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“It wouldn’t be too bad,” Cecilia said absent-mindedly, “to have been born as one, though.”

“A dream, truly,” Emma replied, rolling her eyes. “Though I must say, the Pridefield Estate is certainly grand. Well maintained, too.”

“Unless the Duke made his staff do it quickly as he knew of our arrival,” Beatrice suggested.

“No,” Dorothy said softly. “I have already looked at the grounds. They are clearly kept to this standard at all times. I would have been able to tell if they were not.”

The three other ladies laughed at that. Dorothy was an intelligent lady, but she did not always notice when a joke was being made.

“Oh!” Beatrice said quickly. “Emma, have you met– Emma?”

But Emma had already followed her friend’s line of vision, her eyes coming to a stop on a devastatingly handsome gentleman. He was tall, muscular but not too terribly so, with green eyes beneath a brush of brown hair. She had to admit, his hair wasusually a little too long for her taste, but she didn’t seem to mind when it came to him. Then, she saw that he was standing beside their host, and her heart pounded as she realized just who he was.

“Emma?” Cecilia asked, nudging her sharply.

“Cecilia, that hurt!” she whined. “What is it?”

“Do you not know who he is?”

“Of course I do. He is the Duke of Lupton, the Duke of Pridefield’s rakish friend.”

“Precisely. Perhaps it might be a good idea to greet him?”

“Certainly not. I would rather speak with that tree than risk engaging in conversation with him.”

“You are a liar. I saw how you were looking at him.”

“I… You simply do not see very many men as tall as him, that is all. It caught my attention.”

“Caught and didn’t let go,” Beatrice grinned.

“That is nonsense. You all know that I am only here for Sarah’s sake.”

“Then perhaps,” Dorothy considered, “for Sarah’s sake, you should make yourself known to him? He ought to at least know who the two of you are.”

“Have you all made introductions?”

All three ladies nodded, which caught Emma by surprise. It made sense for Beatrice to have done so, but Dorothy was terribly shy and Cecilia preferred to frighten gentlemen to making herself known to them. It meant, however, that other than Sarah, who was off speaking with her own friends, she would have to make his acquaintance alone.

And then he spotted her.

He came over to her in an instant, smiling devilishly. He had a confident air about him, which she tried not to take as a bad sign.

“Your Grace,” Cecilia said politely, “this is Miss Emma Kendall. Emma, this is His Grace, Levi Hunter the Duke of Lupton.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Emma curtseyed, hoping her cheeks were not stained pink.

“The pleasure is all mine, Miss Kendall. I do hope that you enjoy your time here. I know that I intend to.”

His eyes lingered on hers for a moment, the brilliant green holding her in place before he smirked a little and walked away.

No, she said to herself, No, I must be mistaken.

“Emma?” Beatrice asked. “What has gotten into you? You look terrified!”

“Did you notice that?”

“Notice what?”