“I simply aim to please, Lady Rowena. And we shall, in the drawing room after dinner.”
They smiled at one another and for a moment, Christopher felt as though there was nobody else in the room but the two of them. Wrapped in the warmth of each other’s company. He would have gladly remained this way beside her for the rest of the evening, but reality caught up to him much sooner than he’d hoped.
From across the table, the sound of someone clearing their throat drifted to his ear. It was Henry, alerting him to the fact that he was losing his sense of place. At once, he saw Lady Catherine looking from him to her sister and back, her face darkening.
Christopher swallowed, suddenly reminded of the fact that he did not simply have to win over Lady Rowena any longer. He had to do it by also convincing the Earl that he was not the right match for his younger daughter and do so without causing the young girl humiliation.
He closed his eyes, wincing at the pounding headache which insisted on making its way toward his forehead. When he opened his eyes, he caught sight of Lady Rowena once more as she stole a glimpse at his face. She blinked at him and flashed a tiny smile before turning her attention back to her mother.
It was a small gesture, a small smile, but it was enough. Yes, it was enough to convince Christopher once more that it would all be worth it.
Chapter 16
The party was settling in the drawing room, or as Rowena and Betsy liked to call it, the gilded cage. Her father was occupied with the young Mister Newmont, no doubt deep in conversation regarding their fledgling business. Catherine on the other hand, had taken the opportunity to converse further with the Duke. Although, and she had to admit this pleased her immensely, hecontinuously looked in her direction, so much so that it did not escape Betsy’s attention.
“Rowena, I cannot believe I am saying this, but you are enamored of him, are you not?”
“Shh,” Rowena hushed, even though nobody was near them. “I am–” She wanted to deny it but there was no way she could. Her friend knew her all too well.
“It is true. I have tried my best to not look at him, not engage with him, but I cannot help myself. I long to talk with him.” She pressed her lips together, trying to keep from grinning as she leaned in closer to her friend. “He spirited a Bath bun away for me to indulge in later as I told him Mama is very restrictive of our sweets.”
Betsy broke into giggles. “Indeed, he did? How charming. He does appear besotted with you.”
Rowena’s eyes grew large. “Do you believe the others have noticed?”
Betsy shook her head, an eye on Rowena’s father who was still engaged with the Duke’s brother. “I should think not. It is only I who noticed, for I looked for signs. We must find a way for you to engage with him.
Rowena sighed and glanced over at her sister, who was beaming at the Duke while he appeared rather bored.
“I am ever so torn, Betsy. I–” Before she could say another word, Betsy had raised her hand and waved at Catherine.
“Join us for a game of whist, the both of you.”
“Betsy!”
In response, her friend simply shrugged. Rowena felt her back stiffen as her sister and the Duke came toward them and took a seat across from them.
“I adore whist. Don’t you, Your Grace?” Catherine purred; her head tilted to the side. Rowena felt the urge to roll her eyes at her sister but refrained. If it were not for her own feelings for the Duke, she would be in complete support of her sister’s flirtatious ways. She was, after all, out in society now and in need of a husband.
“I play, but it is no passion of mine. I much prefer chess.”
Rowena’s heart jumped. “Chess?”
He nodded as he picked up the cards that Catherine had just dealt.
“My Father taught me when I was a very young boy. It was one of the few activities I could share with him.”
“Rowena plays chess frequently with his His Lordship,” Betsy quickly said. The Duke’s eyes grew wide as a smile appeared on his handsome face.
“Is that so? Well, perhaps one of these days I shall challenge you to a game.”
“If you enjoy losing to a woman, certainly,” Rowena replied, surprised at her own feistiness.
“I take it as a challenge accepted then, Lady Rowena.”
Catherine glared at Rowena, for she was taking the attention from the man her sister already considered her own. Not knowing, of course, that Rowena had lost her heart to the Duke.
To avoid further antagonizing her sister, Rowena decided to change the topic to something her sister could participate in. As she played her hand, she smiled at her sister.
