Page 15 of Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Duchess (Wallflower Season #3)
Chapter Nine
K ate knew she had laid her book of accounts somewhere.
If only she could remember where. All the guests had been settled into their rooms, and she had a few spare moments to review her remaining list of wedding preparations.
If only she could find her book! She scanned the shelves of her library to see if she had accidentally placed it on one, but the large, brown book was nowhere to be seen.
She sat down upon the corner of her chaise and that is when she spotted it.
It had fallen behind the large leather reading chair in the corner.
She hurried over to retrieve it, but it was wedged between the chair and the shelves. “Oh, what a dreadful place to fall!”
She considered asking for Mr. Scoville to retrieve it, but she knew her butler had been quite busy all day with the arrivals of the majority of the wedding guests. It would be cruel indeed for her to interrupt his mid-day break to fetch a book for her. No. She could do this herself.
Kate grasped the chair and tugged, but it failed to move. It was quite heavy with wooden feet the shape of a lion’s paws. It had been her father’s chair, and despite its fall from fashion, Kate held onto the massive thing. She tried again and this time found favor when it moved an inch.
“What are you doing?” Kate jumped back from the chair and as she did, a small curl escaped from the bun at the nape of her neck. It tickled against her cheek. She tried to sweep it away, but it fell right back down.
Andrew leaned against the doorframe. “Are you moving furniture as part of the wedding preparations? It seems a poor time to do so.”
Kate shook her head. “No. I am simply trying to move this chair so I can retrieve my book of accounts. It has all of our lists for the wedding, and it's gone and wedged itself between the chair and the shelves.”
Andrew sauntered into the room. He surveyed the large chair with the book tucked behind it. “I see your dilemma. This is quite a massive piece of furniture, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but it was my late father’s chair, and I could never part with it. He spent many an evening seated here reading stories to Nicholas and me.” Kate pulled again at the chair. “It is near and dear to my heart.”
“Let me do it.” Andrew removed his coat and handed it to her.
Kate grasped his coat and could smell a faint hint of leather and musk.
She breathed it in while she admired his shoulders beneath his white linen shirt.
His shoulders were wide then narrowed at his hips forming a pleasing V-shape that Kate imagined led to strong thighs.
A trickle of delight ran through her and warmed her private region at the thought of seeing him naked.
He moved the large chair with ease and turned back to her.
The top buttons of his shirt had come undone revealing his muscular throat and chest. Kate’s breath caught.
Andrew heard her intake of breath and reached out and pulled her to him.
He reached down and gently pushed the errant curl from her cheek.
“Your Grace, I—” Kate started to say, but he leaned in, and the words died on her lips. As his mouth moved closer to hers, she pressed herself into him. As his lips slowly touched hers, there was a thump and he quickly pulled away from her.
Startled at his abrupt move, Kate looked up to see him rubbing his head. On the floor was a large volume of the Trees of England. She stooped down to pick up the heavy book.
“Your library is quite dangerous, Miss Avery,” Andrew said, a bemused look on his face. He reached down and picked up his coat from where she had dropped it when he had pulled her to him. He slipped it on and stepped back from her.
“Ah, Andrew. There you are.” The Dowager Duchess entered the library, her cane making a rhythmic tap as she walked across the floor. With her was Kate’s grandmother. The two women glanced suspiciously from Kate to Andrew and then at each other.
“Kate, why are you alone in the library with His Grace? You have a home full of guests,” the Dowager Viscountess said. Her voice was sharp, and her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Where is Sally?”
“His Grace assisted me in retrieving a book, Grandmama. He has merely been here a moment.” Kate refused to look at her grandmother. The older woman could sense an untruth faster than a hound could find a deer on the estate.
“Andrew, your cousin sent word that he would arrive tomorrow morning. Any final preparations must be completed today before he does. You don’t have time for a dalliance in the library,” the Dowager Duchess said.
“I was hardly—” Andrew did not finish speaking because he caught a sly smile on his grandmother’s face before she could hide it.
I sense a bit of matchmaking with these two grandmothers. Well, perhaps I can have a bit of fun before I let the Dowager Duchess down with the news that I have no intention to marry in the near future.
Aloud, he said, “Grandmother, would you like to see the gardens? Miss Avery has done an outstanding job with the flowers and the grounds in preparation for tomorrow’s games.” He held out his arm for his grandmother, and she took it.
“Miss Avery, I hope you don’t make a habit of losing your books,” Andrew said, glancing over his shoulder and winking at her.
The sheer cheek of the man! She blushed. “I shall keep a close hold on it from this point forward, Your Grace. Thank you for your assistance.”
The Dowager Viscountess waited until Andrew and his grandmother were well out of earshot before she turned back to her granddaughter. “I sense an attraction between the Duke and you, Kate. Be careful. I would hate for your heart to be broken.”
“Have no fear, Grandmama. His Grace and I are simply working together for the sake of Julia and the Earl of Winfield. If not for that, we would hardly notice each other as we pass on the street.” Kate lifted her chin.
The Dowager Viscountess regarded her granddaughter before speaking. “Very well. Come. Let’s go visit with our guests. A few of them have gathered in the front parlor for a bit of conversation before the mid-day meal.”
“I strolled across the grounds here at Renwood Castle, Miss Avery,” the Viscount of Surry said. “Your grounds are far more extensive than I first suspected. Do the tenancies provide you a sufficient income?”
Kate blinked at her soup. It was quite forward and rude of the Viscount to speak of such things with her, and she opened her mouth to put him firmly in his place, but from the corner of her eye, she saw Andrew watching her closely.
A knowing expression on his countenance caused her to bite back a sharp retort.
Instead, she chose to simper and say, “I am unsure. My brother, the Viscount of Pembrooke, knows such things.”
Although Nicholas did know the estate’s accounts, she kept records herself and was quite aware of her finances.
Her grandmother had schooled her to be a fine wife one day and ensured that she would be able to run her own household.
It had always been assumed that she would marry, but now, all tasks fell to her in relation to Renwood Castle.
It was a small price to pay for her independence.
Andrew cleared his throat and gave Kate a pointed look. “Have you spoken to the Earl of Litchfield recently? I know he frequents some of the same clubs as you. I heard that he had recently returned from a trip to France.”
The Viscount of Surry looked up from his soup startled to be addressed by the Duke. “No. I haven’t had an opportunity to visit the club in recent weeks, Your Grace. Uh, certain responsibilities made it difficult for me to stay in town. I’ve only just returned from my cousin’s home in Dorset.”
The Duke gave a small, satisfied smile and nodded. “I understand. One must attend to family matters first and pleasure second.”
The Viscount cleared his throat. “Quite right. Miss Avery, you have put a fine feast upon the table. Why I hardly believed it when Julia wrote and said she was to marry here at Renwood Castle. At first, I thought she and your brother had reconciled, but then I learned that she is to marry the Earl of Winfield. What a pleasant surprise to discover that you agreed to still hold the wedding here.”
Kate felt her ears grow hot as she suppressed her annoyance with the Viscount’s ill attempt at conversation. The reminder of the broken betrothal of her brother and Julia still smarted. Although she was pleased that Julia was to marry, it would have been far better if it had been to Nicholas.
The Viscount must have realized his gaff because he picked up his spoon and slurped his soup. “Excellent soup.”
Andrew’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Yes. Excellent soup, Miss Avery.” She scowled and turned to the Earl of Mayfield who sat on her other side.
He was close to eighty if he was a day and his eyes had the rheumy quality of a man who spent too many years in his cups.
Unfortunately, he had fallen fast asleep and snored lightly.
His chin rested upon his chest. She glanced at the clock and wondered how much longer the evening would last.
“Miss May, I hear your sister recently became engaged,” the Dowager Duchess said to May DeClancy who sat to Andrew’s right. “This must be quite exciting for you both.”
May gave her a shy smile. “Indeed, Your Grace. Viola will make a lovely bride.”
Andrew inclined his head. “She will. As will you one day, Miss May. Don’t you agree, Grandmother?”
May blushed a pretty pink and hid a smile behind her napkin. Kate scowled and then when she saw Andrew look her way, she quickly changed her expression. “Miss May, what of your own prospects?”
May blushed an even deeper shade of pink. On most women, it would be unbecoming, but May had a beautiful porcelain complexion framed by hair the color of golden wheat. “I have no prospects as of yet, Miss Avery.”