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  Instead, it looked like she intended to sneak away. Chester wasn’t sure whether to be insulted or worried.

  He was even more surprised when he came upon her and Melissa Merryman and overheard what they were discussing. Chester had had no idea Miss Merryman had been in that situation with Jonathan Farley and couldn’t help but listen in. Clementine managed to calm her down, urging her to have a good time and ignore her former fiancé. That sounded like advice Chester would have given himself.

  She was incredibly kind, something Chester had never expected. The old Clementine Cowell had been careless and clumsy but not kind like this. She had been just a child.

  The adult Clementine Cowell was different.

  Miss Merryman got up and walked away, blushing when she saw Chester and giving him a curtsy while still walking and disappearing around the corner. Clementine was still smiling after her. For a moment, Chester liked to think it was directed at him. It hit him right in the gut.

  Then Clementine realized he was there and her smile faded. She swallowed, smoothing her hands on her dress.

  “How long have you been there?”

  “Long enough.” Chester approached her. “You were really kind to Miss Merryman.”

  “Melissa’s an old friend.” Clementine’s mouth hardened into a thin line. “I liked Mr Farley. I didn’t expect him to do that.”

  “I did, in a sense.”

  “Really?”

  “He always preferred money over anything else.” Chester grunted. “Jonathan Farley never knew what was good for him. Just like his father.”

  “At least it explains the woman who’s stayed at his side and never strayed far.” Clementine peered up at him. “Do you know her?”

  “Not personally. Emily Pargenter is one of those women who was raised to be a wife and mother and pretty much nothing else.” Chester tapped his head. “There’s not much going on up there except the most boring of conversations.”

  “That’s a bit harsh, my Lord.”

  “I speak the truth about people. As far as I’m concerned, Jonathan Farley is welcome to her.” Chester shook his head. “He’ll realize what he’s let go, eventually.”

  “I doubt it.” Clementine sighed. “I hope Jethro will be able to make her smile and forget what happened. He’s always liked Melissa.”

  Chester liked this. It was calm, easy-going. Pleasant. Chester had not had many conversations like this during the evening and Clementine was, surprisingly, easy to talk to. She didn’t do flowery topics or pretend to be involved; she was genuine. And that was just from a few simple sentences.

  Clementine seemed to realize who she was with a moment later and became flustered.

  “I’d better go.”

  “Miss Clementine.”

  Clementine stopped mid-turn. Then she looked up at him with shy eyes. Chester wished she wasn’t so shy around him.

  “I…” When was the last time he had apologized to a woman? Chester didn’t know. “I apologize for my behaviour earlier. I didn’t mean to put you on edge. If my attitude towards you was rude…”

  “I’m used to it.” Clementine gave him a slight smile. “I’m always cast aside.”

  Chester couldn’t believe that for a moment.

  “I didn’t intend to be unkind.” He hesitated. “Would I be able to see you in a more social setting? A ball in my honour means I have too much to do and I can’t converse with you as I’d like. Ten years is a long time and I would like to catch up.”

  For a moment, he didn’t think Clementine was going to agree. Then she smiled even wider and nodded.

  “I would like that very much. Thank you…”

  She paused. Then Chester realized she was trying to figure out how to address him.

  “It’s Winchester now. Or Chester.” He shrugged. “Calling me Daniel isn’t really appropriate anymore.”

  They weren’t children anymore. Chester was very much aware of that. Clementine nodded and curtsied.

  “Thank you, my Lord Winchester.”

  Then she walked away. Chester could only stare after her. Somehow, in just a few moments, Clementine had managed to capture his attention and walk away with it still firmly on her.

  She was very special if she could do that to him, of all people.

  ***

  Chester was still in a daze as he went back to the ballroom. Clementine Cowell had escaped to wherever she was hiding and Chester knew even he wouldn’t be able to coax her out. She wasn’t used to these settings, and it was unfair to punish her.

  Besides, he would see her again. And it would be in a more preferable setting.

  “Good evening, Lord Winchester.”

  Chester slowed up at the entrance to the ballroom and groaned. He recognized that voice. But he put on the most polite smile he could muster without gritting his teeth and turned.

  “Miss Calloway. I thought you’d be here tonight.”

  A petite, blonde-haired woman his age approached him, wearing a beautiful red dress and an equally beautiful smile. There was no doubt about it, Ann Calloway was a beautiful woman. And the daughter of the Earl of Oxford. She was the perfect catch for any man.

  For the last eight years, however, she had set her sights on Chester becoming her husband. These attempts had intensified to outright declarations since her first season five years before. Chester hadn’t liked her attention when they were younger and he didn’t like it now. The side Ann Calloway didn’t show was mean, vindictive and manipulative. That was not something he looked for in a wife. The dowager countess was eager for a match between them, even more so after Chester came into his title but Chester wanted nothing to do with her.

  Not after the problems with her brother. The man had nearly ruined his life. Chester wasn’t about to link himself to the Calloway family after that.

  “You’re looking very handsome.” Ann purred, giving him a once-over in appreciation. “Lady Winchester wouldn’t have you turning out anything less, would she?”

  Chester bristled. His mother may try to smother him but she did not dress him like a little boy.

  “Lady Winchester had nothing to do with my dress attire.” Chester took a subtle step back. “What do you want, Miss Calloway?”

  Ann smiled. It was a beautiful smile but Chester had seen snakes smile better than that.

  “I was thinking we could talk. We haven’t seen each other for a while and your mother thought we could get reacquainted.”

  “And by talking, you mean privately.”

  “With a chaperone.” Ann assured him. “I trust you but not the gossiping old ladies in there.”

  She nodded towards the ballroom. A few people were watching them with interest. Chester bit back a growl.

  “No, Miss Calloway. I know exactly why you want me alone and the answer is no to that as well.”

  Ann blinked. She was clearly not expecting him to say no. Even after all the times Chester had refused to be in a room alone with her, she still thought he would agree.

  “But you don’t know what we were going to talk about.” She protested.

  “I know exactly what you want to talk about. My mother wants me to get a wife and have an heir as soon as possible. I have no desire to get married anytime soon and certainly not to you.” Chester pulled back a little when he saw Ann’s face whitening. “I don’t mean that to be callous but that’s the truth, Miss Calloway. Marriage is off the table for me.”

  Ann looked thrown. Then she quickly gathered herself and her eyes narrowed.

  “Is it because of the guilt?” She demanded. “Of what you did?”

  Chapter 5

  Refusal

  S he was trying to use that to force him into a corner? Chester was not having it. There was no one near them but Chester lowered his voice.

  “Even if that event you’re mentioning hadn’t happened, the answer would still be no. And I would appreciate if you didn’t bring it up in public again.” Barely remembering his manners, Chester bowed. “Good evening, M
iss Calloway.”

  He barely got that out before he spun around and walked away.

  ***

  “What have you done?”

  Chester looked up. Lady Winchester was standing in the doorway, hand on the doorknob. She was breathing heavily, looking like she was about to explode.

  “Mother, what are you talking about?”

  “You turned down Ann Calloway!”

  Chester had wondered how long it would take before his mother cornered him. The ball was still going on but Jethro and Maisie had left – Maisie was too young to stay out for too long and Jethro had to get her home. He was also escorting Melissa Merryman to where she was staying and Melissa expressed a desire to go. There was no need to stay now so Chester had sneaked away to finish up some accounting he hadn’t finished from earlier.

  He thought he had hidden well. But not from Holly Lundie-Brown. She knew him too well.

  “Oh, that.” Chester put down his pen. “I was wondering how long it would take for you to confront me about that. I was expecting you to do it a lot sooner.”

  Lady Winchester shut the door and stormed up to his desk.

  “She’s a good catch for you.” She hissed. “An earl’s daughter, educated and well-spoken. Heir to a fortune. Practically perfect for you.”

  “In your eyes, not mine.” Chester stood and folded his arms. “You know I don’t care for Ann Calloway. I never have done. She’s not a very nice person. Just like her brother.”

  “Her brother was a scoundrel. Miss Calloway is not like that.”

  “I beg to differ.” Chester sighed. “I told you, Mother, that I wasn’t looking for a wife but you weren’t listening, as usual. And even if I was, it would be a woman of my choosing, not yours.”

  Lady Winchester’s eyebrows rose almost to her hairline.

  “You mean you would choose a chit like Clementine Cowell over Ann Calloway?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Ann saw you talking to Miss Cowell in the corridor. She managed to make you sneak away for a few minutes down a back corridor.” Lady Winchester’s lip curled in distaste. “I always knew she was going to be trouble, and I was right. Do you realize how that would have looked if someone had caught you?”

  So Ann had been following him. Chester didn’t like that. It made him uncomfortable.

  “I played with Miss Cowell when we were children, remember?”

  “I remember. I also remember hating the fact you conversed with children far below your rank. You didn’t want to play with anyone of your own standing, just the Cowell children.”

  “I remember. Because they were decent people and Jethro was my best friend.” Chester frowned. “Is that why you forbid me from seeing them after that winter? Because you decided they weren’t good enough for me? You managed to twist your tale with Father, didn’t you? He adored Thomas and Joyce Cowell. I remember him being very sad that we couldn’t go back to see them anymore.” His eyes narrowed. “I wonder what you told him.”

  Lady Winchester huffed loudly.

  “The Cowell family are commoners. They were not suitable for you at all. And you were growing up. That was not right.”

  “Come off it, Mother. Father wouldn’t have believed that for a moment.”

  Chester turned to his books and sat, indicating that the conversation was over. His father had used it many times with his mother and it had been effective.

  Just not this time. Lady Winchester just had to get the last jab in.

  “Clementine Cowell should’ve died in that lake!” She almost screeched. “She was too foolish a girl, and she’s too foolish for you.”

  Chester could have handled anything else. But hearing his mother say that about Clementine had his temper snapping. He slammed his fists down on the desk.

  “Get out!” He bellowed.

  Lady Winchester jumped. Her eyes widened, her mouth dropping open. She had never seen him lose his temper like this. Even the previous Duke had been even-tempered. Chester was about to blow and it was all because of his mother’s cruel words.

  But she did move. She almost ran out the door. Chester slumped in his chair and put his hands over his face. This was not going to be easy. He wished Clementine could have stayed a bit longer but now he was glad she hadn’t. If Lady Winchester was saying something like that in public, Clementine would be ripped to pieces.

  Chester didn’t want to do that to her.

  ***

  “That ball was so much fun!” Maisie squealed. She was almost skipping along, plucking a couple of flowers. “Everyone was so nice, and I got to dance with lots of people.” She turned to Jethro, who was walking a little way back with Clementine, her eyes shining. “I want to go again!”

  Jethro sighed and exchanged a look with Clementine.

  “Easy there, Maisie. You’re acting less like a young woman and more like a little girl.” He grinned at Maisie’s sudden scowl. “You’re supposed to be showing a sense of sophistication.”

  Clementine laughed.

  “With Maisie? You’ll be lucky.”

  Maisie pouted.

  “That’s not fair!” She sulked and glared at Clementine. “At least I enjoyed myself, Clementine. You just sulked in a corner.”

  “I didn’t sulk in a corner.”

  “You escaped as soon as you were able and we didn’t see you again. It wasn’t until Jenkins told us you had already gone home that we knew where you were.”

  Clementine shrugged. She didn’t care that she had gone home early. Balls were not her style, and she wasn’t interested in trying to get involved. Those people weren’t going to be part of her every day life so why should she converse with them?

  And it meant she got a good night’s sleep. It was nice and quiet, something Clementine thrived on. She liked the quiet. Maisie was too loud for her liking. And it was very quiet at the hotel they were staying at. Clementine was happy. She had got to see Chester alone for a few moments and she had managed to sleep well without Maisie bothering her.

  A good evening, in her opinion.

  As they reached a fork in the path, Clementine was aware of a woman striding towards them, a younger, plainer woman hurrying after her. The golden-haired woman was making a beeline for Clementine, her blue eyes blazing.

  Clementine slowed. Beside her, Jethro stopped and moved so he was partly in front of his sister. Maisie saw the impending arrival and stopped, watching with curiosity.

  The woman stopped in front of Clementine, glaring up at her.

  “Are you Clementine Cowell?”

  Clementine wasn’t sure she liked this. Something was going on.

  “Who wants to know?” She asked coolly.

  “I’m Ann Calloway, daughter to the Earl of Oxford.” She said the title with her nose in the air. “I want to know what your intentions are with the Duke of Winchester.”

  Clementine blinked. She exchanged glances with Jethro, who was looking equally confused. Clementine was glad it was just them in the park or this would be embarrassing.

  “I haven’t got any intentions with regards to the duke.” She said. “He and I are childhood friends, and that’s what we remain.”

  “So am I and I don’t remember you.” Miss Calloway almost sneered out the words. “You can’t have been that good of a friend if I’ve never heard of you.”

  Jethro stiffened. Maisie looked like she wanted to take a swing at Miss Calloway. Clementine hid back the fact she was offended, schooling her expression to blank. It was something she had been practising for some time. More days it worked. And today it was working.

  “Is there something you wanted, Miss Calloway? I didn’t come here to be spoken to impolitely.”

  Miss Calloway smirked, running her fingers across her ringlets.

  “I’m going to be the new Countess of Winchester.” She sounded smug. “It’s all arranged. I will not have commoners getting in the way of our plans.”

  “Our plans?” Jethro echoed. “Or your plans? Beca
use Chester was not acting like he wanted to have anything to do with you last night.”

  Miss Calloway’s smirk disappeared, and she scowled. Behind her, her companion looked uncomfortable. Then she recovered herself quickly.

  “You think you know everything about him, don’t you?” She sneered at Jethro. “Calling him Chester. You don’t get to call him that.” She swung her glare around on Clementine. “Or you.”

  “I knew him as Danny Lundie-Browne, the boy who saved me from drowning.” Clementine shot back.

  “Then why didn’t you stay drowned?” Miss Calloway snapped.

  Chapter 6

  Confrontation with

  Ann Calloway

  C lementine felt like she had been slapped. Jethro stepped further between them, facing Miss Calloway down.

  “That was uncalled for towards my sister, Miss Calloway.” His voice was low and level, the way it normally was before he lost his temper. “I don’t care what status you are, you do not get to call my sister names and be rude to her. Apologize and leave.”

  Miss Calloway’s mouth opened and closed again. She stuttered before she recovered.

  “My father will not stand for this.”

  Jethro snorted.

  “I think he would be more upset that his daughter is letting the family name down.” He turned and nodded at Clementine. “Apologize to my sister and then leave.”

  Miss Calloway sniffed. She took two big steps back, glaring at Clementine.

  “I’ll leave. But I won’t apologize for what I said.”

  Clementine had suspected she wouldn’t. The woman wasn’t about to climb off her high horse and admit she took a step too far.

  Miss Calloway spun on her heel and strutted off, her companion trailing behind her. Jethro turned to Clementine, hurrying up to their side.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” Clementine could still feel the cold slap in the fact from Miss Calloway’s comment about staying drowned. “What a mean woman.”

  A very mean woman. Clementine hoped she didn’t have to come into contact with the woman again.