She minded. She minded very much. Not only did his presence ruin her reunion with Betsy, it ruined any chance she had of spending time with the Duke of Westmond. Or Christopher, as she’d grown to think of him.
“Of course not, Your Grace,” she blinked, her eyes darting back to the scar above his eyebrow.
I wonder if he really received it at Waterloo. I do not know why, but there is something about him that I find…untrustworthy.
“Lady Catherine, as beautiful as your sister. It must run in the family,” he nodded his head toward her sister who gave him a crooked smile. “Where is your paramour? The Duke of Westmond?”
Catherine swallowed and looked at Rowena who bit her lip.
“I am uncertain. I am sure he will join us soon,” Catherine said.
“Well, His Grace must be delayed,” Lord Hazelshire said as he looked around. “And so is my son, it seems. Perhaps we had better take our seats.”
Rowena saw that the crowd had begun to file into the church. With a heavy heart, she took Duke Thornmouth’s arm and headed inside.
* * *
Rowena found herself relieved to be seated between Catherine and Betsy, thanks to the quick action of her sister. The moment the Duke stepped away from the pew to greet an acquaintance, she’d slipped into the seat next to her sister, forcing him to sit beside their father.
Rowena saw the way he glared at Catherine and it made her ever more reluctant to have anything at all to do with him. The row of seats behind them was empty. Usually the pew was taken up by their brother, Charles, his wife, and sometimes her family. It is where the Duke and Mister Newmont would have sat, had they arrived. As it was, the entire pew was empty.
She took the opportunity to lean over to Betsy.
“How is your posting? How are the children?”
She smiled. “They are a delight, a delight indeed. And Lady Portsmouth is such a lovely woman. The Viscount is a little odd. I do not think he likes me much; he is always looking at me in an unsettling fashion, as though he does not approve of me.”
Rowena patted her friend’s hand. “Do not worry, I am sure he is simply worried for his children. Once he knows you better and sees how reliable you are, he will certainly warm to you.”
“I hope you are right,” Betsy said with a sigh.
“Psst, look,” Catherine whispered from beside them and nodded her chin to the entrance.
Looking over her shoulder, Rowena broke into a wide grin. There he was–the Duke of Westmond. He was heading down the aisle next to his brother. Trailing a short way behind them was Charles, their brother, and his wife, Margaret. Margaret was round with child and Rowena found herself surprised to see her here. She’d taken to her bed for several days now.
The small group slipped into the empty seats behind them and chatter ensued between the family members.
“We were delayed. The carriage broke down several streets from the church,” Charles explained, his blue eyes wide with excitement. “It was ever so fortunate that the Duke and his brother stopped and asked if we required assistance.”
“Well, that was ever so kind of you, Your Grace,” Lord Hazelshire said with a wide smile of appreciation.
“It seems you rescue every member of our family,” Lady Hazelshire added with a polite chuckle.
Charles slapped Christopher on the back. “Judging by the look of disappointment on his face, His Grace was hoping to find someone other than myself and my wife in the carriage.”
He meant Catherine of course, but Rowena could not help and smile to herself. He looked at her then, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes as he winked at her. Discreetly he pointed his index finger at her and mouthed ‘You’.
She felt herself blush and had to remind herself where they were.
Why is it that whenever I am near him, I feel as though we are alone? As though we are surrounded by a cloud of anonymity, a wall no one but he and I may step behind?
She shook her head to clear the thoughts from her mind as up ahead the Vicar entered and she had to pull herself out of the delirious state being near him put her in.
Rowena found herself having a difficult time following the sermon for several reasons. Knowing that Christopher was seated behind her and feeling his eyes on her certainly was one. Behind them, she heard Margaret moaning in a low tone about the discomfort she was going through, soothed by Charles.
“Isn’t be handsome?” her sister suddenly whispered into her ear.
“The Duke?” Rowena asked, perplexed by the sudden comment. To her surprise, Catherine shook her head, glancing behind them with a smile.
