Page 30 of What's a Duke Got to Do With It
Sure enough, the lady’s maid appeared just then, ducking under the tent and making her way to the dowager’s side.
Katrina, stunned, stared dumbly at them both. “If you’re certain, my lady.”
“Of course I am. Now off with you,” she said, swinging her cane in Katrina’s direction.
Which, of course, left Katrina with no recourse. Numb, she allowed Honoria to pull her along to the group that lounged nearby.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered to her friend, even as she wrung her hands together in anxiety. “First the ball two nights ago, now this? One would think Lady Tesh wishes to be rid of me.”
“Oh, my dear,” Honoria said, rolling her eyes in Katrina’s direction. “I should have known you would fret over something of this manner. You always were one to overthink things. If Lady Tesh was done with you, don’t you think she would simply let you go?”
“Well, I suppose,” Katrina admitted reluctantly.
“Lady Tesh does not suffer those she does not like,” Honoria continued. “She knows you have been through so much in the last weeks, not least of which is due to my own father’s actions.” Here her stern, certain expression faltered, a look of sadness passing through her eyes. But it was quickly gone, and she gave Katrina a bracing smile. “But let us forget all that and enjoy this lovely day.”
She was right. Of course she was right. Even so, Katrina could not relax. After weeks of coldness from so many members of Synne society, she was not ready for further cut directs.
Surprisingly, however, those cut directs did not come. As she and Honoria inserted themselves into the jolly group spread out across the blankets, more than one person sent her smiles of welcome.
“Miss Denby,” Miss Regina Hargrove, Ash’s half-sister, called out with a wide smile, “Coralie and I were planning on combing the beach for shells later. Do say you’ll join us. You always have such a sharp eye and see things we do not.”
“Oh, yes, do join us,” Miss Coralie Gadfeld, Honoria’s youngest cousin, joined in as she removed her bonnet from her tight black curls and dabbed at her forehead with a handkerchief. “We are planning on making a game of who finds the most. You shall be on my team.” Here she gave Regina a mischievous smile.
Regina gasped. “You cretin!” she exclaimed before, with a laugh, she grabbed the bonnet from her friend’s hands and jumped to her feet, racing across the sand. Coralie, squealing, ran after her, lifting her skirts high above her ankles to make up for Regina’s own trouser-clad legs.
“And so you see,” Honoria murmured in Katrina’s ear, “you have nothing to fear from anyone here. Now enjoy yourself, will you?”
Easier said than done, of course, even with the unexpected friendliness of this particular group. No small part due to the duke, who had lowered himself to the blanket across from her. Why, oh why, did he draw her eye so completely?
Well, she rectified, she supposed it wasn’t hard to figure out. Clad in buff breeches and a light green jacket, his dark hair with hints of copper throughout ruffled by the ocean breeze, his features relaxed as he took in the happy group around them, he looked so much like that man she had begun to fall in love with four years ago that she could not breathe for a moment.
Blessedly Lady Paulette, the Marquess of Ilford’s only daughter and one of Lady Tesh’s numerous godchildren, spoke up then. “I have not been to Synne in too long.” She gave a happy sigh as she looked out across the sand, strawberry blond curls caressing her flushed cheeks. “I was so happy my brothers and I received Lady Tesh’s invitation. What do you think the dowager has planned?”
“The question should be, what don’t I have planned?” Lady Tesh called from her place beneath the tent.
As if on cue, a group of footmen approached, holding aloft the items needed for pall-mall and battledore and shuttlecock, as well as an assortment of balls and kites and other equipment. At the same time, a wiry, grizzled fellow made his way over the sand toward them, a line of donkeys following like obedient schoolchildren behind him.
“I’ve got the asses you requested, Lady Tesh,” he said with a gap-toothed grin. “All sweet-natured, perfect for a bit of a ride over the sand.”
“By God, this is a splendid surprise,” Mr. Bridling exclaimed, taking it all in. He rose to his feet, eyes alight with excitement, looking much like a young boy preparing for a grand holiday as he turned to the nearest lady and held out a hand. “Miss Mishra, what should we do first?”
Miss Laila Mishra, daughter of Mr. Mishra, who was not only Lady Tesh’s landscape architect for the folly she recently had built but also her good friend, smiled and took Mr. Bridling’s proffered hand, allowing him to assist her to her feet. “I hardly know,” she replied, shaking out her skirts and tucking a jet-black lock of hair behind her ear. “What think you, brother?”
Mr. Emir Mishra grinned. “As my strength is battledore and shuttlecock, and you are abysmal at it, I shall have to suggest that.”
“Oh, you beast. Mr. Bridling,” she continued, turning toward that man, “shall we join forces to take my brother down?”
Mr. Bridling grinned. “It would be my honor.”
Soon they were off, the other partygoers following, even Honoria as she accompanied her younger sister, her eagle eyes on Lord Wesley Beckett, one of the Marquess of Ilfold’s younger sons, who was sticking close to Emmeline’s heels. Leaving Katrina alone with the duke.
Clearing her throat, she looked his way—her cheeks heating when she saw his gaze quite firmly on her. “You don’t wish to join in with the game, Your Grace?” she managed.
His lips quirked up on one side, more of a wry gesture than anything. “Ah, no. Such things aren’t for me any longer, I’m afraid.”
That brought her up short. Gone again was that hint of the carefree man he had been, and back in his place was the serious, dour man he had become. “You don’t mean that,” she blurted.
“I assure you, I do.”
