Page 20 of Kathryn

“It was almost two decades ago.”

“That shouldn’t matter with such a scandalous tale. Divorces are as rare as hen’s teeth and that duel sounds like the stuff of legends.

“Gentlemen do not gossip to ladies about duels.” Andrew must have realized what he’d just said because he looked a bit sheepish. “I only told you because it seemed so important. As for not hearing about the divorce, the man has hardly shown his face in a ballroom for decades. That doesn’t make for a very interesting gossip. People haven’t just forgotten about his divorce, they’ve forgotten about the man. You’ve been on the town for five years—have you ever heard of any matchmaking mamas scheming to catch Dulverton?”

“Now that you mention it, I haven’t,” she said. Katie had to admit she’d not thought of the duke herself until she’d put him on her list, more for entertainment value than any real belief that one of them would be in a position to kiss him. The irony of that was not lost on her.

“He is a duke. Why aren’t women scheming to marry him?” she asked.

“Because the Dukes of Dulverton only marry Dutch women.”

Katie wondered what Andrew would say if she told him that was no longer the case. That Dulverton would be proposing to her on the morrow…

The urge to laugh hysterically suddenly struck and she needed to swallow hard. Twice.

“I know you do not want me to say it,” Andrew went on, “but the man is dull and there is no denying that contributes to the lack of gossip. Dulverton doesn’t have friends, and I’ve only seen him at White’s a handful of times. He is a loner and always has been. Aside from that duel he’s never made time for anyone or anything other than books and rocks.”

“Rocks?”

Andrew squinted thoughtfully. “Er, perhaps fossils. Or maybe dirt. I don’t know.” He gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “Something of that sort. He is a member of the Royal Society, but I doubt he spends much time even with that boring lot.” He fixed her with a too piercing look. “You still have not told me why you are so curious about him, Katie.”

“Dulverton was at the Sutton ball tonight.”

Andrew’s eyebrows arched. “Ah. And he piqued your interest?”

Katie shrugged.

“I shouldn’t have thought such an ugly fellow would appeal to you. Or is it the title?”

Katie ignored his question.

“You aren’t going to tell me why you are so curious about him, are you?”

“No.”

He laughed. “You cannot keep any secrets from me, darling. Chatham will tell me.” Andrew smirked. “He tells me everything.”

“Bully for you,” Katie muttered.

“Oh, by the by, Stacia and I won’t be going to Chatham Park this summer.”

“But you can’t miss it, Andrew!”

Hy and Chatham’s annual house party was second only to her family’s Christmas gatherings as Katie’s favorite time of year. And Stacia and Andrew had been regular fixtures every year since their marriage five years ago.

“I’m sorry, my lovely, but we simply have too much to do at Rosewood.”

“Oh, I know. But it will not be the same without you and Stacia.”

“We’ll go again next year, darling.”

Of course, if Hy and Chatham and Dulverton had their way tomorrow then Katie would probably be married and tucked away at the duke’s remotest country estate by this time next week. Something told her that a man who abhorred the London Season would not be fond of house parties, either.

Chapter Seven

Katie had hoped that by eating breakfast in her room she could avoid the unpleasant conversation awaiting her.

She should have known better.