Page 49 of Wedded to the Scottish Duke

CHAPTER 14

“Hardbridge?” a familiar voice called.

Keith halted before he could ride away. He saw Philip, the Duke of Berkley, walking toward him. Uncertain where this conversation would lead, for their conversation that first day in the garden hadn’t been particularly good, Keith kept a neutral expression.

At Philip’s side was the Duke of Rowley, a much quieter man. He had a scar across his face that, judging by his soldierly bearing, Keith presumed was from battle. The latter offered Keith a nod as he approached.

“Before you take your leave…” Philip gestured to Elizabeth’s carriage, which was now pulling away. “We have an offer for you.”

“An offer?” Keith said suspiciously.

“He’s never particularly good at getting to the meat of any matter,” the Duke of Rowley said matter-of-factly. “We box. If you ever fancy an escape from the frivolous ways of the ton…” He eyed Keith rather knowingly.

“Is it that obvious?” Keith asked.

“Perhaps to a like-minded man,” the Duke of Rowley said with a nod. “You’re welcome to join us.”

“I am?” Keith said in surprise.

He glanced uneasily at Philip, remembering the conversation they’d had, where Philip had as good as warned him off Celia.

“You are,” Philip confirmed. “The ton is not welcoming to men like us, but we’ll extend a friendly hand if you’ll take it.”

“Or hit you with it, as we’ll be boxing,” the Duke of Rowley said.

Though Philip laughed, Keith wasn’t entirely certain that the latter was joking. He was not a man who seemed to make many jokes.

“I might just take ye up on that offer.”

Keith couldn’t think of a better way to escape the ton and its frivolity. It was how he had always whiled away the hours when he needed a distraction, in practice for battle. Well, boxingwas certainly different from all-out war, perhaps even more disciplined with strict rules, but he could imagine himself taking to it quite readily.

“Aye, I think I will.”

“Then we shall see you back in London.” The Duke of Rowley nodded.

Keith glanced away, looking to the road ahead. He’d had a wild idea of catching up to Celia on the road to talk to her, but now she would be so far ahead that to do so would draw attention to him, as he would have to ride quite fast.

“I can’t believe you’re smitten with her too.” Philip’s sudden chuckle drew Keith’s attention.

“I beg yer pardon?” Keith grunted.

“Don’t anger a man like that, Philip,” the Duke of Rowley said with a smirk. “I imagine he could flatten you with just one punch.”

Philip rolled his eyes as they all smiled.

“Who said I was smitten with anyone?” Keith asked as their laughter died down.

“No one. It’s just Lady Celia seems to turn heads wherever she goes,” Philip explained with a shrug.

“How so?” Keith asked, though he was well aware now that the Duke of Rowley was watching his every move. It was an intense stare indeed, as if he was being watched by some sort of hawk.

“She’s rejected more proposals than you can imagine,” Philip said, waving his hand in the air. “She’s a favorite for some gentlemen, though she doesn’t seem to enjoy it.”

“Most her age are considered spinsters,” the Duke of Rowley took up the thread of the conversation, “but not Lady Celia. She just keeps turning down proposals.”

She does?

Keith tried not to look too interested in this idea, though it suddenly made a lot of sense to him if she held every man with the same contempt and suspicion that she had just shown him. It made him wonder if he was the only man who had ever crept past those barriers.