do not.’
‘She is rather a pretty thing.’
‘I said we are not talking about this.’
‘Talking about what?’ his mother interjected as she joined them.
‘We were discussing the headache Julian has suddenly acquired,’ replied his grandmother as she smiled into the rim of her glass.
Julian straightened and pressed his lips together to keep from laughing.
‘But you never get headaches. How long have you had this one?’ his mother asked anxiously.
‘Only a short while, I assure you,’ he replied, locking his fingers behind his back.
‘Is it severe?’
‘Not at the moment, but that could change.’
‘Do you require a physician?’ she asked in a panicked voice, studying his face.
‘A physician is not necessary.’
‘Very well. I know I need not remind you that you must dance with someone else this evening. We cannot have people believing you have designs on your one partner.’
Julian knew his mother was right. He had only danced once this evening, and he was certain people were speculating about his attendance. If he singled out Miss Vandenberg as his only partner, people would assume he was courting her.
Studying the room, he finally spotted Lady Mary, moving elegantly through a quadrille. He would ask her to dance. It was time he put some effort into conversing with her.
Moving his gaze from Lady Mary, Julian momentarily caught the eye of the amusing Miss Vandenberg...
An hour later he collected Lady Mary for their dance. When he took her hand in his there was no consuming need to pull her into his arms. Was this what bedding her would feel like? Putting on his usual bored expression, he began to dance. He studied her small features, her round youthful face and thick auburn hair. Nothing inside him stirred.
‘Is there something wrong, Your Grace?’
‘No. Why do you ask?’
‘You appear perplexed.’
‘Not at all,’ he replied, blinking away his thoughts.
They danced in silence for quite some time, and Julian tried to think of something they could discuss.
‘Your family—are they well?’
‘Yes, thank you. And yours?’
‘Very well.’
The minutes ticked by.
He tried again, ‘I expect your ride here was pleasant?’
‘Yes. The roads were very smooth. We encountered very few delays.’
‘Excellent.’ Julian clenched his jaw.
Again, there was silence.
‘Have you been enjoying your time here this evening?’ Lady Mary finally attempted to keep the conversation moving.
‘Yes, thank you. And you?’
‘Yes, very much. I always enjoy a ball or an assembly. It is agreeable, seeing so many friends in one place.’
How was it possible that she could speak of enjoyment without really smiling? And why did her eyes appear so lifeless?
‘What other things do you find enjoyable?’
‘Well, I enjoy needlework, playing the pianoforte, helping my mother entertain, and riding through Hyde Park.’
Not once did he see a spark of excitement in her. ‘But what is it that makes you truly happy?’
She looked confused. ‘Forgive me. I do not understand.’
‘If there was one thing you could do for enjoyment, what would it be?’
‘It would be difficult to pick only one thing. What would you choose?’
Julian fought the urge to close his eyes in exasperation. ‘I do not know. I wanted to know what you would choose.’
Lady Mary gave a false smile. ‘Well, we have that in common. I am not certain what I would choose either.’
The next morning Katrina was still not fully awake as she sat in the dining room, having breakfast with her father. She took a bite of her toast, and her eyes alighted upon a few sentences in the Morning Chronicle.
The crunchy bread got stuck in her throat and she began to cough.
There was an account of an ‘eligible Duke’ dancing with a ‘foreign lady’ at Almack’s. Speculation was that the ‘eligible Duke’ was looking for a bride, and the ‘foreign lady’ was attempting to gain a title.
Her father handed her his napkin. ‘I was wondering when you would see it. All the newspapers have something to say about your dance. Apparently London has been eagerly awaiting any indication that Lyonsdale is interested in marriage, and if an eligible man attends Almack’s it’s assumed he is in search of a bride. One newspaper speculates that there might be a romance forming between you.’
‘But he was there to escort his mother and his grandmother.’
‘I doubt he would tell you if he was looking for a bride.’
Katrina pushed the paper away, feeling unsettled by the attention. ‘Then why dance with me? Obviously I cannot be under consideration.’
‘That didn’t stop the rumours that you are searching for a title.’
‘I’ve danced with a number of titled gentlemen while we’ve been here. He is not the first one.’
‘Yes, but you have not danced with an unattached man of his rank. A duke who never dances the waltz and suddenly does so with you will cause people to speculate.’ He narrowed his eyes at her. ‘Why do you think he asked you?’
That very question had kept her up most of the night, and she still had no answer. She would eventually return to New York, and he would remain in England—probably married to some dull daughter of another duke. Glancing at her toast, Katrina dropped it onto her plate. Her appetite was gone.
* * *
The moment Julian entered his breakfast room he knew something was amiss. Apart from the servants his mother was there alone, and there was already a glass of what he assumed was sherry in her hand. Just as he was about to take his first sip of coffee she slid the newspapers closer to him.
‘Have you read them yet?’ she asked.
‘No.
