The Duke and the Dressmaker (The St. James Series) Read Free Page A

chemistry between you .” She smiled over the rim of her teacup.
    “Chemistry! Are you out of your mind? That was not chemistry, it was anger! I wanted to throttle her. As a matter of fact, I think the feeling was mutual.” His hands curled into fists on the tablecloth, but then he forced himself to pick up the paper again.
    “Why, Philip, I do disagree with you. We all witnessed the sparks flying between the two of you. They were as strong from her as they were from you.” She gave one vehement nod of her head to emphasize her point.
    “Mother, I am beginning to really worry about you. How could you mistake the emotions between the two of us as anything but sheer hatred?” He dropped the newspaper in front of him in frustration.
    “Oh, but there is a fine line between love and hate. Are you just learning that?” Her eyebrows rose and the corners of her mouth quirked.
    “I think I know well enough what love is and what it isn’t. I have my lovely ex-wife to thank for that instruction. I will never mistake feelings of love again, Mother. I told you, give up on me. I will never attach myself to another female as I did before.”
    “Philip, that nasty woman you called your wife does not know how to love. But Caroline did do a nice job of wrapping you around her finger. She was very skilled with her assets. But you were young and clearly in lust, not love. There is a difference.”
    Philip spewed his tea halfway across the table. “Mother! Could you speak a bit more appropriately? What if your daughter walked into the room and heard you?” The servants rushed over to clean up after him.
    “Oh, pah. And Emma is clearly not here. It is time someone spoke the truth to you to get you out of your snip. It was a long time ago, young man. You have had plenty of time to heal. Get over it and start living your life again.”
    Philip stared at his mother , speechless. Taking another sip of tea, he tried to calm down. Heal? Would he ever be able to heal from the humiliation of his wife leaving him for another man? Was it possible to heal from the cold rejection, the flippant manner in which his wife had chosen another over him, the Duke of Brentwood? Thanks to Caroline, half of England knew of his embarrassment. He could see the spiteful glances from his peers, even in the House of Lords. Why, even the gentry eyed him with pity.
    Even worse, would his heart ever be able to heal? He would never admit this to anyone, but he had loved Caroline so . Hadn’t he? Was it possible his mother was correct in her assessment? Had it been lust and not love?
    “Oh, Philip, speaking of your sister, I would like to take her to the new dressmaker this week, and I would like you to go with us. What day is good for you?” She donned her sweetest smile.
    His mother startled him back to the present, and this plan was one he needed to remedy quickly. “To the dressmaker? Since when do you need me to go shopping with you? It really is not a man’s activity, or have you forgotten? I have to meet with my steward this week. I am scheduled to visit many of my tenants as well.”
    Philip shook his head in exasperation. What had gotten into his mother to make her act like this? She was not normally this addled, and he hated arguing with her. After all, she was his mother and he loved her.
    “Philip, your sister, Emma, is fourteen years old. In case you have not noticed, she is blossoming into a beautiful young lady. And I do not like the leering glances she is now getting from the men in town. I think it would be beneficial if you would go with us. Your presence would remind those men who she is and that she is off limits. It is your job as head of the family. Your three brothers run like wildfire wherever they wish. While you may have a mode of decorum, I will not have their scandalous episodes affecting Emma’s reputation. If you accompany her on occasion, it will clearly make a statement to those in town. Must I remind you of your duty? Or are