Page 33 of The Scandalous Love of a Duke
‘Sir, the Duke of Pembroke is here,’ Castle said.
It must be her father.
She put her cup down and stood in front of the hatbox, hoping the skirt of her dress would hide it.
‘The Duke of Pembroke?’ Her father’s voice rang along the hall. Then his brisk footsteps could be heard.
She did not look at John.
‘Your Grace.’ Her father appeared at the open parlour door.
‘Papa.’ She knew she must look guilty as she remained between him and the box.
There was a question in his eyes.
John put down his cup and crossed the room, offering his hand. ‘Good day, sir.’
Her father accepted his hand and shook it briefly.
‘I called to accept Mrs Spencer’s invitation to your gathering for Jenny, sir,’ John lied.
He looked at Katherine. ‘I am sure your mother will be pleased, Kate.’ He did not sound pleased. He seemed to have sensed there was something odd going on, but then she was acting as though she had something to hide.
Katherine bit her lip.Did she?There was the bonnet, but… what else… ‘John also brought word from Phillip, Father.’ She lied too.
John nodded. ‘Your son does well in town, sir.’
‘He does…’ Her father’s eyebrows lifted. ‘I was sorry to hear of your grandfather’s passing.’
During their stilted conversation, Katherine’s watched John change back into a duke, distant, untouchable. Unreachable.
John looked at her, his eyes cold and direct. ‘As we still have the sunshine, even though it is a little blustery, I wondered if you would care to walk in the garden with me?’
She looked at her father. There was still an unspoken question in his eyes, which said he was unsure what to do. ‘Shall I leave you two young people to stroll then, Kate, and retire to my study?’
She nodded.
‘Your Grace.’ He bowed to John.
‘Sir.’ John nodded.
Once her father had gone, Katherine whispered, ‘You are shameless, the way you manipulate people.’
His laughter followed her across the room as she walked to the bell to ring for Hetty to collect the hatbox.
‘I cannot believe you have persuaded me to accept your gift, against my better judgement, and I still do not know what you want in return.’
‘A moment of freedom, Katherine, or however many moments you will give me.’
‘Miss Kate?’
Katherine faced Hetty, certain she was entirely pink. ‘Would you take the box up to my room, please, and bring down my spencer, bonnet and gloves.’
‘No,’ John interrupted. ‘Hetty, is it? Your mistress needs none of that, it is cooler today, she need not fear the sun.’
‘I have a fair complexion.’ His boorishness annoyed her.
‘Then a parasol will suffice,’ he said, daring her to challenge him.
