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“He’s my friend,” she said helplessly. “I love him like a brother. I should never have put him in this position, but I so badly wanted to save us. It’s over, though. I’ve run out of ideas.”

Theodore watched her for a long moment, then let out a long, heavy sigh. “I might have one more idea for you.”

She glanced his way, looking him properly in the eye for the first time since she’d barged in. Her eyes narrowed, and he saw intelligence flickering in them. And a hearty amount of skepticism.

“What do you mean?”

“I shall have to find Henry, of course.” Theodore shrugged. “Can’t let my only brother disappear into thin air. But I won’t stand by and see him condemned to a loveless marriage, regardless of how good your intentions are. You and Henry are not a match, I’m afraid.”

Miss Belmont pressed her lips together, glancing to the side. “I would like to know that Henry is safe, at the very least.”

“Good. Good. But you, Miss Belmont… you areexactlywhat I am looking for.”

She returned her gaze to him, simmering with anger and outrage. Theodore wondered, just briefly, what unpleasant offers had been made to her in the past to make her react in such a way.

“Oh?” she snapped. “And what is it, exactly,Your Grace, that you are looking for?”

His face broke into the wide smile he’d been told made him look like a hungry fox.

“Miss Belmont, I am looking for a duchess.”

CHAPTER 4

Anna was sure she didn’t hear him right.

“I beg your pardon?” she managed.

I am looking for a duchess.

Was it a trick? That seemed more likely. Perhaps the Duke preferred young girls and wanted to drag Daphne or Emily down the aisle. Perhaps he wanted Beatrice’s money and wanted an introduction and a recommendation.

Anna, of course, could not countenance such a thing. She’d never met Henry’s brother before, the infamous Duke of Langdon, but she’d heard enough to be glad of the fact. The man was, as everybody knew, a rake. A wretch. He frequented the most shocking of public houses, kept the most controversial company, and was one of the richest men in England.

Rich enough to give his younger brother an allowance that madehima remarkably wealthy man.

He was remarkably handsome, which she didn’t recall hearing about before. The notorious Duke of Blackwood—the Duke Blackheart, the gossip columns called him—was handsome, yes, and she’d seen sketches of them in the newspapers. A tall, thin man with a hooked nose and lidded eyes, and a slightly shorter, auburn-haired fellow beside him, stocky and wolfish.

‘Wolfish’ did not seem to sum up the Duke of Langdon, however. He had dark red hair—an unusual color—and a face rather like that of a fox. He had too-pointy teeth, which only emphasized his vulpine look. He also did not seem to blink at all.

She tilted up her chin, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “Elaborate, Sir.”

He grinned wider. “That isYour Grace.”

She clenched her jaw. “Elaborate,Your Grace.”

Heavens, this day was turning from bad to worse. It was already the worst day of her life, and now she had to deal with Henry’s hellish older brother. Wonderful.

“Thank you,” he responded. “Now, I thought I had made myself clear, Miss Belmont.”

“Think again.”

“I said I wanted a duchess, did I not? A wife. Any wife, really.”

“Am I to understand that this is a marriage proposal?”

He held her gaze for a few long moments. At least, theyfeltlike moments. It might only have been a second or two. Her heart was hammering against her ribcage.

Anna longed for her mother’s cool composure. As it was, she could feel sweat beading on her forehead and her temples, and she was uncomfortably aware of the state of her hair and dress. Not looking her best, to be sure.