A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,35

proven she was entirely capable of looking after herself. He couldn’t forget that some of the men were powerful members of the House of Lords who could help his business for displaced soldiers. He might convince them that a separate charity needed to be formed for housing the men too. That was the ultimate goal of attending the dinner party.

A gentle peal of laughter rang through the room. Instinctively, his gaze found hers. Her amusement at the quip slowly faded. She blinked, then a smile slowly bloomed across her face.

He smiled, but by then, her interest had been drawn to one of the gentlemen by her side.

Without her attention, Christian felt empty.

He dismissed such an outlandish thought. The reason for such hollowness had to be the simple fact he was hungry. Without thinking, he took a sip from his glass, then coughed.

The stuff tasted foul.

Benjamin rushed to his side and pounded on his back. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” Christian sniffed and blinked to clear his eyes. “Do you, by chance, happen to have some whisky?”

Before the earl could answer, his wife slipped next to his side, her attention devoted to Christian. “Your Grace, perhaps now would be the perfect time for you to escort me into dinner.”

“Of course,” he replied. It was always mandatory for the highest-ranking peer to escort the hostess into the dining room. Momentarily, he forgot that he was that person at tonight’s gathering.

“Still want that whisky?” Benjamin asked.

“No, thank you. Not with dinner ready to start.”

The earl nodded to him, then smiled at his wife. “I’ll see Katherine in.”

For some reason, the thought that a very married Benjamin would escort Katherine into the dining room made Christian breathe easier.

Good God, he was spending too much time thinking about her. Thankfully, they arrived at the table, and Christian helped Helen to her chair at the end. Benjamin helped Katherine to her seat at the opposite end of the table.

Their seating positions meant that Christian and Katherine sat diagonally across from each other. Too far to have any conversation, but each could see the other’s every move.

Katherine’s attention was diverted to the man who sat to her right. A man in his early forties, Bryce Merriman, the Earl of Shelton, cut a striking figure at the table. Head of a committee that allocated extra monies for road improvements, he was someone Christian needed to become better acquainted with.

Christian’s privilege was something he hadn’t earned, but he was determined he’d use it for others less fortunate. He had his entire future mapped out. In the next critical months, he would become friends with various powerful men, like Shelton. With Christian’s fortune, military experience, and the vast wealth of his estate, he was a man of influence. Members would want to woo him for his vote to swing their way.

Christian would be more than delighted to support worthy causes. In return, he’d expect those members to support him with his own agenda, namely finding employment, a sense of belonging, and hopefully happiness for the men who had returned from the war.

He fisted his hands at the unfairness of it all. After what his men had sacrificed, they should be able to depend upon their country for assistance.

At least he had one thing to thank his father for—his title. And being a duke would certainly help.

Perhaps that was why Christian was put upon this earth. It was a question he’d always asked himself. It was like a compass and helped him ensure he was on the right path in life.

And the right path was certainly not toward Katherine’s eyes or her delightful laugh.

As he leaned back in his chair, Christian had a clear view of her. She seemed to be enjoying herself this evening with her attention equally divided between Benjamin and Shelton. A skill necessary if one was to be a successful hostess.

Her gaze settled on his, and she smiled that same impish smile again.

“Your Grace.” Helen smoothed her serviette in her lap. “I’m hoping that my brother, Lord Miles Abbott, will attend this evening. If only for a little while.”

Christian reluctantly dragged his attention from Katherine to his hostess.

She smiled sweetly, then glanced briefly at Katherine. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but were you expecting Katherine to adhere to the strict mourning customs?” She turned her steady gaze to him. The determination in her eyes made them shine like forged steel.

“Why do you ask, my lady?”

“Please, call me Helen.” She scooted forward in her chair and