Chapter 46 - Why Do People Keep Throwing Me Off Today? (2/2)

His eyes narrowed. ”You are a shrewd, heartless woman Catherine du Pont. I cannot deny that your idea would most likely work but it would cause her pain and that is the last thing I want to do.”

I had been called shrewd before but heartless? Was I really so bad for not wanting to be a part of this world that wasn't my own? For trying to set things back to the way they were before I arrived?

In the novel Mariela and Franz were supposed to be close before Marcy even met them. What had gone wrong? Why were things in this novel so different than they were supposed to be?

I had to fix everything and I hated it!

I was in a bad mood when the dance ended and it got even worse when I was approached by my old nemesis the duke. I amended my earlier statement of confusion—he was definitely the last person I wanted to see.

”Lady Catherine, it has been a while. May I have the pleasure of dancing with you?”

I couldn't exactly say no. ”Yes, Your Grace.”

”The past few weeks have been quite eventful,” he said in his usual flat tone though he appeared to be trying hard to sound conversational. ”I do hope you have been adjusting well.”

That…was not what I expected from him. Why do people keep throwing me off today?

”I have been adjusting perfectly fine, thank you,” I said crisply.

He didn't deserve to know my business. Hadn't I stayed away from him for that exact reason in the beginning?

Too bad that had backfired on me in the worst way possible. The phrase 'out of the frying pan and into the fire' had never been more applicable.

”It is a shame that your talents are going to waste though. The third prince is not nearly as bright as his brothers. A lady such as you should be with someone of their intellectual caliber.”

Whoa, back up there. Did he just call Al stupid? I gave him a frosty glare.

”I'm sure I misheard you, Your Grace. Someone of your 'intellectual caliber' wouldn't make the mistake of insulting a member of the royal family in front of another.”

”You are not a member of the royal family yet,” he said in a way that really creeped me out. What was THAT supposed to mean?

”I'm as good as,” I said haughtily, feeling unaccountably annoyed that the guy I mentally berated all the time for being lazy and apathetic was being insulted by someone I didn't like. ”I would watch my words if I were you.”

”I do apologize, Lady Catherine, I meant no offense.”

There was no way those words could not be considered offensive. If I were truly a girl in love, talking down to my fiancé right in front of me would mean a death sentence for the offender.

As it was, I already didn't like this guy. His intent was clear enough.

”I'm sure you didn't,” I said sarcastically.