“Good afternoon, Lady Natalie.” The Duke swept into a graceful bow. “It is good to see you again.”
“Duke Blackwood.” Natalie stood and inclined her head towards him.
“Shall we walk about the gardens?” He smiled at her and held out his arm.
“Of course, a walk would be most welcome.” Natalie moved trying to ignore the flutter of her heart, unsure whether or not to take the Duke’s offered arm.
Peter stood, moving between them, frowning at the Duke and then her. “I think I shall join you. I could do with a good leg stretch.”
Duke Blackwood raised an eyebrow. “If you wish.”
“I do.” Peter replied, and Natalie only just managed not to roll her eyes.
The Duke met her brother’s gaze, and Natalie could see the familiar look of amusement in them. He turned and began towalk towards the gardens, with Natalie and Peter a little behind him.
“What are you doing?” she hissed.
Peter raised an eyebrow at her. “What? I can hardly let you wander about the grounds unchaperoned. He is a single man and you an unmarried woman.”
Just tell him you are engaged.Yet the words stuck in her throat. “You have never cared before.”
“You have always had at least a maid, and those men were always family friends!” Peter grimaced and then glanced at the Duke who was almost at the door that lead to the gardens. “And you have never looked at a man the way you looked at him.”
Natalie frowned at him. “You are imagining things.”
“I am not.”
She knew it would be no good arguing. “Fine. If you are going to insist on following us, at least give us some distance. There are some things I would like to discuss without you butting in.”
“Such as?”
Natalie prodded him in the chest. “If I wanted to discuss them with you, I would tell you.”
“Fine. But I will be watching you.” Peter glared at her.
“Men!” Throwing her hands up in frustration, Natalie left her brother behind and caught up to the Duke.
From the way he was studiously surveying the gardens around them, Natalie had no doubt he had watched her entire exchange.
“Shall we walk?” Natalie asked, and without waiting for an answer, strode into the garden.
The Duke made no attempt to offer her his arm, but easily matched her stride. “Your brother has given our union his blessing.”
Natalie nodded. “I assumed that was why you looked so pleased.”
“And why not assume it was not the sight of you that brought such a smile to my face?” The Duke canted his head towards her, his eyes dancing with mischief.
“Because I am not half so vain as you are.” Natalie replied, irritated at the flush spreading across her cheeks. “I doubt you enjoy my face anywhere near as much as you enjoy winning.”
“Come now, I would say I enjoy them equally.” Duke Blackwood laughed. “Though as much as I enjoy your flirting with me, we have more serious business to discuss.”
“I was not flirting with you!” \
“Of course you were not.” He gave her a patronising look and gently patted her hand.
“Believe me, wh–if–” Natalie caught herself and continued, “ifI ever flirt with you, you will know it.”
She tried to ignore the little voice that pointed out that she had barely flirted with anyone, and even if she were to flirt with him, (which she definitely would not do) she would not know what to do.
