Page 27 of An Unwanted Bride for the Duke
“What do you mean by that?” he asked.
Oh no. I should not have said anything.
“I am merely referring to what happens to spinsters. They become nuns.”
To her surprise, his expression softened. The teasing vanished from his face, replaced by something unexpectedly earnest. “That will not happen to you. I told you I would help.”
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. She slowed slightly. “I know.”
“Then trust me to deliver the right gentlemen,” he said quietly.
Trust him to choose for me.
The notion was ridiculous. Unfair. Entirely unreasonable. And yet, disturbingly tempting.
Before she could dwell on it, Damien spoke again. “The evening's soirée.”
She frowned. “What about it?”
“I shall provide three suitable options by then,” he said.
The confidence in his voice was infuriating. And, rather annoyingly, reassuring.
“Fine,” she said at last. Damien laughed quietly before wandering away once more, leaving Seraphine feeling inexplicably unsettled.
As though the conversation had not gone at all as she intended.
The remainder of the afternoon passed pleasantly enough. While guests gathered beneath a shaded terrace for refreshments, Seraphine found herself seated amongst several young ladies.
The conversation began innocently. It quickly became less innocent. Specifically because Damien happened to walk across the lawn.
Lady Hannah spotted him first. “Oh.”
The single syllable carried enough meaning to fill an entire novel. Several ladies immediately turned. Seraphine resisted the urge to do the same. Mostly because she already knew exactly where he was. Not that she had been paying attention.
Obviously.
Lady Katherine sighed dramatically. “How is it possible for one man to look annoyed all the time and still be handsome?”
The ladies erupted into giggles. Seraphine focused hard on her tea.
“He never smiles,” another lady agreed.
“He does,” Hannah said dreamily.
“Rarely,” Lady Katherine agreed with a wistful sigh, lifting her teacup to her lips.
“And that makes it better,” Lady Hannah declared, earning several murmurs of agreement from the others.
Seraphine nearly choked on her tea.
Better? How could that possibly be better?
She lowered her cup and stared at the ladies as though they had collectively lost their senses.
Lady Katherine leaned forward conspiratorially. “The dimples,” she said, placing a hand dramatically over her heart.
Several ladies sighed in unison.
