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“You do realize he is not going to let you get away with besting him. He’s very competitive, you know.

But do not be fooled by his frown. He likes that you are giving him a hard time.

He may not like to lose, but he loves a challenge.

You are decidedly that. Oh, he keeps glancing this way.

” Edward chuckled again. “He’s smiling. You are a miracle worker.

I cannot recall the last time he has done that. ”

“What, smiled?”

Edward nodded. “Yes. Not to put a damper on the evening, but you have no idea how badly damaged he was when he returned from the war. We were afraid he would never recover, and although his body has healed, his heart hasn’t…until now. Uh oh. Stiff upper lip—my mother is approaching.”

“Good gracious, Miss Temple…I am left speechless,” the duchess said, inspecting Ailis from head to toe. “Your gown…your hat… I have never seen anything quite like it.”

And hope never to again, Ailis surmised.

“Bewitching, isn’t she?” Edward said, unable to suppress a chortle.

“Edward, do be serious,” the duchess intoned, but she did not sound curt or irritated, merely amused. She and her son were now grinning at Ailis. “Truly, my dear. You have outdone yourself.”

“I can explain—” Ailis said.

The duchess held up her hand. “No explanations necessary. Your uncle told me all I needed to know. My son can be headstrong.” She laughed lightly. “But I think he has met his match in you. Well done, Miss Temple. Shall I introduce you around?”

“It isn’t necessary. I cannot see a blessed thing with these spectacles on, and none of the diamonds will be interested in meeting me.”

The big, dark blotch appeared in front of her again. “I beg to differ, Miss Temple,” the duke said with a touch of lethality to his voice. “They will be most eager to meet the belle of Broadmoor. Come with me.”

But first, he plucked the spectacles off her nose and tucked them into his breast pocket. “You will injure your eyes if you keep them on all night. Honestly, Temple. You need to take better care of yourself.”

He then took hold of her by the elbow of her uninjured arm and led her toward a stunning blonde he introduced as Lady Viola Carstairs.

The young woman gave a curt nod, then ignored Ailis while engaging the duke in flirtatious conversation. Oh, she was all smiles for him, and—

“Ouch!”

“Miss Temple, are you all right?” the duke asked, looking genuinely concerned.

“Dear me,” Viola said with a dismissive giggle, “did I accidentally step on your foot? Perhaps you ought to go sit in a corner and rest it, Miss Semple.”

“Miss Temple ,” the duke corrected her. “If you will excuse us, I must introduce her to my other guests.”

He moved Ailis away from this first diamond. “Did I not tell you they were not to be trusted? Is this truly what you wish for me? How is your foot?”

“It will recover.”

He let out a breath. “I am going to seat you beside me while we dine, and do not dare utter a word of protest. It has all been arranged. Lord Pomeroy will be seated beside Viola, and Lord Whitcomb over there,” he said, nodding to a nice-looking young man who appeared to be in his cups, “will attend to Lady Willa Montroy. That’s her over there, flirting with my footman. ”

Ailis looked up at him in dismay. “Are they really as bad as they appear?”

“Yes. And these two are the best of the lot my mother has brought with her. Over there are the Tenney sisters.”

“They seem nice enough.”

He grunted. “Do not be fooled. They have no scruples whatsoever.”

Ailis furrowed her brow. “Your Grace, does this not strike you as most odd?”

“What? That not one of them is suitable for me? I could have told you that before any of them arrived. This is why I dislike London. It is all about social rules that everyone breaks, and yet they are all quick to condemn others who do the same. The sin is not in the doing but in the getting caught.”

“This does not feel right.” However, Ailis said nothing more as he introduced her to several more guests who also flicked her aside as though she were a flea on their shoulder. But this was as much her fault for purposely dressing as though she had just been chased out of a henhouse.

True to his word, the duke placed her in the seat of honor beside him when they sat down to dine. They did not converse much, however. The duke held court, tossing jests and conversing with the ladies and gentlemen at their end of the table.

Ailis had to admit, he was simply fabulous. He managed to charm everyone, showing none of the tension she knew he had to be feeling, for he was such a private person and parties were not easy for him.

These ladies his mother had brought along were so obviously wrong for him. And yet his mother was no fool. What was her true purpose in bringing these diamonds here? Was it all about that betting book his friends had opened on him?

But his mother had bet he would marry. How was her wager helped by bringing along young ladies he would never look at twice? This was most confusing and needed to be puzzled out, something Ailis would do in earnest once the Christmas festivities were over and off her mind.

After supper, the ladies retired to the drawing room for tea and sherry, where she was once again openly snubbed or simply ignored despite the duchess’s attempts to include her in their conversations.

Perhaps these young ladies and their mothers would have been kinder had she not looked so eccentric.

It was not long before the men joined them. The diamonds flitted around the duke, like moths drawn to a flame, the moment he strode in.

Ailis was relieved when her uncle came to her side. “My dear, you look tired. I think His Grace will understand if we take our leave early.”

She nodded. “Yes, let’s. I have been stifling yawns for the last half-hour.”

The duke must have noticed her fatigue as well.

He broke free from the circle of guests surrounding him and strode to her side.

“Let’s get you home,” he agreed, then apologized for dragging her out of the vicarage in the first place.

“But I wanted you to see what was going on here and understand why I am so vexed.”

She knew he was right. She had watched the four diamonds throughout the supper party. They were obviously no match for him, a man of intelligence and honor, one who was thoughtful and caring, and who preferred a quiet night reading in his library to balls, routs, musicales, and other ton affairs.

But this also drew her attention to his mother, an intelligent lady who truly loved him, and had to know the sort of woman he would admire.

It wasn’t those peahens.

Once again Ailis wondered what the dowager was doing. Perhaps Edward would know, and she was determined to get the truth out of him if ever she got the chance.

But would he trust her enough to let her in on their scheme?