Page 108 of The Duke's Indecent Match

Lady Astrid nodded her agreement before looking at Kalina.

“How likely is it that Carmathen will push this marriage to Julianna?”

“Nathanial thinks he is content to be paid back.”Kalina stopped.Hesitated.Lady Astrid raised one eyebrow in query.“But there was just something about the way Carmathen looked at Julianna.”

“Ah.”Lady Astrid tapped the side of her teacup thoughtfully, her lips slightly pursed as she tilted her head.Kalina could almost see the thoughts running through her mind, even if it was impossible to know what they were.She was plottingsomething.

“Why?”

“I was wondering if he might be a suitable match for Lady Johanna.”

Both Tiffany and Kalina blinked in surprise.That was such a turn from anything Kalina might have guessed.

“Is she that desperate?”Tiffany asked.“His reputation is…”

“Yes and yes.Her mother has been getting sicker.There is only so much I can do for the family, so much help they’ll accept.My parents are no help, unfortunately.Lady Johanna is a distant cousin on my father’s side, but it is very distant, and they have accepted Lady Johanna’s reassurances that all is well enough.”

“You have not?”

“I think the family is in far more dire circumstances than Lady Johanna let on.You know how it is with theton.Admitting their misfortunes could scupper things for her younger brother, the viscount.Just look at the hoops Nathanial jumped through, and that’s with a much loftier title.”Lady Astrid gave Kalina a significant look.

She nodded in understanding and looked at Tiffany.

“Hereford Hall was in shambles when we arrived.His sisters were all in hand-me-downs.Fiona received her first new dress, made for her, after our arrival.It was so much worse than he let on.”

“And he’s aduke.”Lady Astrid shook her head.“Imagine how much worse it would be for a viscount’s sister.Carmathen might have a reputation as a scoundrel of the first degree, but from what I know, he’s an honorable scoundrel, and he takes care of his people.If he married Lady Johanna, he’d not only ensure her family was well off, but he’d also teach her brother the ropes of being a viscount.He would do it all quietly, without bringing attention to the family’s situation.”

“Is she truly that bad off?”Lady Tiffany asked tentatively.“She had a companion with her, after all.”

Lady Astrid made a face and lowered her voice.

“Miss Belle is actually a cousin.An illegitimate one.She was acting as Lady Johanna’s companion because there was no other option.And, being illegitimate, she hardly expects to be presented to Society.”Lady Astrid’s eyes flashed with disapproval and something else.A look that she had often gotten in her eye when looking at Kalina before the house party.

Kalina would be willing to wager all the money Nathanial had left from her dowry that Lady Astrid had plans for Miss Belle’s future, as well as Lady Johanna’s.

“I will see what Mei can find out about Carmathen and his interest in marrying.”Lady Astrid nodded.“In the meantime, how are things with Nathanial?The two of you seem to have worked out your… differences.”

“Tiffany gave me some very good advice.”Kalina smiled at the other duchess.“Things have been much better since then.”

“You mean you let him spank you?”Lady Astrid made a face as she set her teacup down, causing Tiffany to stifle a laugh.

“I requested that he do so.”She shared a look with Tiffany, whose mirth was dancing in her eyes.It was not often that they got to see Lady Astrid discomfited.“And Tiffany was correct… it was both pleasurable and painful.It also seems to have brought us closer than before.”

“I did notice that you are calling him ‘Nathanial’ now and not ‘Hereford’,” Tiffany commented.

“I…” Kalina’s voice trailed off.When had that happened?She was not certain.Recently, as Tiffany had said, but she could not remember exactly when the shift was made.

She did, though.She thought of him as Nathanial.Called him Nathanial.And… he’d started calling her by her name, too.

It was a small thing, yet large enough for Tiffany to comment on it.

“Oh look, you’ve flummoxed her.”

Lady Astrid laughed delightedly.“Well, I am happy to hear that things are moving apace.Although I am not certain that I can condone this idea of being spanked, of all things.”

“You cannot know until you’ve tried it,” Tiffany pointed out.

Lady Astrid pressed her lips together.Obviously, she did not like not knowing.Especially when two of her friends did.Make that three, since Delilah had revealed she and Zachary had also engaged in such activities during her time as his mistress.She eyed Tiffany.