Page 35 of A Duchess Bound
“I have overstayed my welcome,” Gerard added.
“No,” Lady Everleigh said. “But you have found something that you did not wish to find, so you wish to flee. That is in man’s nature. They want to inspect everything but themselves.”
“That is entirely untrue. I have met many young lords whoonlycare about themselves. They are their favorite subjects.”
Lady Everleigh tilted her head a little. There was something pitying in her eyes. “And when you tell those men something unpleasant, they hide their unease beneath a brave façade.”
“Untrue.”
“And lies.”
Gerard laughed, the sound more anxious than haughty. In truth, he found it was becoming increasingly difficult to pretend that Lady Everleigh was wrong. He was torn between smoldering anger and frustration with himself.
“Good day. I shall see myself out.”
He turned away from her, walking briskly from the drawing room.
“I do wish you the best, my lord,” Lady Everleigh said. “Truly, I do.”
He paused at the entrance to the drawing room, letting her words sink into him. “Thank you.”
Gerard did not wait to hear her response.
CHAPTER 13
Catherine arrived for tea, dressed in a splendid green gown. She seemed to glow in the sunlight that flittered into the windows of the parlor. Marriage suited her. Dorothy felt as though she might burst with pride from the joy her sister had so clearly found.
The more that Dorothy looked at her sister, the more that she found her thoughts turning elsewhere—specifically, to the Duke of Greenway. The man was like some persistent specter, haunting the edges of her thoughts.
Even in her dreams, she found it impossible to escape him. Dorothy had awakened more than once to find that her thighs were damp with the evidence of her lust. She had two days to make her choice.
“Dorothy.”
Catherine placed her hand over Dorothy, who jumped a little. With a tender smile, Catherine brushed her thumb over the back of her sister’s hand.
Beside Catherine, Bridget’s face was soft with concern. “What is it that has caught your attention so thoroughly?” Catherine asked.
“Nothing,” Dorothy replied. “I apologize. What were you saying?”
Catherine frowned. “You seem terribly distracted today. I wonder if you have heard anything that I have said.”
Dorothy winced. “I am so very sorry.”
“Are you tired?” Bridget asked. “I have noticed that you have slept very little since the Season began.”
Dorothy froze. “I—I haven’t?”
Her sister could not possibly know about all of Dorothy’s nights spent awake and writhing with desire. Nor could she possibly know that Dorothy had slipped away for an amorous encounter with the Duke of Greenway. She had been so careful!
It was possible thatsomeonehad seen her, though. Dorothy knew that some of the staff were gossips, and there were certain lords and ladies in the tonwho delighted in making mischief.
“She has spent long hours making lists of potential suitors,” Bridget said. “I have seen her awake for hours after even the staff have all gone to bed.”
Dorothy let out a sigh of relief. Bridget knew nothing.
“It is imperative that you secure an advantageous match,” Dorothy said simply. “That will take considerable effort given how many rakes there are among the ton, all of them determined to catch a young miss unaware.”
Bridget rolled her eyes. “You make me sound likeLittle Red Riding Hood, about to be preyed upon by some wolf.”
