Page 9 of How to Catch an Heiress

Chapter Four

Stirling scanned the ballroom for Chastity. He was positive she was up to something. She was being too nice. He suspected that even under the best of circumstances, she wasn’t overly ‘nice’ to anyone. The woman was a born duchess. The set-down she'd given Miss Doncaster had been brilliant. Chastity had looked down her nose at the girl like a true aristocrat. And the young lady had deserved everything Chastity had dished out.

Chastity wasn't made to be amenable, and yet she was being far too amenable.

He caught sight of her on the left side of the ballroom, hurrying toward a hallway. She glanced back and he tensed. That look had been odd. She acted as if she didn't want anyone to see her.

He started across the ballroom, dodging guests and brushing off greetings. He reached the hallway and quickened pace. Light footsteps echoed up ahead. He turned a corner and heard the click of a door shutting, up ahead on the left. What the devil was she up to? Surely, she wouldn't go so far as to compromise herself in order to get him to break their betrothal? Stirling quickened pace. Whoever the man was, Stirling would kill him.

He reached the room and burst inside. A low fire burned in the study’s hearth. Something rustled on the divan that faced the fire. Stirling crossed the room, skirted two chairs and rounded the couch. He halted at sight of the naked woman sprawled on the cushions.

Linda Dorring stared up at him. "I thought you would never get here," she purred.

Confusion quickly gave way to understanding. Chastity didn't intend to compromise herself. She intended to compromise him. He wanted to laugh. The lass had no understanding of the ways of men. She counted on her father protecting her from a rake who would bed a woman on the eve of his marriage. Stirling wouldn’t do something so despicable, and he would wager the duke knew that. His Grace was sure to see through the plot and marry her to Hathaway, as he’d threatened. That, Stirling could not allow.

He turned and headed for the door. Two paces from the door, he stopped when the duke stepped into the threshold. Stirling silently cursed. No matter,he would turn things around.

"Your Grace," he said. "I am in a bit of a hurry."

The duke's gaze shifted past him. Linda Dorring gasped, and a small thud told Stirling she’d fallen off the couch. The duke’s eyes narrowed and swung back to Stirling’s.

"I only just arrived and, as you can see, I'm fully dressed with not a hair out of place—and I nearly collided with you on my way out the door," Stirling said.

The duke’s expression hardened. "Then what is this about?"

"Your daughter’s handiwork, I suspect."

The older man blinked, then his expression turned thunderous. "This goes too far. I release you of all obligation—in fact, I would not wish my daughter off on a man of your caliber. I will marry her to Hathaway first thing tomorrow."

Behind Stirling, something dragged across the floor, but he ignored the sound, and said, "We have an agreement, Your Grace, and I intend to hold you to it."

Surprise shown on the duke’s face. "You cannot want her after this."

Stirlingchuckled. "As strange as it is, I want her more."

The duke frowned. "I wonder if Chastity is correct. Are you mad?"

"In all likelihood, I am. What man who wants to marry isn't just a little bit mad?"

The older man’s expression turned speculative. "Are you saying it is not the title you want, but my daughter?"

Stirling nodded in the direction of the hallway. "Perhaps we should speak outside."

The duke backed up two paces and Stirling followed, pulling the door closed behind him. He took several steps away from the door. The duke followed.

Stirling slowed, took a few more steps, then stopped and faced the duke. "In truth, sir, I have no need for the title."

"I'll be damned," the duke murmured. "I love my daughter, but I must ask, why?"

Stirling shrugged. "She is magnificent."

The duke’s brow furrowed, then his expression cleared. "She is more like her mother than I care to admit."

"I imagine, then, she was a rather magnificent woman, as well," Stirling said.

A soft light entered the older man's eyes. "More than I can convey."

"Then you understand how I feel."