Lady Catherine's Secret by Sheridan Jeane

Author:Sheridan Jeane
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Flowers and Fullerton
Published: 2014-11-30T23:00:00+00:00

31 - A Mouse!

Stansbury pulled Catherine into the swirl of dancers, and they fell in place in the circling throng.

“It’s most unbecoming for a lady to agree to dance with one gentleman and then jilt him for another. I’d expected better of you.” He sounded like a petulant child.

Before answering, she took a deep breath and counted to three. “Truly, Lord Stansbury?” she asked, using a frigid tone. “But this waltz is more than half-finished. Since you didn’t collect me at the start of this dance, I believe you owe me an apology. I was under no obligation to wait as long as I did for you to appear.”

He scowled. “Perhaps I was a bit tardy, Catherine, but still, you should not have been chatting with another man when you were supposed to be with me.” His lower lip jutted out.

“Lord Stansbury,” Catherine said, her back stiffening, “I do not recall giving you permission to address me in such an informal manner. I am ‘Lady Catherine.’ After the lecture you just gave me concerning proper etiquette, I’m surprised by your lapse.”

His hand tightened at her waist. “I was under the impression that my request for your hand in marriage had altered our relationship,” he said in a clipped tone. “Rest assured, Lady Catherine, I meant no impertinence. Perhaps you simply need more time to become acquainted with me.”

The man was brazen in his persistence.

“We should not be having this conversation in public, sir. The dance floor is hardly the place for it. I believe I made myself clear regarding your attentions both when you offered for me last year and again a few nights ago when you tried to blackmail me.” Catherine tried to compose her face so that their inappropriate dance floor conversation would not draw undue attention. “My opinion has not changed, and I would prefer not to discuss it any further.” She instilled a note of finality in her voice, hoping to put an end to the subject.

As they rounded the far end of the dance floor, a gap opened near the entrance to the ballroom. Stansbury used the momentum of their steps to swing them out into the surrounding group of people, nearly barreling over the few who stood there.

“We need to finish our discussion now, Lady Catherine,” he said as he pressed her through one of the arched, curtained doorways with one arm still wrapped firmly around her waist. They emerged in a long hallway.

“Perhaps through here.” He hustled her into a nearby room. Guests lingering in the hallway watched their passage with open mouths.

Catherine found herself in the Duke of Norfolk’s study. It was empty except for the two of them. A fire burned in the fireplace, and the gaslights gave off a soft glow.

Stansbury kicked the door shut behind him with his heel.

“Really, sir, I must insist that you release me.” Catherine struggled against his loathsome grip on her waist, pushing against his chest with the flat of her gloved hand. His grip loosened and she broke free.

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