“Please,” she said. “Again, I would love to see you there. I consider you a dear friend, whatever might happen.” She smiled and fluttered her eyelashes. “And the night would not be the same without –”
A knock at the door interrupted her.
All three in the office turned as one to see who was at the door, and the moment that Alistair saw the intruder, his stomach dropped, his face turned pale, and he found himself wishing that he was anywhere else but in that room.
And that feeling increased tenfold when Carrowell’s eyes brightened with intrigue and wickedness.
This promises to be a most awful experience…
“Ah! This must be the infamous Miss Norleigh…” Carrowell was on his feet and striding across the room. As he went, he was sure to flash a most evil smile at Alistair. “Oh, how I have looked forward to meeting you.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Yvette hesitated in the doorway and wondered if it had been such a smart idea to visit the Duke as she was doing. Now that she stood before him, and now that she saw who he was with, she decided that it had not been.
“Come in, come in.” The lord who approached her was ruggedly handsome in a classic sense; his hair was wild, his jawline was defined, and his smile was all white teeth. The type who knew how good-looking he was, just as he knew how to exploit it. “We won’t bite.” He looked at a young woman who stood by the desk. “At least I won’t.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” The young lady in the room was not someone Yvette recognized, but that did not mean she did not know her.
Lady Emily Pearce was a stunningly beautiful woman. With her golden curls and her big green eyes and her cherub face, she wasboth inviting and intimidating at the same time. The fact that she wore a scowl as she spoke certainly did not help the matter.
“I, ah… I did not mean to interrupt,” Yvette said from the doorway.
“Interrupt! Nonsense.” The handsome lord reached her, slipped a hand around her waist, and led her inside. “Nothing could be further from the truth. Isn’t that right, Alistair?”
The Duke looked like he had seen a ghost. His face was pale, his mouth hung open, and there was fear behind his eyes that Yvette could not fathom the reason for… that was, until she saw him glance quickly at Lady Emily as if embarrassed.
Ah… that is the reason.
It was silly, but Yvette was struck by a sudden surge of jealousy. She knew that Lady Emily and the Duke were courting, just as she knew that the Duke did not consider it to be serious – he had told her as much! But that she was here, and that she was so beautiful and darn perfect, made that truth nearly impossible to reckon with.
How can I possibly compete with that? For all my fancies and silly imaginings, I am little more than a pig in a dress compared to someone so beautiful and refined as she is.
“You’ll have to forgive my friend.” Alistair cleared his throat and forced composure. “Miss Norleigh, might I introduce you to –"
“His Grace, Duke of Carrowell,” Carrowell cut in as he led Yvette into the room. Once she was at its center, he removed his hand from her back, but he stayed by her side. “And Miss Norleigh, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I have heard so much.”
“Oh…” She swallowed nervously.
“Good things only, I promise you,” Carrowell chortled.
“And this is Lady Emily Pearce,” the Duke added. “Lady Emily, this is my son’s governess.”
“Ah, yes.” Lady Emily tore her scowl from Carrowell and offered Yvette a polite smile. “It is pleasure to meet you.” Her smile was awkward, and her posture suddenly became withdrawn. And that wasn’t to mention the way she looked between the Duke and Yvette as if she could sense that something was not quite right between them.
“As it is you,” Yvette said nervously.
A silence fell in the room, and it was a most awkward thing.
Carrowell looked between her and the Duke with a wry smile that was knowing. Lady Emily frowned as she studied Yvette closely. The Duke acted composed but whenever he looked at Yvette for too long he seemed to realize what he was doing and looked away. And Yvette… well, she did everything that she could to appear invisible. As if such a thing was possible.
“You wanted something?” the Duke asked finally.
“Oh, yes.” Yvette breathed a sigh of relief. “Hugh wished for me to ask if you might be joining us for supper this evening. I…” Her cheeks flushed pink and she looked away. “I told him such questions could wait, but he was rather adamant.”
“I think he likes you,” Carrowell chortled.
“Tell him that I would love to join you both.” The Duke looked rather pleased with the question.
