He looked away. ‘It is nothing.’ He slapped his knees and rose, turning back to her and making a deep bow. ‘And now, dear lady, your maid has used up her bird feed and is coming back to protect you. I have taken enough of your time. I will see you again soon.’
‘I am afraid you will,’ she agreed.
He could feel her watching as he walked away.
Once he was out of sight, Cassie set the Bible aside and reached into her reticule to get the pin, fixing it back on her spencer. Last night, she’d been sure that she never wanted to see the Duke of Westbridge again. But today, he had been so kind that she could not imagine a life without him.
She greeted Bessie with a moan of frustration. ‘He is the most infuriating man alive.’
The girl grinned at her, showing no sympathy at all. ‘If you say so, miss.’
‘And, I think I may be in love with him.’ It made her feel a little better to say the words aloud, even in such a weak fashion.She had told herself that what she’d felt last year had been nothing more than infatuation. She had wanted to keep the memory of that time a secret, even from him.
When she’d met him again this Season, he had gone out of his way to charm her, and she hadn’t taken that seriously, either.
But each time they met, there had been less artifice about him. Then, yesterday, she’d been moved as he’d spoken about himself. And in the evening, she was far too angry at the thought that he might take a mistress.
Today, when she’d planned to break from him…
She looked at the Bible, sitting in her lap, a book she’d assumed was lost forever. But he had known she would be missing it and kept it for her.
She looked at Bessie, again. ‘He cares about me. More than the other men I have met, at least. And when I am with him? I feel…’ She struggled to find words. ‘I feel. Just that. Sometimes, he makes me angry, or frustrated. But with others, I mostly feel nothing at all.’ She gave the maid a hopeful look. ‘Is that love?’
‘I could not say, miss,’ she replied. But she was smiling as if she wanted to say yes. Then, her smile disappeared as she looked towards the exit. ‘Oh, dear.’
Cassie turned to see Portia, hurrying down the path towards them. ‘There you are.’
‘It seemed like a nice day for a walk.’
‘Alone?’ Portia said with a sceptical smile.
Cassie spread her hands gesturing to the lack of companions.
‘At least you have brought your maid with you. It is never wise to meet a gentleman without a chaperone.’
‘What gentleman?’ Cassie said, looking around her.
‘You know perfectly well it was Westbridge. He was leaving the park just as I entered, and he looked happy.’
‘Is that really so strange?’ Cassie said.
‘Very,’ Portia said, frowning. ‘I have never seen him happy.’
‘Do not be ridiculous. He is always smiling,’ Cassie replied.
‘Smiling? Yes. Boisterous. Jovial. Ebullient. Always in the highest spirits and with the quickest wit. But he is never simply, sincerely, content.’ Portia’s eyes narrowed. ‘How long has this been going on?’
As Cassie prepared another denial, Portia cut her off.
‘And do not tell me there is nothing. I am not as blind as Julian is. You look at him differently than you do your other suitors.’
‘How?’ she said, honestly curious.
‘As if you are listening to what he is saying,’ Portia said with an exasperated huff.
She could not deny it. So she shrugged and smiled. And she felt a strange sense of relief.
‘How well do you know him?’ Portia said and gave her the sort of penetrating look that would be very hard to lie to.
