Page 52 of The Duke’s Matchmaker

That couldn’t be, could it? She was misunderstanding the situation. She had to be. He wouldn’t…she sucked in a breath, her own eyes wide open, trying to prepare herself for whatever might come next.

But at the sound of her sharp inhale, Nathaniel froze and drew back.

The moment seemed to have shattered. He looked anywhere but at her. She felt a chill of dread at the thought of what he must be thinking right now. He had so nearly crossed a line. He had been about to kiss her; she was sure of it.

And he can’t. If word of that ever got out…

Was that what had stopped him? Was he worried that if he kissed her, she might tell someone? And that it would become the kind of gossip that would hinder him in finding the wife he so badly wanted?

Either way, she knew she had to get out of his house.

“Good day,” she said quickly, turning on her heel and running for the door before he had the chance to say anything in response. She didn’t want to know what he’d say if given the chance.

She was afraid he would call after her, try to persuade her to come back.

And a small part of her was also afraid that he wouldn’t.

CHAPTER 26

Ineed to focus. No more wasting time. I set a goal for myself to marry, and that is what I intend to do.

The near-kiss with Dorothy had been weighing on Nathaniel’s mind for days. It was a mess that he didn’t know how to clean up.

The truth was, in that moment, he had wanted to kiss her. He’d wanted it badly. He had tried to play it off as nothing more than a careless slip, a moment in which he had forgotten himself, but it was more than that. He had yearned for her.

He had frightened her. Those wide eyes, the way she had gasped…she had not wanted him. Not in the same way. And he would never forget that again. Once was more than enough to make that mistake.

He needed to turn his attention to what he was supposed to be doing, and that was finding a lady to marry.

Newly resolved, he had sent a messenger to the Earl of Castell, and now he presented himself at the door to meet Lady Amanda.

It was the earl himself who appeared at the door in response to Nathaniel’s knock. He was a rotund man with red cheeks and a bright smile. “Your Grace,” he said, drawing back to let Nathaniel inside. “This is a great honor, both for me and for my daughter. She’s very excited to meet you, I can assure you.”

Nathaniel nodded. “I’m looking forward to meeting her as well, Lord Castell,” he said. “I thought perhaps we could go for a promenade in the park and take some time to get to know one another a bit better. Is that acceptable to you?”

“Oh, yes, of course.” Lord Castell was as eager as could be. “I imagined you might ask something like that. Her lady’s maid is ready to accompany you—I assume that will be all right?”

“Certainly,” Nathaniel agreed.

“Let me go and fetch them for you.” He turned and bustled off.

Nathaniel was only on his own in the foyer for a moment before Lady Amanda appeared. She was very young, no more than twenty, with clear skin, auburn hair, and deep brown eyes. At once, he thought of Dorothy’s blue, and of how rare that specific color must be. He felt a pang of sadness that his future wife, whoever she was, almost certainly wouldn’t have it. What kind of gown would he buy for Lady Amanda if she became his? Not a brown one…

“Your Grace,” she said, cutting into his thoughts. “How good of you to come. I’m so pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” he assured her. “Would you accompany me on a promenade, Lady Amanda?”

“Of course.”

He was supposed to be trying to charm her. He thought back to Dorothy’s lessons in flirtation. Get to know her. That’s what Dorothy would have instructed him to do now. Ask her questions. See how she responds.

He tried. As they made their way out onto the road that would lead them to the park, her lady’s maid following at a respectful distance, he did his best to think of some questions. “Do you enjoy the park, Lady Amanda?” Terrible. What kind of question was that? She would just say yes or no and then the silence would return.

But she brightened at his interest. “Oh, yes,” she told him. “Especially in fine weather like this. A promenade is one of my favorite ways to pass a day, Your Grace. I’m so thankful that you came and asked me to join you today. This is going to be a marvelous time.”

She was definitely interested. She was showing every sign Dorothy had counseled him to look for. She was alert, engaged, eager to answer his questions. Nathaniel couldn’t help feeling a little ashamed of himself. She deserved better company than he was able to provide. He had never been good at this. Perhaps he never would be. That was a sobering thought.

Lady Amanda continued to chatter animatedly, for which Nathaniel was grateful. He wasn’t required to do more than nod along a little bit, and occasionally ask a question to keep her talking. She was very easy to be with.