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She decided to ignore Nora’s well-intended jibe. This was her opportunity to get the information she wanted.

She cleared her throat again. “What specifically have you heard? He seemed like a gentleman during our dance.”

“Of course, he would be—he was out in the open.” Nora stood up to refill her cup of tea. She held out the plate of biscuits to Sarah and Jenny. Sarah took one and began to nibble on it.

“He wouldn’t be stupid enough to proposition you somewhere he could be seen and risk marriage. That’s not how his kind works.”

“Hiskind?”

Nora sighed. “Oh, love, you are naive, aren’t you?”

Jenny frowned at the description. She was beginning to hate that word.

“He’s a rake, Jenny,” Sarah said while brushing crumbs off her skirt. “A scoundrel. Charming, yes, but they have to be. They fill your head with pretty words and introduce soft touches that encourage wild behavior. They make you think you’re the only one in the world and then leave you ruined, with nothing but regrets. I’ve seen it too many times to count. It’s sad, really. I’m sure it’s exciting in the moment, but the aftermath is ugly.”

“I’m familiar with the term and concept,” Jenny spat out. “People accused my brother of such things.” She tried to steady her breathing.

There was so much she wanted to ask, but she didn’t want to come across as desperate. These women had an ear for gossip and an eye for pinpointing people’s true intentions. If they got one whiff of desperation from her, they’d know she was dangerously close to getting caught up in the Duke’s snares. They’d most likely warn her off him.

“I haven’t seen him around other balls. I wonder why he came to this one…”

Jenny had hoped she sounded nonchalant. However, if they looked closely at her hands, they’d find her teacup shaking. She set the cup down and folded her hands in her lap, hoping to still them.

“He doesn’t attend them often,” Nora offered from her chair. “Probably lost a bet to the Earl. Lady Staunton has been begging him to help her get moregentlemento show up to her parties. She has it stuck in her head thatallthe best matches must happen at her events.”

Sarah laughed. “Gentlemenbeing the keyword. However, if they’re losing bets, something tells me they are not the kind ofgentlementhe Countess should be inviting.”

The women chuckled, but Jenny just sat there, processing their words.

“Why hasn’t he taken a wife?”

Both her friends looked at her curiously.

“What I mean is, my purpose is to go to these affairs and find a husband, and if the Duke needs to find a wife to produce an heir, shouldn’t he be concerned about the continuation of his line instead of sowing his wild oats? You’d think he’d be married by now.”

Jenny crossed two of her fingers under her hand, hoping her explanation was good enough to fend off follow-up questions.

Nora waved off her question. “It’s different for men. I agree, most men are married by his age, I believe he’s seven-and-twenty, but unless they have a mother breathing down their necks to get married, most men take their time.”

“So, he doesn’t have anyone breathing down his neck?” Jenny questioned.

The two older women exchanged a fretful look.

“No. His father died when he was twenty, passing the title to him. His mother was never the same after his passing.”

“Don’t forget about what happened to his sister,” Sarah added.

Nora shot her a pained glance. “Sarah, we shouldn’t gossip.”

Because what we’ve been doing up until now hasn’t been gossiping.

Jenny looked between the two women. “What happened to his sister?”

Nora huffed in Sarah’s direction, who was completely unaffected by the gesture.

“Right after she turned eighteen, a suitor came to her door and asked for her hand in marriage. Some of the details have been lost to the rumor mill, but the common theory is that the Duke was not happy and the two young lovers ran away to Gretna Green to get married.”

Jenny’s heart hurt for the young couple having to run from family. She couldn’t imagine having a wedding and not havingThomas and Frances there. Yet, at the same time, she couldn’t help but feel for the young Duke trying to take on such a role while doing what he thought was right for his family. If he didn’t want the marriage, he must have had his reasons.