Page 39 of The Scarlet Lady's Duke of Desire
Melody gritted her teeth. How could he know? He never thought to ask, always inviting himself along at the drop of a hat. Though Melody had begun to suspect her mother had something to do with it.
"Oh, please," Lady Florence insisted. "Do not allow me to get in the way. I was just leaving."
Respectfully, Mr Colton bowed to Lady Florence and stepped out of the doorway.
Melody's skin crawled when Lady Florence stepped up to her and offered another friendly embrace. Her heart broke when her cousin whispered into her ear, "What need have you of the duke’s attention when you have the eye of Mr Colton?"
Both she and Melody's mother might well be right, she ought not to look above her station, but though she was glad Mr Colton's arrival had encouraged her cousin to leave, it was all she was glad of.
Chapter 19
As if the continued visits from his aunt were not bad enough, James was exceptionally shocked when his butler announced, "Your grace, Lady Florence Thornton, for you."
Though he had heard the door go, he had been too lost in his paperwork, going over the ledgers of his estates to even bother with who might have come to call. Absentmindedly, he had anticipated that it would be Lady Fyling or even Edward. Either of which he could have handled but Lady Florence? She was an unknown. He had no way of knowing her true intentions for being there.
Though after her actions in his aunt's gardens, he had a pretty good idea.
The moment his butler showed her in, James was on his feet from his chair behind his desk. "You should not be here."
Lady Florence fluttered her eyelashes sweetly at him and said, "I thought there was something you ought to know."
"You could have written," James snapped back, leaning his fingertips on the desk for something solid to ground him. He felt as though he was in freefall. The audacity of the woman standing before him knew no bounds. "Did you enter through the front door?"
"Would you have me sneak through the servants’ quarters?" Lady Florence demanded, gasping, and covering her mouth with a gloved hand.
"You are a scandalous woman, Lady Florence," James stated, glowering at her.
"And I am attempting to save you from an even bigger one," Lady Florence assured him. She clasped her hands in front of her and straightened her back before adding, "I am well aware of the affection that has grown between yourself and my cousin."
"Your cousin?" James responded, feigning innocence. Cousins or not, James did not like the mention of Miss Thornton on Lady Florence's lips. There was a malicious tone to her voice that left him uneasy.
"Yes, Miss Thornton. I have just come from her residence to yours as I have come to learn that she is courting," Lady Florence explained. She clucked her tongue against her teeth and shook her head. "I did not wish to see her make a fool of you."
James' stomach twisted and his throat clenched painfully. "And how is it you came by this information?"
"Well, Your Grace, I have seen them with my own two eyes," Lady Florence explained. "The gentleman arrived just as I was leaving."
Perhaps a little too sharply, James responded, "It is of no consequence to me."
The look upon Lady Florence's face suggested she did not believe him.
"Now that you have brought this to my attention, I think it is time for you to leave," James insisted, gesturing his butler forward. "My man shall see you out."
Lady Florence made no move to leave. "Do you not wish to know the name of the man she has picked above a duke such as yourself?"
The words stung James, but he would not allow her to see it. "Who Miss Thornton entertains is none of my business."
"Very well," Lady Florence said, turning to leave.
She had gone only a couple of steps when James blurted, "What is the name?"
Lady Florence looked back as though she had him right where she wanted him.
With gritted teeth, James glowered back at her, determined not to look anything but expressionless. Yet, she smirked as she told him, "Mr Andrew Colton. I do believe he is the son of the Mr Colton of Colton and Co. A wealthy man indeed."
James' gut churned. Miss Thornton was not the kind of woman to seek wealth. He sensed that about her. She never talked of the latest fashions or spending a great deal of time shopping. Nor did she talk of fine art save for books. In fact, whenever he had spoken to her, she had spoken of nature and romance and the simple things.
He was so lost in thoughts of her that he was surprised when Lady Florence spoke again, "You know, Your Grace, you really ought to consider the possibility of our marriage."
