Page 4 of A Duke to Undo her (The Husband Hunt #1)

“What on earth were you doing with that young hoyden?” Cassius groused as Benedict finally slid into the seat next to his brother in the supper room, a full plate of food in his hand. “How do you even know her?”

The Duke of Ashbourne had been distinctly unhappy to find that his younger brother was on such good terms with the capricious and impertinent young woman he had clashed with in the corridor earlier.

While he had not immediately recognized Lady Josephine, her name and reputation were vaguely familiar.

Lord Silverton had now apprised Cassius of other notable incidents in the young lady’s London career, seeming to find these incidences of erratic behavior far more amusing than the duke himself could fathom.

Had Lady Josephine really once yelled “fire” only to empty an overheated ballroom into the gardens?

! Or taken home a small monkey from a zoo? Why had her family not reined her in?

“Our meeting is not a long story but a bizarre one. It involves pelicans,” Benedict said affably, taking up his fork. “We met in St. James’s Park yesterday morning. I do think Lady Josephine is rather fun. Don’t you like her?”

“Like her?” Cassius repeated, looking away and frowning as he gathered his thoughts. “Speaking to the Silvertons and others, it seems she is a spoiled young brat with a very limited sense of propriety. Lady Josephine is certainly not the kind of woman I’d like to see you marry.”

“Steady on,” Benedict laughed, pausing with a large prawn half way to his mouth.

“We’ve only danced a reel together, and the pelican incident, I suppose.

It’s hardly the basis for a lifelong relationship, although I might see if Lady Josephine wants to dance again later. She really is the liveliest partner.”

“Well, make sure it stays on the dance floor,” grumbled the duke.

“That young woman has no manners and her behavior is said to be most unladylike. Do you know, she waltzed straight into me in the corridor tonight and barely apologized? Lady Josephine seems to think that the whole world should dance to her tune.”

“If it’s a pleasant tune, why not?” responded Benedict, not taking kindly to being ordered around by his brother. “I’ll dance to whatever tune I like if the mood takes me, Cassius.”

Cassius scowled at this resistance but tried not to respond in kind.

He knew it would do more harm than good but this attitude did test his patience.

Seven years Benedict’s senior, Cassius had been more a father figure than a brother since the late duke passed away thirteen years earlier.

In the last few years, however, Benedict had grown more rebellious and resentful of Cassius’ authority.

“Benedict, you are the son of a duke, the brother of a duke and one day likely a duke yourself,” Cassius tried to make him understand. “That young woman would be nothing but an embarrassment to you. Being unsafe around wildlife is the least of it.”

“What? Oh, never mind. I don’t care what bee you presently have in your bonnet over Lady Josephine, Cassius. But please remember that just because you’ve foresworn marriage, it doesn’t mean that I have to limit myself,” Benedict retorted, evidently not in the mood for this lecture.

“No, it means that you have all the more responsibility to choose wisely because your wife will one day be Duchess of Ashbourne,” Cassius said with emphasis, only causing the younger man to roll his eyes.

“Stop trying to foist your responsibilities on to me for one damned night, Cassius,” Benedict told him severely.

“I didn’t ask to be your heir, but I’ll have to be if you refuse to behave like a normal man and get yourself a wife and children.

That still doesn’t mean that you get to choose my wife. Choose one for yourself!”

Benedict spoke as if marrying and having children was the simplest thing in the world.

Well, maybe for him, it would be. Cassius certainly hoped so.

When he looked at his brother, he always felt that the light-hearted Benedict was surely destined for a long and happy life, including the companionship of a faithful helpmeet.

When the duke looked at his own reflection in the mirror, however, he always saw their father looking back at him: the same thick, dark unruly hair, deep blue eyes and strong jaw.

He saw a man who had dropped dead in the prime of life with no warning and for no discernible reason, leaving his widow so distraught that she had almost thrown herself into his grave.

“No, but it would be my duty to prevent you from marrying badly,” the Duke of Ashbourne told his younger brother pointedly, his tone making it clear that he expected to be obeyed.

“I’m only telling you to stay away from Lady Josephine Thomson.

There must be fifty other young ladies of similar age, beauty and rank here tonight.

Take an interest in one of them instead. ”

“I’m not hungry, all of a sudden,” said Benedict abruptly, pushing his plate away and rising to his feet. “I’m going back to the ballroom. Or would you like to remind me who holds the purse-strings before I leave?”

“Benedict,” the Duke of Ashbourne protested, although his brother was exactly right…

…Cassius supposed he would be prepared to use financial coercion to prevent Benedict from making a foolish match if he had to, but he would rather not talk of money in public.

As Benedict stalked away, Cassius silently cursed the young woman who had caused their argument.

Damn her impertinent eyes, sharp tongue and defiant manner that could not help but stir his blood…

Despite having met Josephine Thomson less than an hour earlier, she already felt like a thorn in his side.