Page 60 of The Scandalous Love of a Duke
‘…and I am trying to persuade John to at least let us dance after dinner. After all, we are not in full mourning.’
‘Where would you like the refreshments served, Your Grace?’ the butler asked of the duchess.
‘We shall take them on the terrace, I think, Finch,’ she said, rising, ‘as it is a nice day. So the children might play. We shall have lemonade for them and tea for us.’
‘That is a lovely idea, Mama.’ John’s mother stood too.
Mary rose and began rounding up the younger children.
There was suddenly a mass of motion and noise as the children excitedly packed up their games.
‘Katherine.’
John.
She looked up. He was standing beside her chair, holding out a hand towards her. She accepted his hand and rose, then let go, though she longed to cling.
‘Will you walk with me?’ He offered his arm as the others began leaving the room.
Jennifer had taken Phillip’s arm. He was walking beside John’s stepfather and Mary was minding the children with her mother and grandmother.
Katherine nodded and laid her hand on John’s sleeve, the muscles in her abdomen clasping with a spasm of memory and longing.
‘How are you?’ he asked quietly as the distance between them and the others grew.
She looked up and smiled, meeting his gaze.
‘Well. Thank you for the dress. But how on earth did you involve Eleanor? Does she not suspect something?’
He laughed quietly. ‘Possibly, yet she said herself you would not come unless you were given something to wear. You have refused every invitation from her after all.’
‘I would feel out of place with Eleanor on my own but at your party, Phillip will be there and… you…’
His fingers covered hers as they lay on his arm.
‘I would not have let you send it back or say no, you know. The whole damned dinner has been planned for your sake.’
Heat flushed her cheeks.
‘I am not letting people treat you as they did at your sister’s party ever again, Katherine. This dinner will secure the ground we claimed the other night.’
‘When can we meet again?’ she asked as they reached the top of the stairs. The others were already at the bottom.
He stopped and turned to face her, and though his expression was still firm, his eyes swam with emotions. ‘I think never, Katherine.’ The words came as a shock to her. ‘I have been unfair to you.’ There was warmth in his voice which denied the rejection he was speaking. ‘We both know our little intrigue can go no further. It is over. It should never have begun. I am sorry. I know it is my fault.’
Her smile died. She had known it was folly.
‘Katherine…’ he prompted. ‘You do understand? After the dinner I will go back to London. The House of Lords is due to reconvene soon.’
No. She refused to understand. While she had been falling more deeply in love with him, he had just been entertaining himself during the summer break.
I am a fool. He has offered me nothing other than a bonnet and a dress.How had she expected it to end? Marriage was never an option.
Her father had asked Phillip why John would be interested in her. Well, here was the answer, just to play immoral games when he was bored.Why must I love him? Why can my heart not choose someone who will love me too?
‘Katherine.’ His fingertips touched her cheek. ‘I am truly sorry. I should not have asked you to do what we did. I offer no excuses. I merely ask you to forgive me. At least there can be no lasting harm.’
No lasting harm!He was tearing her heart to shreds and he thought there would be no lasting harm. She would be in agony for the rest of her life.
