“That is a change.”
“I know I’ve been making things difficult,” she said. “I see no reason to go on doing that. In the end, what you want has nothing to do with me, so why should I object to it?”
“Well—I suppose that makes sense.” His eyebrows pulled together as though he doubted what he was saying. Or perhaps he simply didn’t understand it. Maybe the fact that she had changed her tune confused him. Edwina wouldn’t have faulted him if that were so. She was sure that she was being rather confusing. What was more, she believed that the Duke did enjoy the little game they had been playing. He had wanted to try to break through her defenses, and now, she was dropping her guard.
But what she was saying was the right thing for her, and she knew it. She wouldn’t let him continue to try to win her over. It didn’t matter anyway, so the best thing was to go along with what he wanted for a few more dates and then return to her life. They would go their separate ways, he would find his perfect duchess, and it would be as if none of this had ever happened.
CHAPTER 16
“We shouldn’t remain here,” Lady Edwina said.
“We aren’t out of sight,” Allan pointed out. “There’s nothing scandalous about us coming this way for a bit of quiet to talk.”
“My brother wouldn’t like this very much,” Lady Edwina told him.
“Your brother doesn’t think much of you spending time with me.”
“Not very much, no,” she agreed. “You two are friends, so I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that he feels that way.”
Matthew had never agreed with Allan’s approach to his romantic life, but he had never really objected either. Of course, things were bound to be different now that Lady Edwina was involved.It made sense that Matthew would have more opinions when it came to his sister.
“If you need to return to him, I’ll come along with you,” he said.
Lady Edwina shook her head. “Let me go and speak to him on my own for a bit,” she suggested.
Allan was about to ask her why, but he noticed the look on her face and decided to keep his silence. It was clear that something was bothering her. The fact that she had decided, out of nowhere, that she wasn’t going to maintain the attitude of stubbornness that had been so constant so far made him think that she might still be upset. She had claimed that all she wanted was to know why he had purchased these five dates, and he had been honest in his answer. Maybe she was unhappy that he hadn’t told her that from the start. Maybe she felt that the two of them could have had an easier time of it if she’d known his true intentions.
And maybe that was the truth. He couldn’t be sure. What he did know was that he wasn’t entirely pleased himself about her promise to drop her defensive posture. It would make her easier to get along with, to be sure, but so far, he had enjoyed his struggle to get along with her. It was a part of the fun. If that was going away now, he would miss it.
She might mean to get along with me better, but that doesn’t mean she’s allowing me to charm her. In fact, this feels as if we’re going to be further apart than ever.
But maybe this had to do with her reason for wanting to go back to her brother. Maybe if he gave her the room she was asking for to take some space from him, she would recover from whatever was causing her distress, and the two of them could return to normal.
“All right,” he agreed. “You go. But you will come back to me, won’t you?”
“I will.”
“Because this is supposed to be one of our dates, and it won’t count if we don’t spend it together.” He gave her a rakish grin.
Ordinarily, she might have sputtered and protested or possibly—if he had caught her with her defenses down—even smiled back. It was so rare to see her unguarded smile, but when she did offer it, it lit up her whole face and transformed her. She was always one of the loveliest ladies he had ever seen, but that smile made him feel downright unable to take his eyes off her. More than once, he had found himself daydreaming about it when the two of them were apart—it was his favorite thing about her.
He longed to see it now. He had missed that smile. It might even be the reason he was teasing her—to try to bring it out.
But there was no smile today. “Don’t worry,” she said. “You’re going to get your five dates. If anything, I’d have thought you might want to draw things out—to make it all last a bit longer. After all, I’m sure you’re already beginning to get more attentionfrom ladies. I saw that you were talking to someone when I arrived at the party.”
“Lady Rebecca isn’t the duchess I’m looking for,” Allan told her.
“Well, perhaps someone else here is.”
She turned and walked up the lawn. Allan watched her go, pondering what had gone wrong today. He would have to do his best to correct it the next time they were together. But if she was in such a bad mood today, perhaps it would be best to allow her some space. He would write this date off as a loss, and they would try again next time. She had as good as agreed that today wouldn’t count if she spent the rest of it with her brother, so there should be no argument about arranging an extra date.
She crossed the lawn to her brother. Matthew smiled at her arrival, then turned and beckoned to someone.
Allan squinted. Who was he calling over?
A red-haired man joined them. At first, Allan didn’t recognize him, but then he did—it was the Viscount Kentrow. What was all this about?
He knew Lord Kentrow from various events. The Viscount was a pleasant enough fellow, if a little bit foolish. He wore a massive grin on his face as he approached Lady Edwina, and he offered her a deep bow.
