Page 15 of Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Duchess
Kate heard the sincerity in his voice and it rang of truth to her. She had misjudged him. She wanted to argue that it must be him as many had said so, but the look in his eyes took the fight from her. In a moment of clarity, Kate realized she believed the same wagging tongues that had accused Nicholas of scandalous behavior. The gossips had harmed both her brother and the duke. “I—I don’t know what to say,” Kate’s voice caught in her throat. She pulled herself from his grasp and fled toward the house.
Andrew blew out a breath, and considered going after her, but decided that there was nothing more he could say. He stalked away toward the stable. Perhaps a ride upon the black stallionwould staunch his frustration with the lovely, but exasperating Kate Avery.
Chapter Seven
At dinner that evening, Andrew dined with the Dowager Viscountess. Kate had excused herself, pleading a headache. Knowing that their encounter that afternoon had caused it, Andrew vowed to stay indifferent. Perhaps he should return to Devonport again.
“My granddaughter can be quite spirited,” the Dowager Viscountess said, watching him. “I am afraid I am to blame.”
“She does have a strong opinion,” Andrew said. He picked at his beef. Although it was an excellent plate before him, he found his appetite had vanished.
“When her parents died, it was my duty to raise Kate and her brother. A duty I was happy to undertake. Perhaps I was overindulgent allowing her to secret herself in the library until all hours of the night. Although she is quite the voracious reader, I fear it has made her ill at ease amongst society.” She took a sip of her wine, her eyes distant.
“I imagine she and the Viscount are quite close,” Andrew said.
“Indeed, they are. They are each other’s staunchest allies, which is why my granddaughter has been rather fierce with her anger at times. When Miss Roves broke off her engagement to my grandson, it broke Kate’s heart almost as much as it did my grandson’s.”
Andrew frowned. “My name has been bandied about by all members of society as the source of the rumors regarding the viscount. But I assure you that I had nothing to do with the scandal.” He laid his napkin on his plate and pushed it away. “I grow quite weary of defending my own honor.”
The Dowager Viscountess studied him, her brown eyes sharp. “I believe you are a man of honor, Your Grace. A pity that not everyone can see that.”
He sighed. “People see what they want. I cannot defend myself against the gossip mill. They are like vultures picking away until there is nothing left. I have resigned myself long ago to ignore it, knowing that with time, it shall fade away. It is unfortunate that I find myself thrown back into the fray.”
“I am sure that eventually, she will apologize for her misapprehension.”
Andrew pursed his lips and considered the Dowager Viscountess. He measured his words carefully. “I appreciate your kindness, but it doesn’t matter. I cannot worry about her or anyone else’s erroneous opinion. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
He stood and bowed low to the dowager. “Have a good evening.”
The next morning, Kate discovered that the Duke of Devonport had departed once more and left word that he would return for the wedding.
The fault of his departure rested solely at her feet. Kate had pushed and pushed until he had finally decided that spending another moment in her presence was too disagreeable. Now that she understood how wrong she had been about him, Kate found it difficult to think of anything else.
“Granddaughter, are you done poking a hole in that cushion?”
Kate looked down at the needlework and realized that she had been so lost in thought that she had stitched her linen to her cushion. She sighed and began to pick out the tiny stitches. “How could I have been so mistaken about the Duke’s role in Nicholas’s scandal?” She looked up from her task. “Am I such a dog in the manger that I couldn’t see the truth?”
Her grandmother looked up from her own needlework and sighed. “You are stubborn like your father. It’s a trait we Averys carry. It can be both a blessing and a curse.”
“I fear I have made an enemy of the Duke of Devonport.” Kate looked at the fire, hoping the flames would warm the cold knot of unhappiness that had formed in her stomach. “Ilaid the fault of Julia and Nicholas’s broken engagement at his feet. Grandmama, I’ve been mistaken. The duke claims he had nothing to do with the gossip about Nicholas, and I believe him.”
“I am sure, given time, that he will forgive you. Now, the Viscountess of Uxbridge and her daughter are due to arrive for a tea this afternoon, so please do your best to present a more pleasant countenance,” the Dowager Viscountess admonished.
Kate inwardly sighed. She did not dislike the Viscountess of Uxbridge and her daughter, Constance. She simply found their conversations tedious and meandering. Constance had little interest beyond fashion and eligible gentlemen. In fact, Kate would have been surprised if she’d read a novel since she was a girl in pigtails. No matter. Perhaps Constance and her mother’s chatter would distract her from her own thoughts.
She spent the remainder of the morning stitching a cushion with the colors of the wedding flowers. It would be a small token she would present to Julia. Kate was still in the drawing room finishing her needlework when Mr. Scoville announced the arrival of the Viscountess and her daughter. At a stern look for her grandmother, she passed on a welcoming smile.
“Good afternoon, Lady Uxbridge. I am so pleased you and Miss Collins are able to visit,” the Dowager Viscountess said.
Lady Melanie Collins, Viscountess of Uxbridge, was tall and broad. She made quite an opposing figure whenever she entered the room. She had keen eyes that took in every detail and Kate knew she cataloged every tidbit to regale her friends with thelatest gossip as she made her rounds. In contrast, Constance was short and slim like her father with winsome blue eyes and hair as black as the midnight sky.
“I’ve asked the servants to prepare the tea in the garden since it is such a pleasant day,” Kate said.
Constance looked at her mother and Lady Uxbridge gave Kate a toothsome smile that did not reach her eyes. “I hate to be a bother, but I fear the sun is too strong for Constance. It would never do for her porcelain complexion to darken.”
Kate schooled her expression and nodded. “Of course. I shall have it set up in the sitting room.” She turned to Mr. Scoville who nodded and quietly departed.
Constance leaned forward. “I have the most delicious news to impart.”
