Page 18 of Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Duchess (Wallflower Season #3)

Chapter Eleven

A fter supper, guests could choose to play whist in the sitting room or retire to the drawing room where Kate would play the pianoforte and sing a few songs specially chosen for the evening.

In the drawing room, Kate sat down to play.

Her fingers rested lightly on the keys as she breathed in and brought the music to mind.

After she played the opening stanza, she began to sing her favorite tune from her childhood.

It had been her mother’s favorite song and told the tale of a young girl who had loved a soldier who had never returned home.

It was both sad and beautiful, and as she reached the chorus, a deep voice joined her in song.

She did not falter. Too many years of playing the song guaranteed her fingers would find the keys.

Andrew stood next to her and like the evening not long ago, their voices joined in perfect harmony.

When the final note rang out, the drawing room was silent for a moment before her guests began to express their approval.

Verity hurried forward, her mother following close behind. “That was marvelous, Your Grace. You have a marvelous singing voice.”

Andrew nodded his head. “As does Miss Avery, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes, yes,” Lady Bedfordshire, Verity’s mother said. “A lovely voice.” She gave a dismissive look at Kate before returning her sharp gaze to Andrew. “Your Grace, I would be pleased if you could accompany Verity in a song. She has been told that she has the voice of an angel.”

Kate hid her dismay. At the beginning of the season, she had attended a dinner party and Verity had sung while Kate had played the piano.

It had been an unfortunate experience that Kate was not eager to repeat.

Her voice was pleasant enough, but Verity’s tempo had been erratic and Kate had struggled with the song.

Fortunately, she was saved by her grandmother who had also attended the dinner. “Lady Bedfordshire I would think Verity’s voice would shine better if she sang without the piano. It would be a shame to have the instrument dampen the beauty of her voice.”

Kate gave her grandmother a grateful look and rose to seat herself next to Julia. Julia leaned toward Kate and whispered, “Are you recalling the same disastrous dinner party as I am?”

“Yes,” Kate hissed back and smiled at her dear friend.

They had so many shared secrets and memories.

Although Julia would never be her sister by marriage or blood, they were as close as any true siblings she knew.

Kate told Julia all of her secrets and knew Julia did the same.

She wondered if she should tell Julia of what had passed between Andrew and her, but then quickly dismissed the idea.

Julia’s every thought should be on her wedding, not the duke stealing a kiss from Kate in the library.

They sat and listened to Verity sing. Fortunately, the girl chose a song that relied more on the melody than the tempo.

She sang of a wayfarer and the sea and when she finished, many of the eligible bachelors roared their approval.

If it weren’t unladylike, Kate would have rolled her eyes.

Why did men always care for a pretty face, but not for a sharp mind?

“The Dowager Viscountess and the Dowager Duchess of Devonport seem to be engaged in a deep conversation,” Julia observed, nodding her head to the far corner of the room where the two grandmothers spoke in hushed voices.

“If only I could be the wallpaper and listen to their words. I am sure Grandmama is lamenting my lack of prospects. It weighs heavy on her mind.” Kate’s eyes roamed the room until they alighted on Lord Radford who was leaning against the fireplace with a brandy in his hand.

He really did strike an imposing figure.

He looked bored as the Viscount of Surry spoke to him loudly about his desire to farm.

“I will be cross with you if you entertain the Viscount of Surry as a prospect for marriage,” Julia said. She tapped Kate’s knee. “Promise me you won’t.”

Kate laughed. “I rather doubt you have much to worry about. One of our guests is a wealthy merchant who longs for an advantageous marriage to nobility for his daughter. I plan to seat the two of them together at the wedding breakfast. Perhaps it will spark a romance between the two of them.”

“You are quite the matchmaker,” Julia said. “What of Lord Radford? You said that he flirted with you during the games on the lawn. Did you discuss anything of importance?”

Kate thought back to their time in the garden. “No. I am afraid Lord Radford prefers his women to be less educated than me, I think. He is a handsome enough man, but I think he would want me for an evening then discard me to move on to someone far fairer of face than I.”

Julia frowned. “I can’t believe that is true. I am sure that his lordship enjoys a lively conversation both in and out of bed. I hear he is quite accomplished in that arena.”

Kate’s mouth dropped open at Julia’s outrageous words. “You amaze me, Julia. You are the sole of propriety at times, and at others, you shock me with your boldness.”

Julia laughed. “Pay me no heed, Kate. I was simply trying to pull you out of your comfortable, safe world. You and I’ve spoken about your longings. Although my last plan went awry, perhaps I could arrange something again.”

Kate’s mind returned to the Lilac Room and the way the masked man had made her quiver.

To discover it was Andrew Fitzwilliam had angered her, but it had done nothing to quench the hunger he had elicited with his touch.

Would another man be as capable of arousing her like the duke?

She pushed the thought away. Andrew had made his intentions clear.

They had declared a truce for the sake of Julia and Harry, but once the wedding was over, they would part as strangers.

Any dalliance they enjoyed, was simply that.

A moment’s amusement for the duke. She knew he had no intention of anything deeper than a distraction.

She would enjoy his company while she could with the understanding that it was nothing more than a bit of play for him.

“I know you mean well, Julia, but I shall have to decline your offer. My attention is focused on you and your upcoming nuptials. I have no time for pleasure.” Kate lifted her chin.

Julia sighed. “I suppose you’re right. You will go to your grave an untouched woman.”

If not for the gleam of amusement in her friend’s eyes, Kate would have reacted poorly. But she knew Julia teased, so she played along. “Alas, I fear it is true. I shall die a lonely spinster with no one to warm my bed.”

“That would be quite unfortunate,” A droll voice declared behind them. Julia let out a squeal of alarm, and Kate lowered her face lest the room see her shame at being overheard. While Julia and Kate had been deep in conversation, Lord Radford had left the Viscount of Surry to join them.

“Lord Radford, you do me a disservice eavesdropping on my private conversation,” Julia said. She lifted her nose high into the air and sniffed disapprovingly. Her color was high.

“Forgive me, Miss Roves. When I saw two lovely women whispering in the corner, I knew I had to discover what was being said. I shall forget I overheard a thing.” Lord Radford winked at Julia and sauntered away.

Kate was aghast at the bold impropriety of the man.

Julia was engaged to another. Andrew was right.

The man was a scoundrel. A handsome scoundrel, but a rake nonetheless and indiscreet.

For that reason alone, Kate determined that she should steer clear of the man for the remainder of the festivities.

He might want to toy with her, but Kate believed it would be a disaster to do so.

Across the room, Andrew caught her eye and frowned as he watched Lord Radford move away from them. Kate lowered her gaze and when she looked back up, Andrew was gone. She blew out a breath and turned to greet Lady Uxbridge and Constance as they sat down next to her.

“Good evening, Lady Uxbridge. It is so good to see you.” Kate turned to Constance. “And Constance, that robin’s egg blue of your dress is unlike any I’ve seen. You must give me the name of your modiste. I am quite jealous of how lovely you look.”

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of conversation, laughter, and song.

Her guests had begged another song from her, so Kate had obliged them by singing a happier tune about a lost lamb who finds its way home.

When the clock struck two, the guests began to retreat to their rooms, and Kate gave a contented sigh.

Two days until the wedding. She prayed her cheeks would not crack from smiling and headed upstairs to bed.

What in the blazes was Kate thinking flirting with Lord Radford?

Is she trying to make me jealous? Andrew watched her and Julia from across the room.

In a pique of anger, he excused himself and stalked after Lord Radford.

He’d be damned if he would allow a rake like Darian to ruin Kate.

For such an intelligent woman, she could be infuriatingly trusting at times. Trusting everyone but me.

He found Lord Radford outside, finishing his brandy and smoking a cigar. Andrew found it a habit he never grew fond of despite friends offering him snuff or a cigar as they played cards or drank in the sitting room after dinner. It had never appealed to him.

“Radford, I was surprised to find you here. I thought you would be roaming the Continent again,” Andrew said, standing next to him.

He would test the waters before plunging into a full confrontation with the man.

After all, Radford was a peer, and Kate wouldn’t forgive him if he caused a ruckus in her home.

“Devonport, how are you? I heard you were down here assisting with wedding plans. I am surprised you found time to consider your current business investments. I heard they kept you quite busy now that they have paid off,” Radford said, puffing on his cigar.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to engage a man who is an excellent clerk.

It has allowed me time away when needed.

My cousin’s marriage to Miss Roves is important and he asked for my assistance.

” Andrew did not know why he felt the need to defend himself.

It was something about the tilt of the man’s head, the knot in his cravat, or more likely, the way he so quickly tried to dishonor Kate by luring her into the garden hedges.

“Excellent. You’ve always been an astute businessman.

How is Winfield? I haven’t seen him since the last time he visited the gaming hall.

He was losing quite a lot of money that evening.

It’s one of the reasons I am here. I thought he would arrive with his bride-to-be, and he could settle his debt before starting his new life with her.

A lovely girl, Miss Roves. If she were my bride, I wouldn’t dare let her out of my sight. ”

Andrew stiffened. Radford’s tone was too presumptuous.

And his reference to Harry’s gambling was in poor taste.

“I am sure Miss Roves is an honorable woman and would spurn any man who was foolish enough to try to engage her in an inappropriate manner. As to Harry, he settles his debts, but I feel that it is the most inopportune time to ask.”

Radford’s laugh was harsh and bitter. “You are such a laugh, Devonport. Always so enamored with honor and doing the right thing. Don’t you ever grow tired of it all?”

“You tread on dangerous ground, Radford. I have known you since we were boys on adjoining estates. Family honor is important, and a lady’s honor is the greatest gift you can protect.

” He turned toward Radford, and his voice grew harsh.

“I shan’t have you ruining Miss Avery with your behavior.

Too many of your indiscretions have been covered by your father’s money and name but let this be a warning to you. I’ll—”

“You’ll what? Throw me out on my ear? This is Miss Avery’s home, and you have no standing here. Go away, Devonport. I find your company tedious.” Radford looked down his nose and waved a dismissive hand at Andrew.

Andrew clenched his fist. To strike Lord Radford would lead to a duel. It would ruin Harry’s nuptials and scandal would once again attach itself to his name. No. Better to bide his time and watch. He spun on his heel and left before his anger overtook his common sense.