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His chuckle followed her as she left.

CHAPTER 7

It had been a week since Ava’s scandalous visit to the Duke, and for the first few days, she had been terrified that somehow word about her visit would get out. Thankfully, nothing of the sort had happened, and the Duke had kept his promise by not asking for her sister’s hand in marriage—yet.

However, today she was on a mission.

For the first time since she had started attending balls, she did not fully dedicate herself to chaperoning her sister. Today, she was also looking to fulfill the mission the Duke had given her. However, it had not been quite an easy task, since the mamas all seemed to lose interest once they heard that the suitor she wanted them to approach was the Duke of Gillingham.

Ava spotted another mama entering the ballroom with her two daughters in tow and then turned to Stella, who had not left her side since they had arrived. “You must wait for me here.”

Stella nodded.

Ava was not certain her sister would not disappear once again. Nevertheless, she quickly approached the woman.

“What fine daughters you have, Lady…?” she prompted.

“Becroft. Lady Becroft,” the older woman supplied pleasantly.

“You can call me Ava, Lady Becroft,” Ava offered, before making a show of admiring the woman’s two daughters.

One was young with eager eyes, and the other was far older with a bored expression that told Ava she had probably been to a hundred balls and had still to secure a suitor.

“Now, how is it possible that these two beautiful girls are still unspoken for? Surely the bachelors have gone completely blind these days.”

“Certainly, Ava.” Lady Becroft heaved a beleaguered sigh. “The bachelors who have approached my girls with talks of marriage are far below our station, and the ones who are up to par do not seem interested in marriage.”

Ava let out a dramatic gasp. “Now, Lady Becroft, what if I told you that I know of a duke currently looking for a wife?” she asked.

Lady Becroft’s eyes widened, and she looked around as though searching for the duke in question. “You must tell me who he is,” she hissed.

Ava leaned in and whispered, “That is only if you promise not to tell anyone. His Grace does not want word to get out yet. So if you take your beautiful daughters to see him now, he might take an interest before other mamas catch wind of it.”

“I promise!”

Ava lowered her voice even further. “It is the Duke of Gillingham.”

Lady Becroft recoiled immediately, shaking her head. “I would rather my girls become old spinsters in my house than marry such a monster. Now, girls, follow me.”

With that, she left Ava standing at the entrance of the ballroom.

To make matters even worse, Stella was no longer where she had left her, and as Ava scanned the room, she could not find her either.

She groaned.

“Ava,” a familiar voice called, approaching her.

It was Cecilia, the little sister of the Duke of Blackmore, a man who also happened to be friends with Edwin and William.

“Cecilia. I have not seen you at any balls this Season,” Ava remarked.

Cecilia sighed. “Magnus simply refuses to let me attend any ball if he cannot be there to chaperone me. In fact, Lily had to plead with him before he let her be my chaperone.”

“Did I hear someone mention my name?” another familiar voice piped up.

Ava turned to find Lily approaching with Eveline, beaming at them.

“Now, Ava, do not tell me that Stella is missing yet again.” Eveline tutted.