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Ava nodded. “She is. However, that is not as troubling as the fact that I cannot find a single mama who would agree to speak with Edwin.”

“The Duke of Gillingham?” Eveline asked. “I am not quite surprised. He has the reputation of a monster.”

“Why do you need to convince a mama to speak with him anyway?” Lily asked.

Ava hesitated. She just could not admit to her friends and sister what she had gotten herself into.

“It is simply a deal,” she blurted. “Now, I must go. I think I just spotted yet another mama.”

With that, she slipped away before they could ask further questions.

But after accosting more mamas and trying to convince them to no avail, she eventually realized that there was simply not a single lady who was interested in approachingthe beast.Not even Lady Algernon, who had more dogs than children, or Lady Sherborne, who had become a social pariah herself after her daughter was found in a compromising position with afootman.

Exhausted by her countless failures, Ava sank into a chair just as the orchestra began playing the song that signaled the end of the ball.

And that was whenheappeared before her.

“Would you be so kind as to dance with me?” Edwin asked, extending his hand towards her.

Reluctantly, she took his hand and let him lead her to the dance floor. They danced in silence for a while before he finally spoke.

“Since no mama has approached me tonight, I can only imagine that you failed at your task.”

“I tried,” she complained. “I truly did. However, your reputation as a beast precedes you.”

“That is too bad, don’t you think, Miss Jennings?” he said, shaking his head as they swayed. “Now I must marry your sister.”

Ava could not help but feel a pang in her chest.

I have failed. I have failed to protect my sister.

She wondered how she would face her sister and tell her that she must marry the Duke, even though she had promised to prevent that.

He suddenly leaned in. “It is such a shame, since I already imagined having you as my wife. I spent many hours picturing your naked body in my bed.”

Ava gasped. She was positively shocked, but his words also excited her.

How could he?

She quickly looked around to make sure that none of the other dancers had heard what he had just said. Thankfully, they seemed oblivious, too engrossed in the steps.

Ava knew she should slap Edwin for making such scandalous statements, and yet she could not bring herself to do it when, instead of infuriating her, his words made her feel desirable.

She was relieved when the music finally stopped and the dance ended. Not waiting another moment, she turned on her heel and walked away from him. But he followed her.

“Your Grace,” a voice suddenly called.

Ava turned around to see an old matron stepping in Edwin’s path. The woman was smiling kindly at him while her young daughter stood behind her, looking absolutely terrified.

Ava was surprised by the turn of events.

“You must meet my daughter, Beatrice. She has only just debuted,” the matron said.

Ava smiled, relief washing over her. She had not failed in her task, after all.

Therefore, she slowly walked away and joined her friends to let Edwin and the lady speak at length.

“Who would have imagined that a matron would approach the Duke after I wore myself out convincing them?” she said.