Page 32 of The Duke's Indecent Match
The room soon relaxed into the usual banal social chatter, despite the new additions to the house party, with various conversations happening all around.Nathanial was slowly able to unwind as well, allowing him to behave more naturally when Lady Astrid brought Lady Hu and her granddaughter over to meet them.
He greeted the pair warmly, as did Matthew.Christian seemed a bit more wary, though with him that meant he reverted to his most charming social mask.Unsurprisingly, Sebastian was the holdout, staying coolly reserved with his greeting and the following conversation.
Nathanial was not sure what he had expected.Something more like an interview, perhaps.Forthright questions or at least leading questions.Instead, it was a normal conversation.More social banality.
Yet he felt as though both ladies’ sharp eyes were catching everything.Every move he and the others made.Each change in facial expression.Even a moment’s hesitation in speaking.
He did not dare look in Miss Little’s direction, not even once.
But he felt her presence in the room, a little tingle along his skin that ensured he could not forget she was there.
12
Kalina
When the gong sounded for supper, Kalina was bemused to find herself on the Duke of Bolton’s arm, walking into the dining room.Several couples ahead of her, the Duke of Hereford was escorting Mei.The Duke of Montagu was leading Lady Hu on his arm just in front of Kalina and the Duke of Bolton.
Which meant she ended up sitting between the Duke of Montagu and the Duke of Bolton.
Hereford and Mei ended up across the table from her.Lady Collette was on his other side, flirtatiously fluttering her fan as she divided her attention equally between him and Lord Emeryn, her other dinner partner.Kalina did not know if she was more relieved to not have to watch him converse with another debutante or nerve-wracked over having him on the other side of the table.
She avoided his gaze, running her fingertips over the gold pattern on the plate in front of her rather than risk meeting his eyes.
“What do you think of the matchmaker?”Christian asked, leaning in and keeping his voice low.Kalina knew it was because Mei was directly across from them, but she felt Hereford’s sudden interest in her and Christian.The Duke of Montagu had leaned in very close to ask her the question, and she felt heat rise in her cheeks at the implication of intimacy in how close he was to her.
Turning her head, she kept her voice just as low, all too aware of the avid watchers who noted their exchange.
“I think she is very insightful.”It had not taken Kalina long to realize that both Lady Hu and Mei were deliberately keeping themselves back from the others.Rather than engaging with them, they were observing how everyone interacted with each other.They were less interested in the performance someone might put on for them and far more interested in who they truly were.
“Have you asked her to help you find a match?”
Kalina tilted her head at him.
“Do you think I should?”It was the closest she could come to outright asking if he was courting her in earnest.Ladies were certainly not encouraged to be forthright, and it would be the height of rudeness, not to mention arrogance, to presume.
He studied her face for a moment, considering.
“If you wish to.”Taking a deep breath, he turned his attention to his glass as a footman passed by with a bottle of wine.
Kalina did her best not to scowl at his frustratingly inconclusive response.
The first course came around as soon as the drinks were poured, and she found that Christian had turned to Lady Nichole, who sat on his other side.Unlike when Hereford spoke with Lady Nichole or Lady Kari, Kalina did not get the same wave of biting jealousy, the same uncomfortable stirring in her stomach.She was not perturbed by Christian’s attention being on someone else.
Which was a lowering thought.
Why Hereford?
Peeking beneath her lashes at him, keeping her head lowered so as not to draw attention, she watched as he smiled at something Mei said.Wondered if he was asking her for assistance in finding a bride.Wondered what qualifications he was telling the matchmaker he wanted in a wife.
And whether Kalina met them.
“So, Miss Little, did you enjoy the ruins today?”The Duke of Bolton had realized that Christian was speaking to Lady Nichole and had turned his attention to her.
She was both grateful for the distraction and reluctant to tear away from her observation of Hereford.
“They were lovely.This was my first opportunity to view anything like them here in England, and I enjoyed how picturesque the setting was.”
“Are you a painter?”
