Philippa smiled.
“She speaks as though she knows him better than anyone,” Cassandra muttered.
“She speaks as though she has anything to say, you mean,” Philippa replied. “It is dreadful, but my grandmother seems to approve of it. If you ask me, I think my brother sees through her act. That was not a compliment, she is simply envious that you were the lady that he assisted with the archery activity rather than her.”
Before Cassandra could respond, a shadow fell across them.
“Am I being discussed?” His Grace asked mildly.
Cassandra looked up.
“That depends. Are you listening?”
“I am now.”
“We were discussing the weather,” Philippa said lightly. “Nothing more.”
“That is a lie,” he said calmly.
Cassandra arched a brow.
“You are very perceptive.”
He glanced toward Sylvia, then back at Cassandra.
“She was praising my talents.”
“Yes,” Cassandra said. “We heard.”
“I see.”
Philippa looked between them for a moment, then cleared her throat.
“I shall see if Grandmother needs anything.”
Cassandra went to protest, but her friend was already on her feet, rushing away. She looked back at the Duke, who was looking at her with a slight smile.
“I shall assume that you are not at all envious.”
“That would be good, for I am anything but.”
“Are you quite certain of that? It would certainly seem that way.”
“Would you prefer for me to be?”
“I would not be opposed to it, I suppose. One would not be particularly pleased for his betrothed to be content for a lady to flirt with them.”
She considered that for a moment, and then nodded slightly.
“If I was at all envious of her,” she began, “which I am not, it would be because she is exactly what your grandmother wants for you, and I cannot compare. In that respect, I suppose it is only right that I would want to be like her, even a little. But that is not the case.”
He laughed, and the sound startled her. It was unguarded, genuine, but not unkind.
“No, of course you are not,” he agreed. “But if you were, I would say that you have nothing to worry about. If I wanted to marry her to please my family, I would have done so years ago. I did not, and that should tell you everything that you need to know.”
She went to thank him, but the Dowager Duchess chose that moment to approach. It was evident what she was doing, but Cassandra was in no position to say it aloud. That was for her grandson to do, and he was decidedly silent.
“George,” she began, eyes flicking to Cassandra. “You are neglecting your guests.”
