Page 10

Chapter Ten

“ I am fairly certain you have no interest in cats,” Simon said, after a leisurely sip from his glass. “At the moment, though, you seem awfully concerned about the troublesome feline. Or perhaps it wasn’t the cat that caught your attention?”

Dominic stood in one corner of the drawing room, having an often one-sided chat with Simon. His glass was mostly untouched, merely putting some weight in his hand. He was still trying to process what had just happened, his eyes lingering on the door where Lady Marianne exited.

He did not like cats. However, the way Lady Marianne had cradled her troublesome cat as if were a child stirred something within him—the need to protect her.

He could not help but admire the quiet grace in which she accepted her humiliation.

After all, her father had reprimanded her in front of everyone.

Predictably, Dominic didn’t reply. He looked down at the swirling liquid in his glass.

“Aha. Here’s how we’ll do it. Keep your silence if I’m right,” Simon teased, chuckling.

There was still no reply. Dominic thought there was absolutely no way he was going on the defensive when Simon was a mind reader.

“I knew it,” his friend declared triumphantly. He even nudged his young wife with his elbow. “Darling, I am certain I was not the only one who caught our dear friend, the Duke, staring after Lady Marianne when she left with her pet.”

“He looked like he was about to follow her out the door,” Olivia said cheerfully. “So, yes, I’ve noticed.”

Dominic turned to the couple with a sour expression. “You two are absurd,” he snapped.

“Hmm. Possibly,” Simon relented. “However, we are proud to have sharp eyes.”

“Eagle eyes,” Olivia agreed, nodding enthusiastically after she had downed her sherry.

Dominic had more things to say, which was strange in itself. However, he saw Lord Grisham approaching, with his daughter, Lady Elizabeth, in tow.

Oh no.

The girl seemed to agree with his thoughts, as she moved timidly, almost as if she would drag her feet on the floor only if she was allowed to.

“Your Grace,” Grisham began with the smoothness that Dominic now recognized. “I believe you have not been properly introduced to my second eldest daughter, Elizabeth.”

“A pleasure, Lady Elizabeth,” Dominic greeted, slightly bowing his head.

“Y-Your Grace,” she breathed, curtsying very low.

Introductions were then made between Lady Elizabeth and his friends.

Again, Grisham’s daughter seemed overwhelmed, even in the presence of relatively amiable guests.

“Come now, my dear Elizabeth,” Grisham said in what Dominic felt was an almost unnaturally sweet voice. “You don’t need to be shy around His Grace.”

Lady Elizabeth turned bright red. She gave Dominic a fleeting glance before looking back down at her feet. Feeling sorry for her, he decided to give her something to latch on.

“I trust you’ve enjoyed the day so far, my lady? It was a little long, but there were plenty of activities for everyone,” Dominic inquired politely.

“She has,” Grisham responded for his daughter. “It may not seem like it, but Elizabeth needs to practice having a conversation not just with gentlemen but with people in general. She is greatly sheltered.”

Lady Elizabeth looked like she might dig a hole into the floor so she could disappear, but her father seemed unaware. He kept his smile, but it did not reach his eyes.

“You might want to thank His Grace for shooting the stag this afternoon. What he did deserves a lady’s admiration. One clean shot! What do you think, dear?”

“T-Thank you for the stag, Your Grace. I’ve heard about how skillful you were, and I wish I had seen it for myself,” Lady Elizabeth said meekly, clearly following her father’s script.

Dominic felt pity for the young woman, who was clearly frightened and pushed around like a pawn on a chessboard. His eyes could not help but dart back to the door he had seen Marianne exit through.

“Lady Elizabeth,” Olivia spoke up, looking like she took pity on the girl. “I would love to learn more about the artwork in this room—if that is all right with you, Lord Grisham.”

“You may now be excused, Elizabeth,” Grisham declared in an even tone.

It might have been Dominic’s imagination, but it looked like the Marquess had just given Olivia a slightly displeased but controlled look.

“You can tour the room with Lady Darfield.”

The men watched as the two women departed. Dominic surmised that Lady Elizabeth must have felt a great sense of relief. He knew all too well the discomfort of being foisted on women, as if the matchmaking efforts were a kindness, when all they did was create tension.

“My apologies, Your Grace,” Grisham offered, seemingly able to regain his graciousness.

“For what, my lord?” Dominic asked, genuinely curious about what the older man would say.

“For my daughters. First, my Marianne had made a scene twice today by refusing to eat the venison you so skillfully brought us, and by letting her cat around Lady Etheridge. And now, my dear Elizabeth is being too shy around you.”

“My lord, I can tell you on my friend’s behalf that he does not find your daughters’ actions offensive.

Lady Marianne is a woman with her own mind.

Her cat undoubtedly takes after her, as pets tend to do with their owners.

As for Lady Elizabeth, she is the type of respectable woman the ton needs,” Simon interjected.

“Ah, so you are now my solicitor?” Dominic asked with an arched eyebrow.

“Sometimes, I am not certain if you are ever going to say anything at all,” his friend replied with a slight shrug.

“That’s fair,” Dominic allowed, seeing the curious look the Marquess was giving him and Simon. “But Lord Darfield is correct, Lord Grisham. That is precisely what I think about your daughters. You are fortunate to have them.”

Something flickered in Grisham’s eyes, a flash of irritation quickly masked by his usual composure. He held Dominic’s gaze for a moment, his lips pulled tight, as if considering something. Finally, with a smooth, controlled exhale, he nodded.

“Why, thank you, Your Grace. And you, Lord Darfield.” His tone shifted to the typical politeness as he addressed the two men. “Now if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen. I must see to my other guests.”

With that, he turned around, his steps measured and deliberate, as though he was leaving only when he deemed it appropriate.

Finally left alone, Simon turned to Dominic with a bewildered expression on his face. “Was that girl terrified of her own shadow? She was shaking like a leaf in the midst of a storm!”

“The girl is not afraid of her own shadow. She is afraid of her father. Perhaps all of the Grisham girls are, to various extents,” Dominic noted grimly. “Lady Elizabeth does not belong here. She should not be offered to me as a bride, as Grisham intends to do.”

“Oh, but you think Lady Marianne should be offered instead?”

Dominic didn’t even look at his friend. His voice was a low growl. “Keep testing me, Simon, and I’ll make sure you walk out of here looking like you’ve been trampled by a herd of cows.”

Simon raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “But I do love a good stampede.”

Again, Dominic’s silence was louder than any of the words he’d said, and he was certain that Simon understood.