Page 44 of The Duke’s Matchmaker

“What harm can it do to send you a gown now, though?” he asked. “I haven’t chosen that lady yet, so she can’t possibly be offended that I have a friendship with someone else.”

“It probably won’t matter,” Dorothy said. “But what if someone were to find out that you gave me this gown? I haven’t told anyone, of course, but if someone saw you in the shop and then saw me wearing it, they might piece it together, and we don’t want that. You’d gain a reputation for being the kind of man who showers ladies with gifts, and then it would mean a great deal less when you tried to do that with the lady you start courting. If you gave her a gift, she might think, well, he gives gifts to everyone. This doesn’t mean there’s anything special between the two of us.”

“I see,” Nathaniel murmured. “I confess I hadn’t thought about it that way, but I suppose you’re right. I won’t send anything more.”

“Good,” Dorothy said.

But she was surprised at the pang of loss she felt, as if something precious had been ended. This was what she had wanted, for him to understand that a line had been crossed and to pledge that it wouldn’t happen again. So why was she feeling this regret?

She cleared her throat. “Enough about all that,” she said. “We ought to be talking about your plans to woo Lady Isabelle.”

“Yes, but I haven’t seen her yet,” Nathaniel said.

“You haven’t?” Dorothy frowned. “She’s right over there, dancing with Lord Hilshire.” She pivoted them so that Nathaniel was looking in the direction she had been.

“Oh,” Nathaniel murmured. “I…perhaps I’ve missed my chance. Do you think she’s with him now?”

“Of course I don’t. They’re just dancing,” Dorothy said. “Look at her. Remember what I showed you about the way a lady holds herself when she’s interested versus when she isn’t?”

Nathaniel nodded. “I see it now. She’s dancing with him out of obligation.”

“Something like that, yes. I think you should go over to her and ask her for the next dance after this one is over,” Dorothy said. “Let her know of your interest, and then you’ll be able to evaluate her response and see if she shares your feelings.”

“Feelings,” Nathaniel repeated. “I haven’t got feelings for her. I just think that she might be a good wife, that’s all.”

“Well, that’s a feeling,” Dorothy encouraged. “It’s a desire to see what you might be able to build with her, Nathaniel. That’s the feeling you want her to share. Just that interest.”

Nathaniel nodded. “I suppose you’re right. I’ve put it off long enough. I’ve got to get over to her and see whether there is any potential there. Otherwise, it’s just you and me talking about things that aren’t real.”

Dorothy tried to understand why those words made her feel sad. He was right. That was all they were doing—discussing hypotheticals. But it felt like more to her, somehow. It felt like they were working together on something big and important, and the thought of him abandoning that, letting it come to an end…

That’s what he’s supposed to do. That’s what I want him to do. There’s no reason for me to feel anything at all about it. Or, in fact, I should be relieved that we’re moving on, that we won’t be beholden to one another anymore. I can get back to the peaceful life I lived before I felt responsible for the romantic prospects of a duke!

The musicians paused, the dance coming to an end. She stepped back from him and let her arms fall. “Thank you for the dance, Nathaniel,” she said. “I think you know what you need to do now.”

He nodded. “Wish me luck, then?”

The way he smiled at her made her feel as if her heart might shatter. The rest of this story belongs to Lady Isabelle, and she doesn’t even know it yet.

She turned away before her face could betray what she was thinking and hurried back to Agnes. It would be good to be a wallflower again, and to watch what happened next without anyone’s eyes on her. It was the only way to guard her heart.

CHAPTER 23

“Thank you for asking me to dance, Your Grace,” Lady Isabelle said.

Her voice was clear and melodic. Her gray eyes shone with happiness as he led her around the dance floor. She stood tall, her gaze fixed upon him, doing the steps with energy.

She was interested. It was clear.

Nathaniel should have felt happy about that.

But the moment he had taken Lady Isabelle in his arms, he had realized that this was all wrong. She wasn’t someone he wanted to be dancing with. Oh, she was friendly enough, and pretty, but inside he felt nothing at all.

I don’t have to feel anything, he tried to remind himself. I’m not looking for love here. That doesn’t have to be what this is.

And yet, shouldn’t he feel something? Shouldn’t there be a sense of interest, at least? Curiosity to hear what she would say next? Excitement at the idea that she might one day be Colin’s mother?

He felt none of those things. It was as if he was dancing with a doll. A lovely doll, but even so, a doll.