AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, but I like that. So many hunting parties have little to do with hunting.” Satterfield chuckled. “Or so it seems.”
“That’s because Kendal only invites local gentlemen and you, my dear,” Lady Satterfield said. “It isn’t a proper house party at all.” She looked at her stepson with slightly pursed lips but said nothing more.
“Itisn’ta house party.” Kendal’s tone was light, but there was a thread of steel.
Nora had the sense that Lady Satterfield wasn’t pleased with Kendal’s lack of social activity.
Lady Satterfield sighed. “Yes, yes, I know.” She sipped her wine, then offered her stepson a warm smile. “Whatever makes you happy, dear.”
Was that what made him happy? Keeping to himself? Did he prefer isolation? Having endured nine years of that, Nora suppressed a shudder. While she’d found Society challenging, she couldn’t imagine going back to a life of seclusion and hoped she wouldn’t have to.
The conversation turned to a variety of topics—from Kendal’s work in the House of Lords to Nora’s family to the theater. It was, overall, one of the most pleasant evenings Nora had spent, and by the end of the last course, she’d actually relaxed in the duke’s presence. Maybe he wasn’t so forbidden after all. At least not to his close family—not that she believed she was one of them, but for now, she could perhaps enjoy this familiarity.
“It’s a lovely evening,” Lady Satterfield said as she placed her napkin on the table. “Kendal, why don’t you take Nora for a walk around the garden?”
Nora’s heartbeat sped. There went the comfort she’d only just found.
But why? It was a walk, nothing more, through a very small walled garden. And maybe he didn’t even want to go.
“Certainly.” Kendal stood and helped Nora from her chair.
Apparently, he did want to go. Or he was merely being polite.
Lord Satterfield assisted Lady Satterfield. “I’m off to my club for a bit.” He pressed a kiss to his wife’s cheek.
She leaned close with a warm smile before looking toward Nora and Kendal. “And I’ll just be up in my sitting room answering some correspondence. I don’t think I need to chaperone you for such a short jaunt.”
They all went their separate ways—Lord and Lady Satterfield exiting the dining room into the main hallway and Kendal and Nora to the rear sitting room, which functioned as a library and general gathering space for the family. Kendal offered Nora his arm and led her into the cozy room in which she’d spent several evenings reading from the Satterfields’ excellent collection of books.
The library was not a small chamber; however, it seemed somehow smaller tonight. Kendal’s presence seemed to invade every nook and inhabit every cranny, and Nora was nearly overcome with awareness. And nervousness.
She rushed to say something to put herself at ease. “I quite enjoy the Satterfields’ library.”
He paused, pivoting toward the bookcases that marched along one wall. “Do you? What are your favorites?”
Nora wondered what he’d think of her tastes, which ran the gamut from romantic novels to gothic tales to poetry to suspenseful narratives. “I have many. I’m afraid it’s difficult to choose.”
“What’s the last one you read, then?”
She hesitated, but only briefly. “A romantic novel by Sarah Wilkinson.” Presumably, he’d find her tastes lacking.
“I’ve read all of her books.”
Nora looked up at him in surprise. “You read Sarah Wilkinson?”
He gave her a sly look. “Perhaps you noticed that Lady Satterfield owns every title. She’s always had a penchant for such stories, and, in my youth, I read everything I could get my hands on.Everything.”
Nora pressed her fingers to her mouth and giggled. “Do you like romantic novels?”
“I don’tdislikethem. If I’m in a particular mood, I’ve been known to read three or four in a week.”
Her giggles turned to outright laughter. “The Forbidden Duke reads tawdry romances? What would the ton say?”
“I don’t give a damn what anyone says, but I suppose that would cause a stir.”
How lovely it must be not to care—not tohaveto care—what others said about you. “Everything you do causes a stir,” she said, her laughter dying down. “The novels would make you seem more human, however.” She inwardly winced at how awful that sounded. “Oh dear, please forgive me. I didn’t mean to infer you aren’t human.”
He took her hand and tucked her fingers beneath his coat, guiding her palm flat against his waistcoat directly over his heart. “You can feel that I am.”
