Page 35 of What's a Duke Got to Do With It
“A hackney?” Miss Mishra exclaimed with a warm smile. “Nonsense. My brother is going carousing with the other gentlemen, and so I would be most obliged for the company in my carriage if you’re amenable.”
Honoria accepted with thanks, quickly gathering the younger Gadfeld girls before returning to Katrina.
“I’m so sorry again, my dear,” she whispered in her ear as she embraced her. Then, with a parting kiss on the cheek, she was off, looking for all the world like a mother hen as she herded her charges back along the path.
Katrina watched them go, suddenly exhausted beyond bearing. The day had been perfect, these people Lady Tesh had amassed together for the purpose of entertaining Mr. Bridling also treating Katrina with kindness and acceptance. But nothing had changed, she realized as she glanced about at the people walking to and fro on the path and saw more than one cold glare directed her way. In truth things had grown worse, one of her dearest friends feeling as though she had to sneak behind her own father’s back to spend a day with Katrina. She had best recall she was still a social pariah.
She looked at the duke, who was in quiet conversation with Mr. Bridling, his soon-to-be brother-in-law. And she had better remember that she was not who she used to be. And never would be again.
Chapter 12
Miss Denby,” Lady Tesh barked, “what have you done to your pet? Or, rather, not done, for I vow he is more out of control than usual. Did you take him on his morning exercise?”
Katrina, in the process of retrieving her cup from the carpet while simultaneously blotting up the tea that had been spilt and dodging Mouse’s madly wagging tail—which had been the reason the teacup was on the floor in the first place—felt her cheeks burn hot. “I’m so sorry, my lady,” she mumbled. “I did take him. But it appears it may not have been enough. Perhaps it was due to us being gone so long yesterday for the picnic and the evening entertainment after.”
Which, of course, only increased Lady Tesh’s ire. “Are you blamingthis”—here she waved an outraged hand at Mouse—“onme?”
Katrina blanched. “Of course not, my lady,” she hastened to reply, resuming her seat and attempting to push Mouse’s bottom to sitting. She may as well have been pushing at a brick wall, for all the attention the dog paid her. No, he was quite firmly focused on the duke.
Blessedly that man hastened to assist her. “Sit, Mouse,” he said in a firm tone.
The dog, of course, listened, his behind falling heavily to the floor. Right on Katrina’s foot. Wincing, she pulled her bruised toes out from under her pet. “Thank you for your assistance, Your Grace,” she said, avoiding his gaze. Just as she had been avoiding it since the breaking up of their party following the robbery the evening before. Though it was not without difficulty, his mere presence drawing her like a moth to a flame.
“Your Grace,” Lady Tesh said, obviously done with the slight detour of a debacle with Mouse, “as we are without Mr. Bridling today”—here she sent a pointed look to the ceiling above their heads in the direction of where Mr. Bridling was no doubt sleeping off a great quantity of drink—“perhaps you might like to explore the area below the cliffs. There is a fine beach down there, and a fairly private place to swim if you’re so inclined.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Katrina saw the duke tilt his head. “That sounds most welcome.”
“Splendid,” Lady Tesh said, clapping her hands together. “It is not an easy place to find, however, the path down hidden behind some rocks. Miss Denby will show you the way.”
Katrina, in the process of taking a sip of her replenished tea, promptly choked. Gasping for breath, eyes watering, she looked at her employer in disbelief. “Pardon?”
Lady Tesh scowled. “I vow, Miss Denby, you really must take care. But are you asking my pardon for choking, or because you did not understand what I had said?”
“Er… both?” Katrina managed, wiping at her streaming eyes.
The dowager sighed dramatically. “I do not know what is so difficult to understand about it all. Your pet requires a great deal of exercise today. A trip to the beach should more than do that. And the duke requires a guide. It is the perfect scenario.”
Dear God, the woman actually wanted her to walk off alone with the duke? She cast him a mortified look, which of course made her even more painfully aware of why time alone with the man was not a good idea. Her body hummed in the strangest way—it actually hummed, every nerve vibrating in awareness—just at the sight of him. She swallowed hard.
And the duke, it seemed, was of much the same mind, his gray eyes wide when they met hers. “I’m certain if you give me the directions, I can find my way,” he said to the dowager.
“Nonsense,” she dismissed, feeding Freya a small bit of biscuit. “You would never find it. No, Miss Denby must show you.”
But Katrina was not about to give in to such a scheme so easily. “Perhaps one of the footmen would be best suited,” she tried.
“What, and pull them from their duties?” Lady Tesh barked, glaring at her. “I vow, that is most selfish of you. As if they, and indeed all, of my servants, don’t have enough to do without taking over duties given to you.”
Once more Katrina blanched. “I’m sorry, my lady.”
Lady Tesh pursed her lips. “You can apologize by readying yourself and your pet for your outing. And you as well, Your Grace,” the dowager said. “I’ve a mind to nap, and you are both delaying my much-needed rest. Off with you now.”
With that she turned her attention from them and began cooing at Freya, who sat at her side on a gilt brocade cushion. Leaving Katrina and the duke with no option but to rise and leave.
Katrina hurried out ahead of the duke, pulling Mouse along with her, sending up a quick prayer that she would be able to survive the afternoon with her sanity intact.
Not for the first time since heading out for the much-lauded beach did Sebastian curse Bridling and his weak ability to hold his liquor. That was, of course, in between bouts of condemnation at himself for how utterly transfixed he was by Miss Denby. Good God, how was it possible she became more lovely each and every day? One would think he would have grown used to her looks by now, being in her presence nearly every waking moment since his arrival on Synne. But no, each time he looked at her it was as if he were seeing her for the first time. He was enchanted, dazzled. And hard-pressed to look away again.
Like now, as he held out a hand to steady her on a particularly steep area of the path and chanced to look at her face when she made a small, agitated noise. Her lips, those perfectly plump lips, were parted, and as he watched, her tongue darted out to moisten them. Fire shot through him, from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. Swallowing hard, he forced his attention back to the path.
