had not been asked to join them.
‘Leave it on the bed, Hetty, and bring the tea up to my room as no one else is in.’
Katherine’s gaze fell to the box when Hetty put it down. Perhaps Phillip had sent her something?
‘I’ll fetch your tea now, miss.’
Hetty left and Katherine walked over to the parcel.
It was tied with string. She pulled the knot loose, excited despite her melancholy mood. Hetty had been right, Katherine was rarely given anything new.
When she lifted the lid her heart leapt. It was the bonnet she had admired in Maidstone the day before.
She lifted it out with shaking fingers. It was beautiful but it could not be from Phillip.
There was a card beneath it.
I saw you staring at this and wish to give you what you desire.
J
He had not! No! He could not have done. How could he? He was so arrogant!
She furiously stuffed the bonnet back into the box. She may be provincial, but she knew a woman should not accept gifts from a man.
If her mother had seen it…
If her father had!
