Page 9 of The Spinster's Stolen Hear
It was sad, in Nathan’s opinion. Was that all the women had? A burst of glory, then the drudgery of children and housekeeping for the rest of their lives?
It’s none of your concern,he told himself firmly.
The dance began. Amanda clung onto him, almost as if she were trying to support herself, and kept shooting quick, thoughtful glances up at him.
“And what about you, Lord Whitmore? Not betrothed?” she said at last, clearly keen to keep the conversation going.
“No, I am not in love,” Nathan heard himself say.
“That’s a pity. Miss Emmett is most fervently yearning for your company, I assure you.”
“I… oh. How do you know?”
“Well, she told me,” Amanda shot back, tossing her hair back from her shoulder. “Shebeggedme not to tell anyone, as if it wasn’t already obvious.”
Nathan cleared his throat. “If she told you something in confidence, Miss Davenport, you ought not to have broken that.”
She looked annoyed at this. “It hardly matters.”
“If she told you and asked you to stay quiet about it, then…”
“Oh, hush, you don’t understand how things are between women. Most ladies are such awful gossips. Besides, you aren’t in love with her, are you? Are you in love with Miss Emmett?”
“No, I am not.”
“Of course you’re not,” Amanda agreed, allowing herself a small – and he almost thought, relieved – smile. “How could you be? She’s got all those nasty freckles.”
Nathan shrugged. “I always thought freckles were quite becoming.”
Amanda shot him another annoyed glare. “They’reugly, Lord Whitmore. How can you think otherwise?”
He judged it best not to argue.
“And her skin is not good,” Amanda continued. “And she’s got hardly any fortune. She’s a dull thing, but I do feel sorry for her, so I keep her as my friend. I knew you wouldn’t care for her, though, and told her so.”
Nathan felt colour creeping up his neck. “Miss Davenport, you shouldn’t be unkind, you know. If she is your friend…”
“She’s not,” Amanda snapped, then flushed. “I mean to say, sheis, but we’re both in Society to find husbands and start families, after all. What more would a woman want?”
There was a brief silence after this. Amanda kept glancing up at him, clearly hoping that he would speak, but Nathan could only think of how long was left in the set.
“My Mama keeps telling me thatwewould make a fine couple,” she said at last.
Nathan flinched. “I have no intention of marrying, Miss Davenport.”
She snorted. “Noman has any intention of marrying until he finds the right woman. It’s all strategy, you know, Lord Whitmore. A man as clever as you must understand that.”
On cue, the music ended with a flourish, and the dancers drew apart. Feeling thoroughly rattled, Nathan stepped back and made a neat bow. Murmuring something about finding refreshments, he made to turn and leave. Amanda’s hand on his arm stopped him in his tracks. Glancing down, he found her staring up at him, her expression thoughtful.
“Think about what I said, Lord Whitmore,” she said quietly. “I think it would be best for us both.”
She walked off without explaining any further, leaving Nathan with a growing feeling of unease.
Chapter Three
The butler looked down his long nose at them.
“Their Graces are not accepting guests yet, madam,” he said, with just a touch of incredulity in his voice. Just enough to make Pippa want to sink down into the ground in shame.
