He left the room. Edwina took the gown out of the box and held it up. It really was lovely. She was grateful to have it—but she was confused as to what had made him send it to her.
It was another one of his games. That had to be it. He was testing her, wanting to see what she would do. Wanting to see whether she would actually wear the gown.
Well, she wouldn’t. No doubt that was what he wanted—for her to show up wearing the gown he had chosen for her. And when she did, he would use it as yet another excuse to tease her. He would tell her that she was proving how she truly did want to be married, how she wanted to submit to someone else’s wishes for her and be guided by a husband. That was probably why he’d sent that gown in the first place.
She wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. She would not wear the gown. Instead, she would wear something of her own, and she would look amazing in it, and everyone who saw her would know that she was still beyond their reach. She was, and would always be, unattainable.
She chose a favorite gown from her wardrobe, a blue one that she had worn many times to events like the one she would be attending today. She always drew compliments when she worethis gown. It fit her like a glove. It was comfortable, too. She admired it in the looking glass and thought she looked lovely.
She felt a strange stir of excitement, looking at her reflection.
Even though she hadn’t expected this response, she suddenly found herself eager to have the Duke see her. To have him see how good the gown looked on her. Surely, he would find it beautiful. And when he saw it…
What?
What would happen when he saw it? He wasn’t going to fall in love with her. She didn’t want him to.
Perhaps it was just the hope that her unattainability would frustrate him all the more. She did enjoy seeing him vexed, and she believed he would feel that much more irritated when he realized that she hadn’t needed his gift to make her lovely. Yes, that was it. She was looking forward to the possibility of flouting his wishes. Just as he liked to tease her, she realized, she had developed a certain love of teasing him.
She looked herself over one more time and then went downstairs, ready to meet the carriage that would take her to the party.
CHAPTER 14
“How are things with the unattainable spinster?”
Allan smiled at Lady Rebecca, and she grinned back at him flirtatiously. Ordinarily, he might have spent the whole party with her. She was very beautiful, after all, and he liked a lady who was willing to flirt. The two of them could have some fun together, he supposed.
But he decided against it. He had told Lady Edwina that, for the duration of their dates, he would cease to involve himself with other ladies, and it seemed only fair to hold to his word.
Besides, what Lady Rebecca really wanted was some gossip, and he could indulge her in that. “I’ve been enjoying her company,” he said.
“Have you really?”
“That surprises you?”
“No gentleman ever enjoys his time with her,” Lady Rebecca pointed out. “Everyone knows the way she is. The way she treats gentlemen. I would have thought she would have sent you from her sight by now.”
“Well, she hasn’t,” Allan said. “She must like me more than you think she does.”
“You may be imagining things. The unattainable spinster never likes anyone!”
“Well, I’m not just anyone,” Allan argued.
“No, I suppose you’re not.” Lady Rebecca giggled again. “I suppose if anyone was capable of winning her over, it would be you.”
“That’s right,” Allan agreed, pleased to know that his plan was working. People’s regard for him was increasing.
Not that Lady Rebecca was the perfect duchess he sought. Far from it. She was great fun and lovely to look at—though her looks didn’t compare with those of Lady Edwina, he couldn’t help noticing. But Lady Rebecca was nowhere near serious or intelligent enough to be his duchess. She wasn’t that kind of lady.
But if she was paying more attention to him than she previously had, that meant that others were likely to do thesame. Everything was going perfectly. Spending time with Lady Edwina was having exactly the effect he had thought it would.
“Where is she now?” Lady Rebecca asked him, looking around. “I would have thought she would be here today. She likes this party.”
“Does she?”
“She attends every year, and everyone knows she has more fun than she does at any of the high-profile balls,” Lady Rebecca confided. “She truly enjoys herself here. She’s like a different person.”
“I hadn’t realized that,” Allan said truthfully.
