A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,38

dinner party. His performance was probably the death knoll for any of these guests to support his cause. But they needed to hear the truth.

Damn, but he needed to leave immediately.

Silence weighed heavy all around the room. After his impassioned speech, everyone stared at their plates, hoping someone would say something. But no one dared.

Except Katherine.

With an innate elegance, she stood slowly. “I, for one, am humbled by that truth. We should never forget their sacrifices. They’ve earned a place where they are welcomed and appreciated. More importantly, all of us”—she waved her hand slowly around the room—“should honor them every day. Thank you for reminding us, Your Grace.”

“Hear, hear,” Benjamin called out. His words seemed to have soothed the others as rumblings of praise for all the forgotten soldiers filled the room.

Christian’s gaze locked with Katherine’s. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and in that moment, he knew she heard what he’d been saying. She didn’t look away from him. He gathered every speck of strength he could from her gaze. In that moment, some tether was created between them. He wanted to be bold and pull it tight until he could hold her for a moment of comfort.

God, his brother was a lucky man to have had her in his life. What must it be like to have a person who truly saw what mattered most and felt the same as you?

Their invisible bond broke when Abbott cleared his throat. Katherine glanced toward the newcomer.

Abbott turned to his sister. “I’m ready to meet the other guest of honor.”

Helen escorted him to Katherine’s side.

“I’m pleased to meet you, my lord. Your sister has told me so much about you.” Katherine extended her hand.

“Likewise,” Lord Abbott purred. Immediately, he brought her fingers to his mouth as if they were already intimates. When he lowered Katherine’s hand, the viscount continued to hold it. “If I’d known such beauty was to grace my sister’s table, I’d have made my father wait until tomorrow for our weekly meeting.”

Laughter rang through the room.

Christian changed his mind about the viscount. He didn’t dislike him.

He hated him.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” Katherine said. If the pink of her cheeks was any indication, she was uncomfortable with the fact that everyone was in on Miles’s joke except her.

“Everyone in society knows that to keep the Earl of Canton-Wells waiting is not something you do if you want to keep your head attached to your body,” Christian announced, keeping his gaze glued to Katherine’s. “The man has a notorious reputation for being punctual and refuses to see any guest if they are even a minute late.”

Helen turned and regarded Christian. “That’s a perfect description of our father. Have you met him?”

“No, but the previous Duke of Randford was once invited to a dinner party your father was hosting, and the earl refused to seat him because my father happened to be five minutes late.” The earlier heat that had flushed Christian’s cheeks marched upward. In fact, it marched so high that Christian could only see red.

The cause?

Lord Abbott had his big paw wrapped around Katherine’s hand and refused to let go.

As Christian walked around the table to reach her side, Lord Abbott drew back and stared into her eyes with a nauseating romantic gaze.

“Is something amiss, my lord?” she asked, clearly less animated than before as she tried to pull her hand away.

“Yes,” he sighed before lowering his voice. “It’s been forever since I’ve seen such beauty as yours.”

But Christian was close enough to hear it. Somehow he managed a straight face as he drew near to Katherine’s side.

The man shook his head as if coming out of a trance. “Helen, why didn’t you introduce us before?”

“Because I don’t socialize often,” Katherine answered instead. With a forceful tug, she successfully broke Abbot’s hold of her hand.

By then, Christian had sidled up to Katherine. “Lady Meriwether—”

“Is it that late already?” Katherine interrupted. “How time flies. Yes, I am ready to leave.” She delivered a wooden smile to Abbott. “Delightful to make your acquaintance, my lord.”

Lady Woodhaven started to protest, but Katherine held up her hand. “Helen, I apologize, but Randford and I have some business to discuss. He has graciously offered to see me home. Thank you and Woodhaven for your generous hospitality.”

With a stunned look on his face, Lord Abbott bowed briefly. “Lady Meriwether, I’ll count the days until I see you again.”

“As will I,” Katherine muttered under her breath.

“Would another lifetime be too soon?” Christian said softly