Page 55 of The Scandalous Love of a Duke
He had been like this at school, full of satiric humour. John had never been conscious of the difference in their standing then. But now… ‘I believe the cliché you missed was, in your pocket, and that I am not, Phillip.’
‘Which is why I did not say it.’ Phillip grinned, tossing a card on the table, before looking at Katherine. ‘I think there is a chance she might say yes to the reverend.’
John followed Phillip’s gaze. She was certainly smiling warmly at the man as they promenaded during a country dance. The green devil in John stirred.
‘I have never seen her form such an attachment before,’ Phillip said. ‘He has been solicitous towards her for months. If he asks her to marry him, I hope she says yes. Her life would be so much better if she was not tied to the history of her birth.’
John’s eyes narrowed. ‘Do you know more of it?’
‘No more than you.’
John would swear Phillip was lying. He did know more. But John could hardly press. What business should it be of his? ‘My daughter is judged enough for her birth… She does not need vultures circling over her to add to her pain.’
A pang of guilt struck John and he looked back at Katherine as he reached to take a card from the pile between him and Phillip.
She looked younger when she danced and smiled.
He should leave her alone.I should never have touched her.The yell of conscience rang in his thoughts. She should belong to her reverend. He had no right to be jealous, yet he was. She was the only one who could see inside him and had the courage to challenge him. She was the only woman who had cared what he was and in answer, when he had nothing to give her in return, he had stolen her innocence.My God, John Harding, what have you become?
He would leave her to her reverend. He must. He could be selfless.
He laughed.
Phillip looked at him but John ignored him.
John threw away the playing card he had picked up. He was not like his grandfather, not yet. He would let her go, no matter how much it cut him with envy. It was the right thing to do.
‘Phillip.’ They both looked up as Katherine approached. ‘You have not danced with me once. You cannot evade me any longer.’
Her expression was bright and happy. Phillip stood and threw his hand of cards onto the table. ‘I was one away.’
John smiled. ‘Then you win. Enjoy your dance.’
As they walked away John had a sudden idea, and as soon as it came into his mind it germinated like a planted seed.
His grandfather had always had a celebration before returning to town. He could not hold a ball, because they were in mourning, but a quieter event, a dinner perhaps, would not look at all odd.
It would be his last indulgence as far as she was concerned. He would ask his family down. His mother could plan it and Katherine could come and solidify her new standing in this community.
Then that would be an end to it and John would return to town.
* * *
‘Have you seen this?’ Phillip walked into the drawing room, waving a piece of card, which he held between his index and forefingers.
‘What is it?’ Jenny asked, as both Jenny and Katherine looked up.
Jenny had been reading while Katherine was darning their father’s shirt.
‘An invitation, that is what, for a week Friday, from Pembroke Place.’
‘From John?’ Katherine stood, feeling her insides tumble to her feet. She had heard nothing from him since Jenny’s ball and she could not understand why when he had been so solicitous that evening. She feared he had finally realised how wide the chasm between them was. He had seemed shocked by her exclusion.
She had been equally stunned to see how easily he had filled his grandfather’s shoes. He had manipulated both conversations and people to bring her to the fore. She was in awe of him all over again, and since the ball all her thoughts had centred on the aristocratic, authoritative and attractive duke, not John Harding.
‘Is it a ball?’ Jenny questioned excitedly, on her feet too.
‘Patience,’ Phillip stated, laughing at her. ‘Give me time to say.’
