The Duke Meets His Match (The Infamous Somertons #3)(14)
Distress flashed in Henry’s eyes. “Another time—”
“I look forward to it, my lord.” She could barely think with the duke standing so close. How on earth could she flirt with Henry with Cameron glaring at her?
For a fearful moment, she wondered if she’d been wrong and he would blurt out her secret to everyone present at the party. He wouldn’t dare, would he?
She stole a sidelong glance at Cameron’s hard profile. In the unforgiving daylight, the fine lines about his mouth and eyes were visible. It only served to make him more ruggedly handsome. Unbidden memories arose—memories of his firm lips softly caressing hers, of her body pressed against his muscular frame. Why couldn’t she forget?
“Lady Webster is opening the conservatory,” Eliza said. “Come, we shall all tour it together.”
Chloe let out a breath of relief for the distraction. She needed to escape Cameron’s razor-like gaze, and she hoped to put distance between them during the tour. Huntingdon approached, and the five of them joined the line of guests waiting to enter the glass-and-steal conservatory. As soon as they stepped inside, humid warmth enveloped them. Sunlight cut a path of light through the glass walls. Long worktables, holding everything from gardening tools, sacks of potting soil, and pots in every size imaginable crowded the center of the space. The scent of flowers, plants, and moist soil hung in the air like heady perfume.
Lady Webster faced her guests as she pointed out different types of plants and flowers and how they flourished within the conservatory. Eliza and Huntingdon ventured closer to the front of the group, and Chloe knew her sister intended to give her time alone with Henry. It would have been a marvelous plan if Cameron had followed suit. But the duke stayed back.
Her eyes were drawn to his broad shoulders in his tailored jacket, and her heartbeat throbbed in her ears. She knew many men padded their jackets to increase the breadth of their shoulders. Heavens, Cameron would never need to instruct his tailor to—
“You look lovely in yellow. It brings out the vibrant gold in your hair.”
She dragged her eyes away from Cameron to look at Henry standing beside her. “Thank you.” Her voice sounded far away and displaced.
“I promise to find time to visit.”
“That would be lovely,” she said. “I visit the orphanage on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons only.”
“Then I look forward to this Wednesday,” Henry said.
“You’re forgetting your stables.”
A glowering duke turned to face them. Chloe felt her cheeks grow warm. Had he been listening to their conversation?
“Pardon?” Henry asked.
“You need to inspect your horses. Your father purchased several thoroughbreds from Tattersalls. He bred them and had intended to sell the offspring this year.”
Henry had a blank look. “Did he?”
“I’d mentioned it before, when we were going over the ledgers, remember?”
By the confused look on Henry’s face it was clear he didn’t remember or hadn’t been paying much attention to the lessons.
“You must finish what your father had started. It requires a trip to your estate in Hertfordshire to deal with the horses,” Cameron said.
Distress replaced the look of confusion on Henry’s face. “Hertfordshire? When?”
Cameron folded his arms across his chest. “The sooner the better.”
Chloe wanted to stomp her foot and curse. She was also tempted to snatch a pot from one of the worktables and smash it over Cameron’s head. At this rate, Henry wouldn’t be free for the remainder of the Season.
The rest of the tour was an exercise in frustration. Henry remained silent and brooding. Lady Webster droned on and on as she talked about a rare variety of ferns. The temperature of the conservatory continued to climb as the guests grew restless. Chloe attempted to speak with Henry, but with Cameron’s constant presence at his elbow, it was nearly impossible.
At last, the tour was over and they left the warm, humid conservatory and stepped outside. A soft breeze blew tendrils of damp hair at her nape and she let out a held-in breath. She wasn’t the only one grateful. The sighs of relief from other guests as they exited the glass-and-steel building were audible.
Chloe needed a moment of peace to gather her thoughts. Scanning the lawn, she spotted a garden path. She glanced both ways to ensure no one was watching, then hurried toward the path. It was cool and refreshing beneath a canopy of trees, and she admired the exquisite work of Lady Webster’s numerous gardeners. Topiaries, well-trimmed hedgerows, and colorful flowerbeds provided a lovely respite. The sound of running water drew her, and she came upon a pond filled with tiny colorful fish. A white stone bench was situated by the pond, and she sat and smoothed her skirts. Several minutes passed as she watched exotic blue, yellow, and orange fish dart beneath the smooth rocks that lined the bottom of the pond.
Secluded, her thoughts returned to her dilemma. The duke had clearly drawn battle lines and intended to guard Henry. If all went his way, she wouldn’t get a moment alone with the young earl. Henry would eventually lose interest and pursue another pretty debutante this Season.
It wasn’t going to work. She could outsmart Cameron. It may take questionable tactics, but as he said, there was no room for chivalry or niceties in war.
“So this is where you’ve been hiding.”