Page 6 of Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Duchess (Wallflower Season #3)
Chapter Four
A ndrew spied Kate strolling through her front gardens as his carriage slowed and turned onto the carriageway leading to Renwood Castle.
If not for his cousin Harry’s impassioned pleas that Andrew serve as his best man, he would have requested that the driver leave immediately.
He had hardly slept since the night of the masquerade ball.
He had been so disconcerted by the kisses he had shared with the wallflower Kate Avery that he had been unable to enjoy an evening spent with the beautiful widow, Baroness of Rathcliff.
Instead, he had spent many an evening brooding in his study.
Not even his favorite novel could hold his attention for long.
“What ails you, cousin?” Harry asked when Andrew had once again turned him down when he asked him to attend the gaming hall with him.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Andrew replied.
“You’ve been a bear whenever I’ve seen you these past few visits. Perhaps a night spent in the company of a beautiful, young woman would cheer you and pull you from this dangerous mood.” Harry walked across the study and poured them a glass of wine.
“I have no need for a night with a woman. And you are preparing to marry the lovely Julia Roves. You shouldn’t think of breaking her heart. I understand that she has had quite a trial when it comes to betrothal.” Andrew took the proffered glass from his cousin’s hand.
“I have neither eyes nor heart for another. I was simply suggesting that it would be wise for you to enjoy a woman’s company,” Harry had answered.
Now, a week later, he was arriving at Renwood Castle, and his mood had soured further rather than improved.
What was it about the waspish tongue of Kate Avery that had discomfited him so much?
Was it the way her curves had fit so well against his body?
Or the way her kisses had stirred a passion in him that he had until then never experienced?
He shook his head. It was folly to think that someone like Kate could ignite these feelings of lust in him.
He was here to prepare for a wedding and then he would see the back of her.
When he opened his carriage door, Kate stood on the bottom step. Despite her ill feelings toward him, she had promised Julia that she would plan the wedding with him. She prayed it wouldn’t be a promise that would be a greater burden than she could bear.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace. Welcome to my home.” Her smile was tight and did not reach her eyes.
He lifted a brow at her formal tone. So, she plans to forget what transpired that night and pretend it never happened. Fine by me. I shall treat her as cordially as I would any other bluestocking.
“It is a pleasure to be here. Thank you for allowing me to assist with the wedding preparations. It promises to be a glorious wedding. I guaranteed Harry that nothing would impede it.” Andrew couldn’t help but allow a bit of imperious disdain to creep into his voice.
He wished for her to know that he felt the same as her.
Nothing had transpired and nothing would.
Kate bristled at his tone but quickly tamped down her anger. “If you’ll allow me, Your Grace, I’ll take you around the grounds, and then we can have tea.”
“Is it prudent for you to be alone in your gardens with a rake such as I?” The words were out before Andrew could stop himself.
“It is kind of you to worry about my reputation, but as you can see, my grandmother will be joining us.” Kate tilted her head toward the garden where the Dowager Viscountess of Pembrooke stood, resting her hand on a cane.
Like his own grandmother, the Dowager Viscountess was a formidable woman.
He knew that at one time the two women had enjoyed a friendly rivalry.
Each had married and parted ways, but they both verbally sparred when occasion found them in the same vicinity.
Andrew leaned down and in a low voice said, “She rather frightens me.”
Kate laughed, an infectious sound that caused Andrew to smile. “She rather frightens me at times, too, but her bark is much worse than her bite. Be careful. She will sniff out that you are an eligible bachelor and set to matchmaking.”
“Have no worries on my part. I have no desire to marry anytime soon.” He offered her his arm and she slipped hers through it. They strolled toward the Dowager.
“Good afternoon, my lady.” Andrew inclined his head toward the older woman.
“It is good to see you, Your Grace. I was unaware you would be joining us here at the estate until recently. I hope you don’t make a habit of appearing at people’s homes.” The Dowager Viscountess narrowed her eyes and took his measure.
Andrew’s head snapped back. Harry had assured him that his visit was expected. “There must be some misunderstanding. I…”
“Grandmama, the fault is mine. Julia had advised me of His Grace attending us here at Renwood Castle, but with all of the wedding preparations, it slipped my mind.” Kate would give Andrew this small mercy as she suspected that Julia and Harry had conspired together on this occasion.
To what end, she did not know, but she determined that she would find out.
Her grandmother peered from Kate to Andrew and then sniffed. “Very well. Come and tell me how your grandmother is.”
Andrew dropped Kate’s arm and offered the Dowager on his own. Kate trailed behind them, vaguely miffed to be so quickly dismissed. And after she had saved him from her grandmother’s disfavor.
“What news of the town, Your Grace? I am often out of touch here at Renwood,” the Dowager Viscountess said.
“I fear I will disappoint you in that regard. I try not to engage in idle conversations.” He gave the Dowager Viscountess a regretful smile.
Behind them, Kate snorted. This earned a sharp glance from her grandmother. Perhaps his words convince the Dowager Viscountess, but I know the Duke’s true nature.
“Unless you find the latest shipping news of interest, I am afraid I have nothing of interest. I did acquire an excellent library of books from an estate in Lancashire. The new owners wished to change the rooms and had no use for the library. I was happy to remove them to my own.” Kate’s ears perked up with this news.
She was always eager to expand her collection of novels. Not that she wished to visit Devonport.
“And how is your grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Devonport?”
“She is well. Like you, she doesn’t travel or attend balls as she did in her youth; however, she eagerly awaits my return,” Andrew said. “She looks forward to attending the upcoming wedding here at Renwood Castle.”
The Dowager Viscountess made a small noise of discontent but quickly turned it into a cough. Kate hid a smirk behind her hand. The two women had been rivals in their youth, and even now, Kate’s grandmother would let slip a few barbed words when referring to the Dowager Duchess.
Once they finished their stroll around the fountain and he had a chance to admire the gardens, the three of them returned to the house.
The Dowager Viscountess excused herself.
“I fear the brisk air has given me a touch of a headache. I need to rest before dinner. I shall see you both this evening.”
“I’ll attend to you, Grandmama.” Kate hurried forward to help her grandmother up the stairs.
To her surprise, her grandmother gave her a gentle rap on the knuckles with the head of her cane and nodded toward Andrew.
“Kate, it would be rude of you to leave our guest so soon after his arrival. Have your tea, and I shall speak to you later. I am perfectly capable of climbing the stairs on my own. I shall have Sally attend to you.”
Kate’s mouth opened and closed. She was sure she looked like a fish gasping for water if Andrew glanced her way. Fortunately, he was gazing at the painting of her parents that hung above the fireplace.
Sally, her maid, hurried down the stairs a few moments later and at a warning glance from her mistress stood at a discreet distance.
Kate feared that her indiscretion might one day reach her grandmother’s ears and did not wish for her servants to overhear if the duke spoke of their ill-fated evening.
“Those are my parents,” Kate said, her voice tinged with sadness.
“I understand you lost them when you were quite young. My father died when I was young, too. You never quite recover from their loss, do you?” His look was pensive as he spoke.
“No, you don’t. Fortunately, Nicholas and I had our grandmother who stepped in to raise us.”
Andrew nodded. “I, too, had my grandmother step in to raise me.”
“I did not realize you had lost your mother as well,” Kate’s brow furrowed as she searched her memory for notice of his mother’s death.
Then, she recalled there had been a scandal attached to the late Duke of Devonport as his wife had left him.
“I apologize. I did not mean to touch on a sore subject.”
“I am no longer bothered by my mother’s dishonorable conduct. Her actions helped me realize at an early age that women cannot be trusted.”
“Pardon?” Kate sputtered at his audacious words. “I must have misheard you, for I am a woman of honor.”
Andrew turned his blue eyes toward her, and they blazed with scorn. “If you were a woman of honor, would you have offered yourself to me as you did on that night?” He reached out a finger and traced her jaw with it.
“Why, you—” Kate couldn’t get the words out.
Andrew barked out a laugh. “I am simply pointing out to you the fallacy of your argument. No need to be distressed. Let us call a truce for the sake of Julia and Harry. We shall work together to plan their wedding, and then we shall both go our separate ways. Agreed?”
“Agreed.” Kate knew her face was flushed, whether from anger or heat from his touch, she did not know. She lowered her gaze and said, “Let us go and discuss the wedding while we have our tea. My cook makes a delicious variety of cakes that it would be a shame to waste.”