Page 16 of What's a Duke Got to Do With It
But there had never been an understanding between them. No, things had been quite thoroughly derailed before they’d even had a chance to see where their futures might lead—and if those futures might have joined together down the same path in life.
That did nothing, however, to ease the sudden and inexplicable ache in his chest. He just stopped himself from rubbing a fist into said chest, instead focusing on the silky-smooth ears of Mouse, whose head was still firmly planted in his lap. “It is not finalized,” he said lamely, shooting Bridling a dark look.
Bridling, of course, was oblivious to the chaos he had just unleashed. He blithely bit into a biscuit, glancing about the room with a wide smile. “Ramsleigh is, of course, being modest,” he said around the biscuit. “He has been pursuing my sister for months now, you know. It’s only a matter of time before my father accepts.” He gave a loud laugh, punching Sebastian in the shoulder. “You’re a blasted duke, after all, no matter your unfortunate history. I’m looking forward to having a duke for a brother.”
Which should have given Sebastian peace of mind as to his plans for the future and all he had to accomplish to save his tenants. Yet as he glanced at Miss Denby, noting the sudden loss of color in her cheeks and the way her smile trembled on her lips before falling altogether, he found himself wishing for a different future entirely.
Chapter 5
He was getting married.
Those four words clattered noisily about in Katrina’s head, as they had since she’d learned of his future matrimonial prospects just hours before. And they still had the power to take her breath away. It should not come as such a blow, of course. Not only was he highly eligible, as well as expected to marry and produce an heir, but she had never had anything serious with him. Yes, they had indulged in a mild flirtation. And yes, she had thought perhaps he might want more with her. And she had wanted thatmorewith him. So much more.
But that had been years ago, and she had not seen or heard from him since. It was expected that he would have found someone by now. Which he had. And if Lady Tesh’s comments in the intervening hours since learning of the duke’s upcoming nuptials were to be believed, the woman was a respectable, smart, and immensely wealthy heiress. The duke, by all accounts, could not do better.
All that reasoning, however, didn’t do a thing to sooth the ache in her chest for the path her life could have taken except for her going off on a few horrible detours—or, rather, her being forcefully shoved in different directions. A path that would have been so much more lovely than the one she was planning now, trying to decide which of the awful men on Synne who might consider taking her on as a wife would be the most palatable.
She sighed, taking the stick from Mouse’s mouth and lobbing it across the side lawn. Though summer was fast approaching and the weather had begun to reflect that, having been beautifully warm and clear earlier that afternoon, it seemed the wind had decided to stir itself up and commiserate with her lowered spirits now. It had brought in an abundance of gray clouds, set the trees to swaying, had her skirts snapping about her ankles, and dried the tears in her eyes before they could spill over.
Hugging her arms about her middle, she listlessly watched as her pet galloped across the grass. Tea was over with, the tour of the gardens that had followed done, and Katrina had been given a short respite to exercise an increasingly restless Mouse. A fact she could only be grateful for, this small break giving her a chance to breathe for the first time since she had laid eyes on the duke.
Mouse came tearing toward her, stick held aloft in his teeth with pride. She held out her hand for it absently, then threw it as hard as she could manage. But instead of chasing after it, as he had been doing for the past quarter hour, Mouse suddenly appeared intensely interested in something behind her. Then, letting loose a joyful, booming woof, he loped past her toward the house.
It did not take Katrina more than a second to realize who was there. Mouse had become incredibly attached to the duke from the moment he had met the man, sticking close to his side throughout the afternoon, hardly giving Mr. Bridling a glance. And wasn’t it just her luck that the man who was causing her such troubled thoughts would have found her in her one moment of peace? Nevertheless, she plastered a smile to her face and turned.
The duke stood not twenty paces away, looking even more delicious than he had just hours before. His dark, wavy hair was tossed here and there by the breeze, and Katrina found herself ridiculously jealous of that wind.
“Hello,” he said, looking up from Mouse, who was wriggling happily between the man’s legs. “I was just getting some fresh air and did not intend to disturb you. Forgive me, I’ll leave you to your solitude.”
Which was what she wanted. Wasn’t it?
But looking at the serious, stark expression on his face, she recalled not for the first time since his arrival the young man he had been, so sweet despite his rakish reputation. She had thought his altered attitude this afternoon had been due to being in a new place, with new people. She had always been a bit anxious in new settings, after all, and it took her some time to relax enough to smile and talk with any ease.
But he had never been like that, she reminded herself. He had always seemed to thrive in such settings. It was part of what had made him so in demand, that natural liveliness. He had always been at the center of any gathering, the first to join an outing, the one with the loudest laugh and brightest smile.
Now, however, with the mischievous gleam gone from his eyes and his face settled into serious lines, he seemed as far removed from that devil-may-care rogue as any one person could possibly be. What had happened to turn him into a shadow of the person he had been? And why did she so badly wish to find out what it was?
In her typical fashion, her mouth was quicker than her mind. And even as she was coming to the realization that it was best if they kept their distance from one another and she should let him return to the house, she found herself saying, “No, stay, please. We have not had time to catch up after so long.”
She wished she could recall the words the moment they left her lips. The last thing she should want was time alone with this man. But it was too late. Giving a jerky nod, he gave Mouse a final pat and made his way to where Katrina stood.
“You have got quite a strong throwing arm,” he said as Mouse, having gotten his greeting out of the way, happily ambled off after his stick.
Katrina, eyes forcefully glued to her pet, shrugged. “It comes from years of practice. Mouse needs an immense amount of exercise and loves this particular game more than any other.”
“I recall how you worried about him when he was a puppy,” the duke said, his voice quiet. “I am glad to see he has grown up hale and healthy.”
She looked up at him, oddly touched that he would remember such a detail. Which was an immense mistake. The moment she met his gray eyes—almost the same hue as the darkened sky above their heads—she felt it straight to her toes.
“T-thank you,” she managed, tearing her gaze away. She gave a nervous laugh. “Though it really is too bad you had to leave London before I could tell you how healthy he was quickly becoming even back then. Oh! Forgive me,” she said, cheeks hot, cursing herself ten times a bumbling fool for her unthinking words. “But you left because of your father’s death. Which you know, of course. Seeing as he was your father. Please accept my belated condolences. As well as my heartfelt apologies.”
She felt rather than saw him turn toward her. “Thank you for your condolences. But why are you apologizing? It certainly is not your fault he died so suddenly.”
If possible, her cheeks burned hotter. She bit her lip, accepting the stick back from Mouse before throwing it with such force it bounced several times along the ground in a wild pattern, much to Mouse’s delight. “No, what I meant was, I am sorry if my presence here has caused you any discomfort. It cannot be easy to see someone you were once acquainted with in such reduced circumstances. Not that I am ungrateful for my position. I shall be eternally grateful to Lady Tesh for taking me on when I had no other recourse.” She shrugged awkwardly. “Even so.”
For a long moment he remained silent, though whether from pity or disgust or discomfort she didn’t have a clue. She kept her gaze on Mouse’s distant rollicking form, having no wish to learn what the reason was for the duke’s silence. It would not be the first time that she had run into someone from thebefore-times, after all, and she had seen her fair share of all three of those unfortunate emotions directed at her.
But it would be a much harder pill to swallow fromhim.
