The duke frowned at his aunt, as though he’d no idea they were all summoned for tea, and Catherine tried not to grin at his discomfiture. Even if the duke’s younger brother was tardy, the visit was off to an entertaining start.
CHAPTER 3
What an unfortunate beginning,Philip thought as his valet retied his cravat. The timing of Lady Fortnum’s arrival couldn’t be worse. Although the younger daughter seemed tolerable, the eldest, Miss Catherine Randall, was altogether too full of herself, with those pert smiles, and comments about Christopher. And then to accuse him of being droll! The girl had no sense of decorum.
This was going to be the longest Christmas holiday of his life. Worse even than the one after their father refused to set foot in Darton Hall ever again, and that one had been miserable.
He glanced at the ormolu clock in his dressing room. Nearly four. It wouldn’t do for the host to be late to tea, despite the fact that a half-hour ago he’d no idea of his aunt’s plans. He certainly needed to have a word with the dowager duchess about when the others were due to arrive. He despised being caught flat-footed at social gatherings.
“That will be all,” he told his valet, then strode from his suite.
Though it was beneath his ducal dignity to dash through the upper corridors of Darton Hall, he lengthened his strides. He rounded the corner at a good clip, only to trip over a woman’s outstretched foot.
Hopping awkwardly on one foot, he tried to regain his balance without falling upon Miss Catherine Randall who, for some reason, was down on all fours in the middle of the hallway.
“Are you well, Miss Randall?” he asked, going to his knees beside her on the red and gold carpet. It would not reflect kindly upon his hospitality to have his guests falling ill moments after they arrived.
“Quite well,” she replied, looking up at him with eyes the color of fine sherry.
From this position, he could see right down the neckline of her dress to the tantalizing curve of her breasts. He hastily pulled his gaze away, only to encounter the sight of her derriere outlined in blue muslin.Blast.
“Then why, may I ask, are you crawling about on the rug?” Discomfort made his tone harsh.
She blinked, then sat back upon her heels. “I lost an earbob just now.”
“I’ll ring for a maid to find it.”
“No need to trouble a servant. I’m certain it’s nearby. In fact…”
She leaned forward to snatch something off the carpet, and for a moment he caught her scent: lily of the valley and the clean smell of soap.
“There,” she said triumphantly, opening her gloved hand to reveal a bit of gold and garnet. “It matches the rug, you see.”
“Indeed.” He rose and extended a hand to help her to her feet. Would she be polite enough to apologize for creating such a hazard in the middle of the hallway?
She laid her fingers over his and rose with a surprising amount of grace. “Thank you.”
The tall case clock on the landing boomed out four chimes, and Philip frowned, releasing her.
“We’re late,” he said sharply.
“Yes.” She smiled up at him, a mischievous light in her eyes. “And yet, lightning hasn’t struck us upon the spot. I was trying to catch up with my family, you see, when…” She waved the hand holding the earbob.
“I shall escort you to tea,” he said, holding out his arm. He couldn’t simply run off and leave her standing in the hallway. Much as he might prefer to.
“A moment.”
She lifted her hands to her unadorned left ear, attempting to replace her jewelry. Philip tried to curb his impatience, but she was taking a damnably long time. Then the earbob slipped out of her gloved fingers to fall upon the carpet once more.
They both bent at the same to retrieve it, and nearly collided. With an indrawn breath, she grabbed his shoulders to catch her balance. Her chestnut hair brushed his cheek, and a flare of desire went through him, as hot and shocking as the bolt of lightning she’d just mentioned.
He caught her elbows and set her at a safe distance.
“Allow me.” He swooped up the troublesome piece of jewelry and, before he could think too much about his actions, closed the distance between them. “Tilt your head.”
Her lips parted in surprise, but she did as he asked. Her neck was pale and soft, and the back of his hand brushed her warm skin as he gently fastened her earbob on.
“There you are.” He forced himself to take a step back, then offered his arm once more. “Shall we?”
